CONTENT

Writing a short essay

Main ideas to watch for

When and how to introduce the big idea and its supporting points

What to accomplish in an opening paragraph

How to arrange an opening paragraph

Setting up the paragraphs that will follow

Students in thousands of colleges, high schools, and academies have learned some version of what this course will introduce to you now. For convenience, the technique is called The Mechanical Method. It goes along what you’ve already read about and practiced.

Overview of the mechanical method

What you’ve been working on so far involves thinking about the assignment and making some brief notes. Among other things, those notes will help you to decide on:

a big idea that fits the assignment
three points supporting the big idea

Other ways of expressing the same principle would be to say, "Decide on a main idea and three supporting points" or "Develop a thesis statement and three supporting statements."

With the big idea and three supporting points established, the Mechanical Methods says draft a five paragraph paper that goes like this:

Give the main idea and introduce the three supporting points in the first paragraph
Present and develop the first supporting point in paragraph two
Do the same for one other supporting point in paragraph three
And do the same the final supporting point in paragraph four
End the essay in paragraph five

Even though there are a few additional basic points and plenty of fine points to consider, this arrangement of the paragraphs is the most vital thing to remember about the Mechanical Method. Remember this and all the rest is much easier.

If you use the Mechanical Method reasonably well, your essay will have more of the qualities that readers want to see. The first paragraph will work as the beginning, the next three will serve as middle, and the last will be an ending. Beginning, middle, and end might go by different names -- such as introduction, body, and conclusion -- but regardless of the words used to label them, having those three parts will help your essay work well. Consciously putting a main idea and supporting points into words will ensure that they show up in your essay clearly, another quality readers look for. And if your assignment includes a minimum length (of say 350 words), with five paragraphs you’re almost certainly going to use more than that. [Not counting this sentence and the brackets, this paragraph is 129 words; with this sentence included its 148 words.]

During the late 1960s hundreds of students at one Minnesota high school learned what their teacher called "Mr. Martin’s Mechanical Method for Writing a Five Paragraph Paper.” The teacher, Bill Martin, gave this name to his version of an approach he’d learned when he was a college freshman. Like most good teachers, he wanted his students to know things and have skills that he himself knew and used. And because he was a gentle and genuinely modest man, Mr. Martin gave the approach a modest and self-effacing name.

MECHANICAL MODEL: Each paragraph has a job to do

Paragraph 1

Computers have had a huge influence on my life. (1)Their use in gas engines has changed how I do my work. (2) They’ve given me new ways to communicate with my family and friends. (3) Online sources have added to the places I can find information.

Gives big idea of essay

Introduces your three supporting points

Gets your reader interested in reading more

Paragraph 2

Before we had computers, doing an engine tune-up meant using a timing light and doing lots of listening. Now engines use fuel injection systems worked by small computers and electronic ignitions. So today tuning an engine means using an analyzer, a computer really, that monitors several things at a time. I’ve had to learn to use the analyzers, how to replace electronic components, and how to explain these things to customers.

Develops your first supporting point by giving details and examples that add information

Examples used here include

· Use of fuel injection systems

· Tuning with tools such as an analyzer and computer

These details tell us how computers have changed his job. The writer even tells us what he’s had to learn to make sure we get his point.

Paragraph 3

After getting used to computers at work I found out there were plenty of ways to use them for personal reasons too. I learned to use a word processor, which was nice for me because my handwriting is almost impossible to read. That made it much easier to exchange letters with my brother who lives in Seattle and my sister in Portland. Now all three of us use e-mail, so it’s even easier. I’ve been sending e-mail birthday notes to about 15 different people, some family members and some friends. I know I could do my own Web page because I helped set up the one at work, but decided not to. They’re too impersonal for me.

Develops second supporting point by giving details and examples that add information.

· I don’t have to handwrite my letters because I can use a word processor

· I can use e-mail to keep in touch with family and friends

I know how to set up a Web page

Paragraph 4

Other experience on the job introduced me to using computer databases, some on our own system and some on the Internet. Our parts inventory is all on computer now, for instance. After getting my own Internet service I started to use online databases for information about gardening, fishing, and Korean War history, which are my main interests. I also use online information to plan travel routes, make campground reservations, and get weather forecasts.

Develops your third supporting point by giving details and examples that add information.

· Using computer databases to get information about parts inventory and other work-related things

· Uses databases to get information about personal interests

· Uses online information to plan travel

Paragraph 5

Because of computers, I do my job differently, can use Internet services to stay in touch with my family and friends, and can get at new sources of information online.

Sums up his main points briefly and clearly. Helps us to remember his main idea and his supporting points.

Last revised March 9, 2007