Writing an essay is like building a house

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Susan Stofflet [2010], Cherry Hill East High School, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

You wouldn’t start to build a house by constructing the roof, would you?

How would you know what shape and size to make your roof ?

You wouldn’t start to build a house by constructing the roof, would you? How would you know what shape and size to make your roof ? How could you keep it from falling over?

You wouldn’t start to build a house by constructing the roof, would you? How would you know what shape and size to make your roof ? What function would it serve ? How could you keep it from falling over?

It’s the same with an essay…. First you need a foundation…. built on solid, level ground, made of a durable material, like cement… capable of supporting all the great plans you have for your dream house.

The name of the “foundation” for your essay is a CLAIM OR THESIS STATEMENT

Just like your house, you want it to be strong, well-constructed, and able to support all of the ideas you have for this project. CLAIM STATEMENT

Just like your house, you want it to be strong, well-constructed, and able to support all of the ideas you have for this project [essay]

But, just like the roof, without purpose or support, the foundation is a long way from being a house. You have some work to do…

THESIS STATEMENT A house isn’t very useful until it is divided into different rooms to fit the different purposes you will demand of it- a place to eat, a place to sleep, a place to watch TV, etc. bedroom Living room

They are called BODY PARAGRAPHS They are called BODY PARAGRAPHS An ESSAY needs divisions, too. THESIS STATEMENT BODY PARAGRAPH TWO BODY PARAGRAPH ONE BODY PARAGRAPH

Just as each room is slightly different, so is each body paragraph different. THESIS STATEMENT BODY PARAGRAPH TWO BODY PARAGRAPH ONE BODY PARAGRAPH

Each room is different and each body paragraph is different. each body paragraph is different. THESIS STATEMENT BODY PARAGRAPH TWO BODY PARAGRAPH ONE BODY PARAGRAPH

But, they do have similarities in the way they are structured…

Each room has a door Each room has a door

Each room has a door …..each body paragraph is indented to mark the “way in” Each room has a door …..each body paragraph is indented to mark the “way in”

Each room has a purpose Each room has a purpose

Each room has a door …..each body paragraph is indented to mark the “way in” Each room has a door …..each body paragraph is indented to mark the “way in” Each room has a purpose…..each body paragraph has a topic sentence that explains its purpose Each room has a purpose…..each body paragraph has a topic sentence that explains its purpose

Each room has a door …..each body paragraph is indented to mark the “way in” Each room has a door …..each body paragraph is indented to mark the “way in” Each room has a purpose…..each body paragraph has a topic sentence that explains its purpose Each room has a purpose…..each body paragraph has a topic sentence that explains its purpose Each room has a unique size and arrangement that fits its purpose… Each room has a unique size and arrangement that fits its purpose…

Each room has a door …..each body paragraph is indented to mark the “way in” Each room has a door …..each body paragraph is indented to mark the “way in” Each room has a purpose…..each body paragraph has a topic sentence that explains its purpose Each room has a purpose…..each body paragraph has a topic sentence that explains its purpose Each room has a unique size and arrangement that fits its purpose… Each room has a unique size and arrangement that fits its purpose… SO DOES EACH BODY PARAGRAPH SO DOES EACH BODY PARAGRAPH

The way that you define the rooms, the arrangement of furniture, the tone, the finishing touches…

These are the writing skills that you bring to the construction of your body paragraph.

your choice of evidence

your variety of vocabulary

your choice of evidence your variety of vocabulary your writing STYLE!

When each room [BODY PARAGRAPH] is completely furnished…

You are ready for that roof ! STRONG THESIS

Only two parts of your essay are missing STRONG THESIS

An INTRODUCTORY Paragraph

STRONG THESIS An INTRODUCTORY Paragraph and a CONCLUDING Paragraph

The INTRODUCTORY Paragraph STRONG THESIS

The INTRODUCTORY Paragraph is the one that makes your house inviting, attractive, STRONG THESIS

The INTRODUCTORY Paragraph is the one that makes your house inviting, attractive, STRONG THESIS and prepares your guests for what they will enjoy once they are inside.

If your house looks cold and uninviting, you may not have many visitors. The same is true for your essay.

Use the components of the INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH, creative opening & background, to lure your reader into the body of your essay.

Use the INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH to establish the tone and style.

Lead the reader STEP-BY-STEP into the content of the essay itself. Don’t forget to remind the reader that your essay has a…

THESIS STATEMENT STRONG, WELL-BUILT FOUNDATION and many more exciting surprises inside.

All that’s left is the CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH. It’s like a HUGE housewarming party to show your dream house to your friends. Peer at the gardens. Tour all of the rooms, moving easily from one to the next. AND THEN… spend time admiring the house, summarizing the process, and celebrating the masterpiece that you have built. Viola ! You have a concluding paragraph!

