The Divided Thesis Essay Format

Standard Five-Paragraph Essay

Introduction

Paragraph One

  • Attention Getter
    • Quotation
    • Incident, example, or case study
    • Statistic
    • Imagery
    • Question
  • Divided Thesis (preview)
    • A
    • B
    • C
Body (signposting)

Paragraph Two

  • Restate "A" in topic sentence
  • Discuss, develop, explain "A" using information and details that are
    • Sufficient
    • Significant
    • Specific
  • Summarize "A" with clincher sentence (optional)

Paragraph Three

  • Restate "B" in topic sentence
  • Discuss, develop, explain "B" using information and details that are
    • Sufficient
    • Significant
    • Specific
  • Summarize "B" with clincher sentence (optional)

Paragraph Four

  • Restate "C" in topic sentence
  • Discuss, develop, explain "C" using information and details that are
    • Sufficient
    • Significant
    • Specific
  • Summarize "C" with clincher sentence (optional)
Conclusion

Paragraph Five

  • Summarize main points of divided thesis (review)
    • A
    • B
    • C
  • Parting thought, quote, or example to conclude