multi paragraph essay example

Writing a Multi-paragraph Essay

LESSON When writing a longer essay A short piece of writing that focuses on at least one main idea. Some essays are also focused on the author's unique point of view, making them personal or autobiographical, while others are focused on a particular literary, scientific, or political subject. with three or more paragraphs, you should follow the writing process A series of steps that guides a writer through the process of gathering ideas, outlining, writing, and revising an essay, article, or story. , which helps you choose a topic The subject of a reading. and organize your ideas. This process involves a series of steps from when you begin thinking about writing until you have proofread The process of carefully searching a writing draft for mistakes at the sentence- and word-level in order to correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. the final draft The last version of a writing that has been revised, edited, and proofread. . Here are the steps to the writing process that help you prepare to begin writing.

The Writing Process

Step 1: Brainstorm ideas. First, begin by brainstorming A prewriting technique where the author lists multiple ideas as he or she thinks of them, not considering one more than another until all ideas are captured. The objective is to create one great idea, or many ideas, on which to base a writing. ideas so you can identify a topic for your writing. To do this, you might make a list, draw a diagram, or spend some time freewriting A prewriting technique where the author begins writing without regard to spelling or grammar about ideas, topics, or even characters, descriptions of events, and settings. Often the writer will freewrite for a set period of time. The objective is to develop a storyline through the writing process itself. about what is on your mind. Take time to research your topic, noting ideas and information that you think might work in your essay.

Step 2: Develop a thesis. Next, once you have brainstormed ideas and identified a topic for your writing, develop a thesis An overall argument, idea, or belief that a writer uses as the basis for a work. , which is the controlling idea of your essay. Your thesis statement A brief statement that identifies a writer's thoughts, opinions, or conclusions about a topic. Thesis statements bring unity to a piece of writing, giving it a focus and a purpose. You can use three questions to help form a thesis statement: What is my topic? What am I trying to say about that topic? Why is this important to me or my reader? tells the reader what you are writing about and why it is important to your audience The group of people a writer expects to read a text. Writers use specific language, details, and examples to speak directly to their intended audience. For example, you would write and organize your work differently if your audience was a group of experts in the field of your work than if it was a group of undergraduate students being introduced to the topic. . It should also reflect your opinion Point of view that shows a personal belief or bias and cannot be proven to be completely true. or attitude toward the topic.

Step 3: Create an outline. Third, outline your ideas for the essay. Creating an outline A preliminary plan for a piece of a writing, often in the form of a list. It should include a topic, audience, purpose, thesis statement, and main and supporting points. , even if it is rough and may change as you write, helps you determine if you have enough information to support your thesis and allows you to begin organizing that information in your essay.

Step 4: Write a rough draft. Once you have worked through the preliminary parts of the writing process, you are ready to begin writing a rough draft The first version of a writing that will undergo rewriting, additions, and editing before it becomes the final draft. of your essay. Be sure to keep the structure of an essay in mind as you write, making sure to include an introduction The first paragraph of an essay. It must engage the reader, set the tone, provide background information, and present the thesis. paragraph, body paragraphs The part of an essay that comes after the introduction and before the conclusion. Body paragraphs lay out the main ideas of an argument and provide the support for the thesis. All body paragraphs should include these elements: a topic sentence, major and minor details, and a concluding statement. Each body paragraph should stand on its own but also fit into the context of the entire essay, as well as support the thesis and work with the other supporting paragraphs. , and a conclusion The end portion of a writing that contains a summary or synthesis of the idea in the work. This includes a recap of key points and reminders of the author's purpose and thesis statement. paragraph. The introduction paragraph brings the audience into the essay by getting them interested in the topic. It also includes the thesis statement. The body paragraphs provide the information to support the thesis. Finally, the conclusion mirrors the introduction by reminding readers of the thesis statement and helps finalize the essay by reinforcing the main points.

All writers use a process when developing any piece of writing, even though the particulars of the process may change from person to person. Most involve the steps in the process listed above. You can apply the writing process to almost any type of writing. It can be used to help create a cover letter A letter that is sent along with a resume that provides context and more information for the reader. for a job application, a memo A short written message from one person to another or to a group of persons, usually containing business information. or email sent around an office, or any essay assignment in college. Even when you are asked to write an in-class essay as part of a mid-term or final exam, following the writing process will help ensure that your response is well-organized and thoughtful.

If your assignment is to write an essay about an influential person in your life, you might begin by making a list of people you think fit that description. From that list, you may choose one or two people that you think are the most influential and that you can write the most about. The position you are supporting in this example is that the person you choose to write about is truly an influential person.

Step 1: Brainstorm ideas.