Ooops, you might want to consider a brief termite inspection [PROOFREADING for errors] !

LET’S REVIEW…

1.We built a foundation

LET’S REVIEW… 1.We built a foundation [THESIS STATEMENT]

LET’S REVIEW… 1.We built a foundation [THESIS STATEMENT] 2.We divided the house into rooms

LET’S REVIEW… 1.We built a foundation [THESIS STATEMENT] 2.We divided the house into rooms [BODY PARAGRAPHS]

LET’S REVIEW… 1.We built a foundation [THESIS STATEMENT] 2.We divided the house into rooms [BODY PARAGRAPHS] 3. We furnished the rooms

LET’S REVIEW… 1.We built a foundation [THESIS STATEMENT] 2.We divided the house into rooms [BODY PARAGRAPHS] 3. We furnished the rooms [TOPIC SENTENCES]

LET’S REVIEW… 1.We built a foundation [THESIS STATEMENT] 2.We divided the house into rooms [BODY PARAGRAPHS] 3. We furnished the rooms [TOPIC SENTENCES, SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

LET’S REVIEW… 1.We built a foundation [THESIS STATEMENT] 2.We divided the house into rooms [BODY PARAGRAPHS] 3. We furnished the rooms [TOPIC SENTENCES, SUPPORTING EVIDENCE COMMENTARY]

LET’S REVIEW… 1.We built a foundation [THESIS STATEMENT] 2.We divided the house into rooms [BODY PARAGRAPHS] 3. We furnished the rooms [TOPIC SENTENCES, SUPPORTING EVIDENCE, COMMENTARY] 4. We created an inviting entrance

LET’S REVIEW… 1.We built a foundation [THESIS STATEMENT] 2.We divided the house into rooms [BODY PARAGRAPHS] 3. We furnished the rooms [TOPIC SENTENCES, SUPPORTING EVIDENCE, COMMENTARY] 4. We created an inviting walkway [INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH]

LET’S REVIEW… 1.We built a foundation [THESIS STATEMENT] 2.We divided the house into rooms [BODY PARAGRAPHS] 3. We furnished the rooms [TOPIC SENTENCES, SUPPORTING EVIDENCE, COMMENTARY] 4. We created an inviting walkway [INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH] 5. We celebrated our accomplishment

LET’S REVIEW… 1.We built a foundation [THESIS STATEMENT] 2.We divided the house into rooms [BODY PARAGRAPHS] 3. We furnished the rooms [TOPIC SENTENCES, SUPPORTING EVIDENCE, COMMENTARY] 4. We created an inviting walkway [INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH] 5. We celebrated our accomplishment with a CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

LET’S REVIEW… 1.We built a foundation [THESIS STATEMENT] 2.We divided the house into rooms [BODY PARAGRAPHS] 3. We furnished the rooms [TOPIC SENTENCES, SUPPORTING EVIDENCE, COMMENTARY] 4. We created an inviting walkway [INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH] 5. We celebrated our accomplishment [CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH]

NOW, let’s see how those steps look when “BUILDING” an essay.

THESIS STATEMENT TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE COMMENTARY INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

NOW, let’s see how those steps look when you are “BUILDING” an essay. THESIS STATEMENT TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE COMMENTARY INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

NOW, let’s see how those steps look when you are “BUILDING” an essay. THESIS STATEMENT TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE COMMENTARY INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

NOW, let’s see how those steps look when you are “BUILDING” an essay. THESIS STATEMENT TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE COMMENTARY INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH TOPIC SENTENCE

NOW, let’s see how those steps look when you are “BUILDING” an essay. THESIS STATEMENT TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE COMMENTARY INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH TOPIC SENTENCE

NOW, let’s see how those steps look when you are “BUILDING” an essay. THESIS STATEMENT TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE COMMENTARY INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

NOW, let’s see how those steps look when you are “BUILDING” an essay. THESIS STATEMENT TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE COMMENTARY INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE COMMENTARY

NOW, let’s see how those steps look when you are “BUILDING” an essay. THESIS STATEMENT TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE COMMENTARY INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE COMMENTARY

NOW, let’s see how those steps look when you are “BUILDING” an essay. THESIS STATEMENT TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE COMMENTARY INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE COMMENTARY

DID YOU NOTICE…

That just like the house…

DID YOU NOTICE… That just like the house… the essay is not constructed from the roof down.

JUST LIKE THE FINISHED HOUSE… You don’t see the order of the steps that went into the building,

Just the beautiful house, sturdy on its strong foundation.

Party, anyone??

“Writing an Essay is like Building a House” Susan Stofflet, Cherry Hill East High School