How to Write a 3.5 Essay Outline With Ease

A 3.5 essay outline requires you to write a five-paragraph essay with an introductory and concluding paragraph. It also has three body paragraphs, which give supporting details of your argument.

Mastering the art of writing 5-paragraph essays is crucial because it is a common writing assignment in colleges and universities. An outline of a 3.5 essay will show important elements to include in your paper from the first sentence of the introduction to the last sentence of the conclusion.

This essay outline has the following key components:

• Paragraph I—Introduction
• Paragraph II—first supportive idea
• Paragraph III—second supportive idea
• Paragraph IV—third supportive idea
• Paragraph V—Closing

Things to remember when writing a 3.5 essay outline

Understanding a 3.5 outline can be a mindboggling task, without mastering effective writing skills. Importantly, 3.5 essays could be thematic, where you focus on a single issue of discussion throughout the essay. A good example of a theme could be the history of hip-hop music in the United States.

Like when writing other professional essays, your introduction should have a theme, which serves the backbone of your paper..

Here are important instructions when writing 3.5 essay outlines:

• Do thorough research. Writing a good, paper depends on the depth of your research. Gather enough information to help you develop the three body paragraphs.
• Develop an outline for your essay. Show the three main points you are going to address in your essay to ensure that you answer the essay question correctly.
• Have an interesting introduction. Your first sentence of the essay should be catchy to wet the readers’ reading appetite. Use a general statement about your topic of research.
• Write your thesis statement. Develop your thesis, encompassing the three main points. Even if it does not sound interesting, make sure that your thesis statement tells the reader the purpose of your essay.
• Develop the body of your essay. Each of the paragraphs should a dream a single issue or main point. The body should support and explain your thesis statement. Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence to signal the reader what the paragraph is addressing. Each of these paragraphs should also have at least three sentences with examples and quotes.
• Write your conclusion. The last paragraph of your 3.5 essay should be a conclusion, which wraps up your paper. It should be three to five sentences. Do not merely re-word or repeat your introduction. Re-state your thesis statement and say the importance of your paper. You may also include a broader point like the implication of your thesis to the world.

Consider the following example of 3.5 essay outline:

Sample #1

3.5 ESSAY OUTLINE FORMAT

1. Opening paragraph_______________________________________
2. 
   General Statement_________________________________________________
   2.     Topic Sentence ___________________________________________________
   3.     Main Idea Sentences:
3. First supportive statement___________________________________
4. Second supportive statement_________________________________
5. Third supportive statement___________________________________
6. THESIS STATEMENT____________________________________________
   II.   Second paragraph______________________________________________
7. 
    Introductory sentence supports the first supportive (a.) statement
8. 
   First evidence________________________________________
   b.     Second evidence______________________________________
   c.      Third evidence_______________________________________
9. Concluding statement________________________________________

III. Third paragraph________________________________________________

1. Intro sentence supports second supportive (b.) statement
2. First piece of evidence________________________________________
   b.     Second piece of evidence______________________________________
   c.      Third piece of evidence_______________________________________
3. Concluding statement__________________________________________
4. Fourth paragraph________________________________________
5. 
   Introductory sentence supports the third supportive (c.) statement
6. 1^st piece of evidence________________________________________
   b.     2^nd piece of evidence______________________________________
   c.      3^rd piece of evidence________________________________________
7.  Concluding statement______________________________________________
8. 
   Conclusion _________________________________________________
9. Restate the thesis _____________________________________
   2.     Conclude the points made in paragraph 2____________________
   3.     Conclude the points made in paragraph 3____________________
   4.     Conclude the points made in paragraph 4____________________
   5.     Give final concluding statement ____________________

 

The above sample 3.5 essay outline shows all the elements, which you should capture in your essay. You can access the outline here.

Key elements of a 3.5 essay paragraph format

As seen in the above section, different elements form the outline of a 3.5 essay. While this is the case, it is important to have a grip on how to structure a good paragraph that brings out main points in the body of your essay. In this section, we focus some of these key elements. Take a look:

• Have topic sentences. A topic sentence is the first line of every paragraph of your essay. It shows the reader the main point, which they should expect in the subsequent sentences of the paragraph. It helps in smooth transition between body paragraphs of the essay.
• Detail They give supporting evidence to your topic sentence. You can develop well prove sentences by using researched details and examples from authentic sources. In addition, quotes from experts give concrete support for your topic sentences.
• Wrap up your paragraph with a concluding sentence. Every paragraph ends with concluding sentence. It signals closure of discussion on the topical issue and ties all the sentences in the paragraph together.