• Grandfather
• Ms. Jones (neighbor)
• Mr. Peterson (coach)

Step 2: Develop a thesis.

My father influenced my decision to become a musician.

Step 3: Create an outline.

Each main point can become a paragraph with supporting ideas. For example:

• Bought me my first guitar (This will be a supporting idea.)
• Gave me lessons (This will be another supporting idea.)
• Attended concert at school (This will be a supporting idea.)
• Took me to local competition (This will be another supporting idea.)
• Gave space to practice (This will be a supporting idea.)
• Had patience when we didn't play well (This will be another supporting idea.)

Step 4: Write a rough draft.

When I think of influential people, I think about my father because he supported my interest in music. In our family, music was part of our everyday lives. Everyone played an instrument, including my mother and sisters. My father played the guitar, my mother played the flute, and both of my sisters played the clarinet. I chose to play the guitar. While we were all musical to some degree, my father influenced my decision to become a musician.

I was nine years old when my father bought me my first guitar. It wasn't anything fancy and it didn't cost much, but it was a good place to start my musical education. Because my father had been playing for over twenty years, he gave me my first lessons in the finger placements and how to read music. 

Later, when I got a little older, he would come to my concerts at school. I was the only one in my class who could play the guitar, so it was sort of unusual to have just one guitar player as part of our band concerts. Having him there cheering me on was important and made me want to continue. He also supported me by taking me to different local musical competitions.

When I got to high school, I got together with a few other guys who were also interested in music. We would go to each other’s houses and play around on our instruments. When we were at my house, my dad would listen in even though we weren't that great and regularly encouraged us to form our own band. He even gave us space in the basement where we could set up and store our instruments.

My father never pushed me to play the guitar. He only encouraged me to follow my dream and was always a positive presence. Looking back at the different ways he was there for me, I see now just how much influence he had on my desire to become a professional musician.

Using the topic provided, follow the writing process to write a well-organized, multi-paragraph essay supporting a position. Make sure to include a thesis statement, an introductory paragraph, and a conclusion.

Topic: How to Get the Career You Want

Sample Answer

• Get a college degree related to your field
• Intern with companies to learn about the career
• Create a good resume
• Learn how to do well at job interviews

In order to get a great career, it is essential that you become a good student and do well in college.

Title: College to Career

• Interesting story: Kids talking about what they want to be when they grow up.
• Thesis: In order to get a great career, it is essential that you become a good student and do well in college.
• Find a college that has a good curriculum in the area you are interested in.
• Choose your major based on your desired career.
• Choose classes that support your interests and challenge you to learn.
• Utilize your advisor's knowledge to plan your schedule.
• Meet with your professors during their office hours for individual guidance.
• Form study groups with friends to help each other understand concepts and stay on track.
• Ask your professors, advisor, and others to help find internships in your field and professional organizations and networking opportunities.
• Attend class and come prepared.
• Complete all assigned readings and turn in assignments on time.
• Get started on papers early and work on them a little at a time instead of waiting until the last minute and writing them in one day.
• Study for tests one section at a time instead of cramming the night before.

College to Career

How many times have you heard children talking about what they want to be when they grow up? They often answer with silly or outrageous ideas like "a purple spaceman." As we get older, our ideas for what career we would like to have get more realistic. We also start thinking about what it will take to accomplish our goals. One thing is clear, if you want to have a great career in today's world, it is essential to become a good student and do well in college.

One way to do well in college while keeping your future career in mind is to plan wisely. First, find a college that has a good curriculum in the area you are interested in. You should also choose your major based on your desired career. For example, if you want to go into advertising, then you should choose a business degree that focuses on marketing and advertising. Another important step is to choose classes that support your interests and challenge you to learn. It's okay to take a few fun classes that interest you, like art and music, but if being an artist isn't your dream job, than you should only take a few of those and keep the rest of your classes focused on your goal.

Another way to achieve your career is to get the support you need to do well. Be sure to utilize your advisor's knowledge to help you plan your schedule. A good tip is to meet with your professors during their office hours for individual guidance. Forming study groups with friends enables you to help each other understand concepts and stay on track. Finally, don't be afraid to ask your professors, advisor, and others to help you find internships in your field and give you information on professional organizations and networking opportunities.

One of the most important things you can do to be successful in college is to develop good study habits. Make sure to attend class and come prepared. You could have the best classes and professors available, but you won't learn a thing if you don't go to class or you aren't ready to learn. Also, complete all your assigned readings and always turn in your assignments on time. Even a few late assignments can mean getting a lower grade in the class. Another good study habit is avoiding procrastination. Get started on papers early and work on them a little at a time instead of waiting until the last minute and writing them in one day. It's also a good idea to study for tests one section at a time instead of cramming the night before.

