1. Writing with Structure
Schaffer PowerPoint
Writing with Structure

2. Schaffer Method
The Schaffer Method of writing the Multiparagraph Essay gives writers a structure or guide to follow

3. Terminology
In order to succeed in this unit you will need to familiarize yourself with the terminology of the method.

4. Terminology
Essay
A piece of writing that gives your thoughts (commentary) about a subject.

5. Terminology
Essay
All essays you will write in this unit will have at least 4 paragraphs.

6. Each Essay will have: A minimum of Four paragraphs:
An introduction paragraph
Two body paragraphs
A concluding paragraph

7. Introduction Also called the introductory paragraph
The first paragraph in an essay
Includes the thesis, which is MOST OFTEN at the END of the paragraph.

8. Body Paragraph Middle paragraph in an essay
Develops a point that supports your thesis

9. Concluding Paragraph The last paragraph
It may sum up your ideas, reflect on what you said in your essay, say more commentary about your subject, or give a personal statement about the subject.

10. Concluding Paragraph
Your conclusion is ALL COMMENTARY and does not include CONCRETE DETAIL

11. Concluding Paragraph
Your Conclusion DOES NOT repeat KEY WORDS from your paper
Your Conclusion does not repeat KEY WORDS from your THESIS or INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

12. Concluding Paragraph
Your conclusion should give a finished feeling to your whole essay
It should leave the reader satisfied like a runner who has just finished a race!

13. Thesis A sentence with a subject and opinion.
IN this method opinion is also called COMMENTARY

14. Thesis
Your thesis statement should usually come at the end of the introductory paragraph

15. Concrete Details (CD) Specific details easy to “see” or imagine
Like a BRICK—easy to see

16. Concrete Details (CD)
These “specific” details form the BACKBONE or core of your body paragraphs
Will the details in your paragraph, help your paragraph STAND UP STRAIGHT?

17. Concrete Details (CD)
Your paragraphs will only be as STRONG as your DETAILS

18. Concrete Details (CD) Synonyms for CONCRETE Details FACTS SPECIFICS
EXAMPLES
DESCRIPTIONS
ILLUSTRATIONS

19. Concrete Details (CD) Other Synonyms: Support Proof Evidence
Quotations
Paraphrasing
Plot references

20. Commentary (CM) Your opinion or comment about something
NOT concrete detail

21. Commentary (CM) Synonyms for Commentary include: Opinion Insight
Analysis
Interpretation

22. Commentary (CM) Synonyms for Commentary: Inference Personal Response
Feelings
Evaluation
Explication
Reflection

23. Topic Sentence The FIRST SENTENCE in a body paragraph.
Must have a SUBJECT and OPINION (Commentary) for the paragraph.

24. Topic Sentence
The Topic Sentence does the same thing for a BODY PARAGRAPH that the THESIS does for the whole essay

25. Concluding Sentence
Of course, the concluding sentence is the LAST sentence in a body paragraph.

26. Concluding Sentence This sentence is ALL commentary (opinion).
Just like the Concluding Paragraph in the Essay it does NOT:
Repeat key words

27. Concluding Sentence
This sentence should give a finished feeling to the paragraph.
It is done, complete.

28. Shaping the Essay The STEP after Pre-writing.
This is done BEFORE the first draft of the essay
You are still mixing the ingredients needed to write your essay

29. Shaping the Essay
Like a potter who has all of the materials he or she needs, you take the stuff you have done in pre-writing, and put it into a form

30. Shaping the Essay
You make an outline of your thesis, topic sentences, concrete details, and commentary ideas.
Shape it into a lump
It is NOT the finished product yet, just the lump of clay, ready to work with.

31. First Draft
Now you begin to MOLD your essay, making your first creation.
The ROUGH draft

32. First Draft
Just like any artist, the rough draft or first draft will need to be redone.
That is the nature of creating good work.

33. Final Draft The final version of your essay
The beautiful finished product
Just like a potter who reuses the clay, you have reused the material from each draft to craft a beautiful essay

34. Final Draft
This final product includes ALL of the hard work that has gone before
Without all of the previous attempts, it would not be as good as it is now.

35. Peer Response
These are WRITTEN responses and REACTIONS to a partner’s paper.

36. Peer Response
Make sure that your response is SPECIFIC and ACCURATE

37. Chunk This is the smallest unified group of thoughts you can write
It is ONE sentence of concrete detail + 2 sentences of commentary

38. Chunk CD:CM 1:2+ You will see this formula used to represent a CHUNK
This means one CONCRETE DETAIL must have TWO sentences of commentary
CD:CM
1:2+

39. Chunk
Example: CD= My bedroom is the place where I like to relax and let go of the day’s worries. For example, I can play any music I want, from my mother’s old Beatles’ records to my own Shakira compact discs.

40. Chunk CM: Commentary on that CD
#1This shows that in my room I don’t have to be concerned about the sound bothering other family members.

41. Chunk
CM #2:
This shows that being able to listen to my songs in the privacy of my own room helps me unwind and take my mind away from my daily problems

42. Weaving
Blending CD (concrete details) and CM (commentary) in a body paragraph
Just as a person uses different cloth on a loom to weave a rug, putting them in and around each other

43. Weaving
This is a more complex skill in writing, you will learn to WEAVE after you master the original format.

44. Ratio
You should have the correct ratio of 1 part concrete detail (CD) to 2+ parts commentary (CM)

45. Topic Sentence
Topic:
General sentence with a subject and an opinion also called COMMENTARY
Example: Washington is one of the most beautiful states in the country.
Example: South Park is one of the most popular shows on Comedy Central.

46. Topic Sentence According to the Schaffer Method
Every thesis should have a subject and one commentary
Every paragraph should start with a thesis
Analogy: Riding a bicycle with training wheels is like writing with the Schaffer model

47. Topic Sentence Thesis and Commentary Practice:
Write a subject that you have strong feelings about
Write a commentary statement about it

48. Sample Thesis Statements
Circle the subjects and underline the commentary
Sometimes boyfriends are nothing but heartaches
I really hate changing schools
Having divorced parents is awful
The worst day of eighth grade was when I broke my arm
Waves are the funnest things to ride

49. Sample Thesis Statements
Circle the subject and underline the commentary
Camping is fun because I can get away from most of society
Being in high school can have its advantages
I love to watch TV because it’s interesting
Music is the best thing that ever happened
Ice Hockey is a hard sport and very painful.