When developing a 3.5 essay outline, it is necessary to focus on having a strong body for your paper. What makes a good body is the evidence you give to the reader with detailed support sentences. Therefore, there is need to master the art of constructing good support sentences. Here is what you should have in mind at all times:

Good supporting detail sentences should have the following qualities:

• Relate to the topic sentence of the paragraph-the sentence should unify all the parts of the paragraph by summing up the main idea you are explaining.
• Each sentence should add value to the body paragraph. Do not use filler sentences. Ensure that the sentence is relevant and makes sense to the reader.
• Use expressive language when developing support sentences. The sentences should paint the image of your evidence. You can achieve this by being descriptive in your writing.

Sample #2

Essay Outline

Topic___________________________________

Name ____________________________________

Introduce your topic

Thesis statement

Point 1:_____________________________

Point 2:________________________________

Point 3:_________________________________

Supporting facts

Point 1: _________________________________________

Details _______________________________________

Point 2: ________________________________________________

Details __________________________________________

Point 3: _______________________________________________

Details ____________________________________________

Conclusion:

Restate Thesis ______________________________________

Concluding sentence _____________________________________

The sample 3.5 essay outline shows the three main sections of an essay, including the introduction, body and the conclusion. You may access it here.

Additional tips on how to develop an essay outline with 5 paragraphs

There are many steps you can follow when writing an essay. However, without planning and prior planning, it can be almost impossible to convince the reader with your points. If your essay lacks three specific points that address the topic of discussion, then it does not follow the 3.5 essay outline. Thus, it is important to not only do your homework but also be thorough in every step.

Below are some important points to note in order to have an excellent essay:

Doing background research and outlining your topic

Once you settle on a topic, go ahead and start research. In some cases, the lecturer will assign you a topic or give you the freedom to choose an issue that relates to what you may have learned in class.

Outlining your essay helps in organizing your thoughts logically and flesh out your topic. For some, developing an outline is listing the points, which they intend to explore in the paper. In some cases, outlining an essay entails more work. Choose a process that enhances your writing. A basic essay outline constitutes of your topic together with the evidence.

Writing the an appealing introduction

The first element on an essay outline is the introduction of your piece of work. When writing the introduction of a 3.5 essay, have the following at the back of your mind:

• Be simple, without using ambiguous statements
• Have clarity of thought
• State your thesis statement to give your readers direction. Thesis should have three main points.
• Give a general opening statement
• Make your introduction brief
• Be creative
• Make your intro interesting

Writing three body paragraphs with a 3.5 essay outline

The body of a 3.5 essay comprises of three paragraphs. The body of your essay should:

• Have details
• Have description
• Have facts about the topic
• Serve as evidence
• Support thesis statement
• Convince the reader that you did research about your claims

Take a look at the following example:

Sample #3

____________________________________________
Title of Essay

1. Introduction
2. Give background information 1.  ________________________________
3. Thesis Statement:

________________________________________________
________________________________________________

1.    Paragraph 2
   (Main idea/aspect # 1)
2.    ___________________________________
   (Supporting idea #1)
3. ________________________________
   (Example/detail)
4.     ________________________________
   (Example/detail)
5.    ___________________________________
   (Supporting idea #2)
6. ________________________________
   (Example/detail)
7. ________________________________
   (Example/detail)

 

III. Paragraph 3(as in paragraph 2 above)

 

1. Paragraph 4(as in paragraph 2 above)

 

1.    Conclusion
2.    ______________________________________________________
   Restatement of the thesis
3. ___________________________________
   Recommendations

 View the whole outline here.

Are you struggling with your writing assignment? Worry no more! We offer befitting assignment solutions for all your problems. We have varied academic writing services. From term papers, research papers and dissertations, we have all you need at the click of a button. Our prices are pocket-friendly. Additionally, you can access our sample papers free of charge.

ONLINE SOURCES:

http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Write-in-the-Format-of-a-35-Essay

http://madamewilder.weebly.com/35-essay-outline.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4492078_write-a-essay.html

http://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer-ramazani/AEP/EN104/outline_essay.htm