Think about what you used to say you wanted to be when you grew up. Was it an astronaut? A doctor? A teacher? Whatever you wanted to be, taking college seriously is an important first step to finding the career of your dreams.

Sometimes I do some of the steps listed above, but mostly I just sit down and write the essay. If there is time, I edit it before turning it in. This works okay for me, but sometimes I get low a grade because the teacher says my essay is unorganized.

I think the most difficult part is creating an outline. I never know exactly how or what I'm going to say in an essay until I actually write it, so making an outline seems like a waste of time. It's good to remember that I don't have to follow the outline when actually writing the essay and that it should only be used as a guide. That might make it easier to do.

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What Is a Multi-Paragraph Essay?

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"Essay" generally means a short writing on a particular subject. Analytical, interpretive, reflective and expository essays are common examples of writing assignments given to high school and college students. A multi-paragraph essay simply means the paper is two or more paragraphs. A common structure for an extended essay includes five paragraphs.

A multi-paragraph essay commonly includes introduction and conclusion paragraphs, with topic paragraphs in between. The introduction usually includes a thesis statement, and provides general direction for the paper. The conclusion ties together the key points. The middle paragraphs, typically one to three of them, include specific topics or points that support the thesis, or provide details related to the essay theme. An outline is helpful in organizing the content in a multi-paragraph essay. Each supporting paragraph should only cover one main topic or point.

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Neil Kokemuller has been an active business, finance and education writer and content media website developer since 2007. He has been a college marketing professor since 2004. Kokemuller has additional professional experience in marketing, retail and small business. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Iowa State University.

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How to Write a Multi-Paragraph Essay: Tips and Pointers

If you have taken any type of writingclass in high school or college, there is a very good chance that you have been assigned a multi-paragraph essay. In essence, it follows the format that almost all essays take - typically in the form of five paragraphs - although it can be longer when necessary. The content of a multi-paragraph varies depending on the type of essay the writer is being asked to write. If you understand how to structure this type of paper, you will be able to best organize your thoughts and ideas on paper. A multi-paragraph essay example can serve as a guide if you are having difficulties.

What is a Multi-Paragraph Essay Worksheet?

When you are asked to write a lengthy essay, your instruction will sometimes ask you to fill out a multi-paragraph essay worksheet so that you will be able to plan the assignment well. Since this assignment is more complex than the general 5-paragraph essay, it is typically given to students only after they have enough writing experience. The information in the worksheet includes your introduction and conclusion paragraphs and the body paragraphs in between.

Suggestions for Using the Worksheet

The multi-paragraph essay format is ideal for a wide variety of essay types whether it is argumentative, persuasive or comparative. Teachers will often ask students to use the multi-paragraph essay so that they can improve their formal writing. Rather than being limited to three body paragraphs or main arguments, it helps the student utilize far more examples and therefore write a more insightful, comprehensive paper. 

First Paragraph

As with pretty much every essay, you will use the first paragraph to introduce the topic. Since you want to hook the reader, make sure the first sentence is intriguing and memorable. The following sentences provide some context and inform the reader what to expect, and the final sentence will contain the thesis statement, the main idea that the entire paper is centered around. 

The body of the essay is used to highlight your points that provide support for the thesis. In a multi-paragraph essay, the body will contain a minimum of three paragraphs, with each of them focusing on a particular idea that can be linked back to the main idea of the paper. The paragraphs begin with a topic sentence after which you provide more elaboration and thereby strengthen your thesis argument.

If you are writing a conventional multi-paragraph essay, the conclusion will be in the fifth and final paragraph. Use this opportunity to restate your thesis and main points, reaffirm that you have proven your thesis, and finish by discussing the broader implications of your paper. It is the last thing that the reader will see, so make it count! 

Additional Elements

If your paper includes any outside sources, they should not only be cited in the text, they should be attached on a separate page in the form of a reference list/bibliography/work cited. Using reputable sources to support your opinion adds credibility to your paper. Make sure to format this page according to your instructor’s preferred citation style.

Parts of a Paragraph

Topic sentence – purpose of a paragraph.

Unless you are writing specialized report such as a scientific research paper or a feasibility study that may otherwise show the purpose of a paragraph such as a heading , a well written paragraph must have a topic sentence which states what the paragraph is about.

Whether you are writing a paragraph for a specific assignment, an academic essay, a research paper, or a simple letter, each paragraph

The topic sentence should be the first sentence of the paragraph so that the reader knows what the paragraph is about.  The topic sentence in a body paragraph of an essay must be support for the thesis: a reason why the thesis is true or accurate.

