How To Write a Paragraph (The Burger Method) Jane Schafer Writing How To Write a Paragraph (The Burger Method)

The Prompt Read the prompt FIRST!!! What are you being asked to do? Short answers require a careful, critical look at the reading

Color Coding is Fun! You will need: Sticky Notes (Blue, Yellow, Green) Highlighters (Blue, Yellow Green) Composition Book and Pen/Pencil YELLOW is for Topic Sentences (TS) and Concluding Sentences (CS) GREEN is for Concrete Details (CD), or quotes BLUE is for Commentary Sentences (CM)

Step 1: Topic Sentences A Topic Sentence (TS) is like the top bun of a burger TS is the first sentence of a paragraph. It tells the main idea. For Short answers, this is the A of ACE format. You are here

Example Topic Sentence (TS) In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig is very wise.

Step 2: Concrete Details Concrete Details (CD), or quotes, are the veggies of the burger. CD supports your TS (facts, quotes, examples from text) CDs are evidence that supports your point! For Short Answers, this is the C of ACE format. You are here

Example Concrete Detail (CD) For example, remembering his mother’s warning about a wolf, he builds his house out of sturdy brick.

Step 3: Commentary Commentary (CM) is the meat of your burger. CM is your analysis or interpretation of the text For Short Answers, this is the E of ACE Always write 2 sentences of CM You are here

Example Commentary (CM) The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house. This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf.

Step 4: Concluding Sentence A Concluding Sentence (CS) is like the bottom bun of a burger A CS wraps up the paragraph CS rephrases the main idea You are here

Example Concluding Sentence (CS) In conclusion, the third pig outsmarts not only his brothers but the “big, bad” wolf as well.

TS, CD, CM, CM, CS: Putting it all together In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig is very wise. For example, remembering his mother’s warning about a wolf, he builds his house out of sturdy brick. The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house. This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf. In conclusion, the third pig outsmarts not only his brothers but the “big, bad” wolf as well.

Sentence Starters Concrete Detail (CD) Starters: For example, In addition, Commentary (CM) Starters This shows that... You can see by this that... This is because… In addition… Furthermore… Therefore… For example…

Double Cheeseburgers! Chunk (Short Answer) TS CD CM CS Double Chunk (Essay Paragraph) TS CD CM CS