First Paragraph: The first paragraph of the essay is the most important. The sentences used in the opening paragraph

First Paragraph:

The first paragraph of the essay is the most important. The sentences used in the opening paragraph are repeated verbatim as the topic sentence of each body paragraph, in order. The final paragraph restates the opening paragraph exactly. This may be either in the order of the opening paragraph, or in reverse order.

So, the first sentence of the first paragraph is the Thesis Statement of the essay. This sentence is followed by three sentences, making up the first paragraph of the essay.

Second Paragraph

The second paragraph begins with the second sentence of the first paragraph. That sentence is the same sentence in both places, and it now serves as the topic sentence of the second paragraph. This sentence is followed the three original sentences, making a paragraph of four sentences.

Third Paragraph

The third paragraph begins with the third sentence of the first paragraph. That sentence is the same sentence in both places, and it now serves as the topic sentence of the third paragraph. This sentence is followed the three original sentences, making a paragraph of four sentences.

Fourth Paragraph

The fourth paragraph begins with the fourth, or final, sentence of the first paragraph. That sentence is the same sentence in both places, and it now serves as the topic sentence of the fourth paragraph. This sentence is followed the three original sentences, making a paragraph of four sentences.

Fifth, or Final, Paragraph

The final paragraph is simply the first paragraph repeated. The sentences in this paragraph may be in the same original order, or this paragraph may begin with the final sentence of the first paragraph, and end with the first sentence of the first paragraph. The order of sentences is the same, but simply reversed, if the writer chooses.

20 Sentences, 13 paragraphs

The Thesis Plan is limited to 20 sentences. Because so many sentences are used twice, the total number of original sentences is only 13. Seven sentences are "recycled" within the essay, so the writer only has to compose 13 sentences in order to create a 20 sentence paper.