Junking the Five-Paragraph Format

(or How to Develop a College Essay)

1. Read and carefully analyze the assignment before you begin to write.
2. Pre-write in a form of your choice (outline, mind-map, free-write).
3. Re-read your source materials to deepen your ideas.
4. Write an introduction with a working thesis statement in it. (“What’s my point?”)
5. Begin to query your thesis statement. (“How do I know?”)
6. Gather support for your thesis. (“So what?”)
7. Seek complicating evidence and explain why it doesn’t fit.
8. Rethink or restate your thesis statement in light of your deeper thinking or reading.
9. Repeat steps 3-6 until you are satisfied with your evidence and conclusions.
10. Write a concluding paragraph (“What’s my point now? So what?”) that does more than repeat your introduction.

Contact The Writing Center at any stage of this process so we can help you think through your plan and give you expert feedback. We are a free, student-friendly, academic resource for students in all disciplines.

The Writing Center
Liberal Arts 144
(406) 243-2266
growl@mso.umt.edu