The rest of the sentences in the paragraph of an essay support, elaborate, and/or further explain the topic sentence.

Here is an example of a paragraph:

The first sentence is the topic sentence. See how the rest of the sentences support, elaborate, and/or or further explain it.

Almost every aspect of modern life has been improved through convenience provided by technology.    From the alarm clock in the morning to the entertainment center at night, everyday life is improved.  The automatic coffee maker has the coffee ready at a certain time. Cars or public transportation bring people to work where computers operate at the push of a button.  At home, there’s the convenience of washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners, and power lawn mowers.  Modern technology has made life better with many conveniences.

Everything in this paragraph is about how modern life has been improved through convenience provided by technology.

Unity and Coherence

A paragraph must have unity.

All of the sentences of a particular paragraph must focus on one point to achieve one goal: to support the topic sentence.

A paragraph must have coherence.

The sentences must flow smoothly and logically from one to the next as they support the topic sentence.

The last sentence of the paragraph should restate the topic sentence to help achieve unity and coherence.

Here is an example with information that  does not  support the topic sentence;

Almost every aspect of modern life has been improved through convenience provided by modern technology.  From the alarm clock in the morning to the entertainment center at night, everyday life is improved. The automatic coffee maker has the coffee ready at a certain time. People are more concerned about health issues and good air quality, so they have started walking or riding a bike to work even though they have the option of using a car or public transportation.   There’s the convenience of washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners, and power lawn mowers.  Modern technology has made life better with many conveniences.

See how just one non-supporting sentence takes away from the effectiveness of the paragraph in showing how modern conveniences make life better since the unity and coherence are affected.  There is no longer unity among all the sentences.  The thought pattern is disjointed and the paragraph loses its coherence.

Here’s another example of a paragraph:

Not only has modern technology improved life through convenience, it has improved life through efficiency.  The time saved with machines doing most of the work leaves more time for people to develop their personal goals or to just relax.  Years ago, when doing laundry could take all day, there wasn’t time left over to read or go to school or even just to take a leisurely walk.  Nowadays, people have more time and energy than ever to simply enjoy their lives thanks to the efficiency of modern technology.

Note: See how all the sentences work together to support the point that technology has improved lives through efficiency.

Transitions – Words that Connect

Transitions  are words, groups of words, or sentences that connect one sentence to another or one paragraph to another.

They promote a logical flow from one idea to the next.

While they are not needed in every sentence, they are missed when they are omitted since the flow of thoughts becomes disjointed or even confusing.

There are different types of transitions such as the following:

• Time – before, after, during, in the meantime, nowadays
• Space – over, around, under
• Examples – for instance, one example is
• Comparison –  on the other hand, the opposing view
• Consequence – as a result, subsequently

These are just a few examples.  The idea is to paint a clear, logical connection between sentences and between paragraphs.

Here’s how transitions help make a paragraph unified and coherent:

Not only  has modern technology improved life through convenience, it has improved life through efficiency.  The time saved with machines doing most of the work leaves more time for people to develop their personal goals or to just relax.   Years ago,  when doing laundry could take all day, there wasn’t time left over to read or go to school or even just to take a leisurely walk.   Nowadays , people have more time and energy than ever to simply enjoy their lives thanks to the efficiency of modern technology.

Each part of a paragraph must support the topic sentence.  In addition, the sentences must flow logically from one to the other.

See how the following paragraph has ideas that don’t seem to belong:

Growing flowers is fun.  The sun rises in the morning and warms the soil.  Flowers come in all different sizes, shapes, and colors.  Sometimes, there is not enough rain.  Flowers also bloom during different times of the year.  Flowers need nutrients to grow strong and beautiful.  There are some children who like to pick the flowers. There are different growing seasons in different parts of the country.  Flowers that will grow high should be planted behind those that will not grow as high.  Some people let their dog’s leash extend allowing the dog to go into the flower beds which is not very nice. Designing a flower bed has to consider the different times the flowers will bloom.  A substitute for rainfall should be planned.  It is fun to grow flowers.

Here is a revised version with unity and coherence.  See how each sentence is clearly part of the whole which is to show how it is fun to grow flowers.

Growing flowers is fun.   Planning the garden is the first step, and it is part of the fun.  Flowers must be selected for their size, color, and time of bloom.  Selections should be made so that there is at least one type of flower blooming throughout the season and that taller flowers are behind shorter ones.  Meeting the challenges to assure growth such as with an irrigation system or hand watering and fertilizing when needed is also part of the fun.   It’s wonderful to check the garden every day to see the little green sprouts starting to appear.  It gives a great sense of accomplishment and joy to see the flowers in bloom.  It is fun to grow flowers.

