Thesis (5 Paragraph Essay)

Planning Sheet

INTRODUCTION
1. General statement that relates to your thesis or to the work you are discussing.
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2. Sentence that follows LOGICALLY and gives the title and author of the work you are
discussing.
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3a. Three points you will use to prove your thesis (the last should be your strongest).
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3b. Thesis statement (your answer to the question that includes the three points from above).
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BODY PARAGRAPH 1

1. Topic sentence that refers to the thesis and indicates point number one.

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2. Lead in for your quote (this gives context to the quote and connects the literary work with
your analysis).
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3. Quotation (any information you pull from the work) that shows evidence to support your
topic sentence, along with its citation.

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4. Commentary statement that explains why the quote supports the topic sentence
(DO NOT SAY “This quote supports the topic sentence because…”).

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5. Second commentary statement that continues the explanation.

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6. Concluding sentence that “sums up” your paragraph.

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BODY PARAGRAPH 2

1a. Transitional phrase (not a sentence) or “hook” that refers back to the previous paragraph

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1b. Topic sentence that includes phrase from above, refers to the thesis, and mentions your
second point

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2. Lead in for your quote (this gives context to the quote and connects the literary work with
your analysis)

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3. Quotation (any information you pull from the work) that shows evidence to support your
topic sentence, along with its citation.

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4. Commentary statement that explains why the quote supports the topic sentence (DO NOT
SAY “This quote supports the topic sentence because…”)

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5. Second commentary statement that continues the explanation

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6. Concluding sentence that “sums up” your paragraph

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BODY PARAGRAPH 3

1a. Transitional phrase (not a sentence) or “hook” that refers back to the previous paragraph

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1b. Topic sentence that includes phrase from above, refers to the thesis, and mentions your
third point

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2. Lead in for your quote (this gives context to the quote and connects the literary work with
your analysis)

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_

3. Quotation (any information you pull from the work) that shows evidence to support your
topic sentence, along with its citation.

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_

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_

4. Commentary statement that explains why the quote supports the topic sentence (DO NOT
SAY “This quote supports the topic sentence because…”)

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5. Second commentary statement that continues the explanation

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6. Concluding sentence that “sums up” your paragraph

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CONCLUSION (there should be no quotes in this paragraph)

1. Restatement of thesis (try to change the wording but keep the same order of the points)

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2. Summary of body paragraph 1

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3. Summary of body paragraph 2

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4. Summary of body paragraph 3

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5. Concluding sentence that summarizes the entire essay

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REMEMBER

1. USE PRESENT TENSE

Virginia Kochis 2004