An example of a paragraph from a business letter  which does  have unity and coherence:

There are several reasons to select my company to do this job.  We are a family owned and operated business and have been in business in this county for thirty-five years.  In addition to thousands of satisfied customers, we have proudly sponsored many community events and organizations.  All of our employees live in this county, and most have stayed with us for years.  We have successfully kept our overhead low and pass those savings onto our customers.  By far, we are the best company to complete this project.

Note: See how all the sentences work together to support the point that we are the best company to hire.

Here’s a version of the paragraph which  does not  have unity and coherence:

I am happy that the warm weather is finally here! It’s been a cold winter. There are several reasons to select my company to do this job.  By far, we are the best company to complete this project.  I have a large family, and in addition to having Sunday dinners, we work together in the company which has many satisfied customers.  Some of my employees take the bus to work, so I am concerned about our public transportation system.  We have proudly served our community, and we use cost saving methods to keep prices low.

An example of a paragraph in an inter-office memo

Beginning January 1, we will have a revised policy concerning new customers.  The updated intake form includes additional information, so please be sure to read through and complete each section.  Pay particular addition to the additional questions at the bottom as they are now required by the insurance company.  We would like to have e-mail addresses as well.  You can assure customers that we will not be sending them solicitations nor giving the list to any other business.  Be sure to fill in the information neatly and accurately. It is preferred that the information be entered directly into the computer although we realize there are times when that is not practical and a hard-copy form will have to be completed by hand.  Review the instructions on the back page of the form for more details on the revised policy for new customers.

Note:  See how all the sentences work together to support the point shown in the topic sentence that modern technology has expanded accessibility.

Closing/Transitional Statements

The last sentence of a paragraph should remind the reader of the point of the paragraph and transition into the next paragraph if there is one.  See how the last sentence, for example, in the above paragraph reminds the reader of what the paragraph is about: Review the instructions on the back page of the form for more details on the revised policy for new customers.

Multi-Paragraph Documents

Most paragraphs we see are part of a multi-paragraph document: newspaper and magazine articles, books, business letters and inter-office memorandum, “how-to” documents, and other informational documents.  Usually, there is an organization of the paragraphs in a specific way.  The opening paragraph generally gives some idea of what the document is about.  The middle paragraphs give more details about the specific point.  The last paragraph ends the writing, generally by summing up and repeating the point.

There are some context-specific documents that have moe clearly defined paragraphs which are something included as sections of the writing.  For example, a feasibility report might have paragraphs as follows: abstract and/or summary, introduction, discussion, conclusion, recommendations.

Paragraphs in Business Letters and Inter-Office Memorandum

Business letters and inter-office memoradums basically have the same organization of the content:  an introduction paragraph, paragraphs that prove or further explain, and a concluding paragraph which sums up and repeats the point.  A business letter, however, is generally written on company stationery and has the date and address block in the upper left, a Re: line, a salutation such as Dear Mr. Haller (although some are no longer using a formal salutation), and a complimentary closing such as Sincerely.    An inter-office memorandum is generally written on plain paper, sometimes with the company logo as part of the template, lines with To:, From:, Date:, and Re: in the upper left, and no complimentary closing.

Paragraphs in Informational Documents and Academic Essays

Informational documents.

This refers to groups of writings that are designed to give information about a topic or position on a topic.  While they all include a specific thesis (point), have an introduction and concluding paragraph, and have paragraphs that proof or explain the point, there can be wide variety on where the thesis is expressed and the ancillary information presented that is supplemental to the thesis.  These are sometimes called essays.  However,  academic  essays do have a very specific organizational pattern.

Academic Essays

The introduction paragraph and the concluding paragraph of an essay are different from a general paragraph.  An introduction contains general background information on a topic and leads into a thesis statement.  The sentences with background information are not really in support of the thesis, but they are relevant and do logically flow into the thesis.  In other words, there must be unity and coherence in an introduction paragraph as well.

While the body paragraph of an academic is the same as a general paragraph in that they have a topic sentence and sentences that support it, the topic sentence must be a reason why the thesis of the essay.  Body paragraphs should be clearly support for the thesis and not contain any extraneous information.

A concluding paragraph sums up the proof and restates the thesis. Some instructors ask for a statement drawing an implication of the information presented instead of or in addition to a restatement of the thesis.  In either case, while a concluding paragraph as with the introduction paragraph does not start with a topic sentence and have the rest of the sentences support the topic sentence, the concluding paragraph is similar in that the summary of the proof ties directly into the thesis or statement of general implication.  There are not extraneous, off-topic sentences.

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