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. Pre-writing
The process of getting your concrete details down on paper BEFORE you organize your essay into paragraphs

16. Pre-writing
Bubble Cluster
Main Idea

17. Pre-writing
Spider Diagram
Main Idea

18. Pre-writing Outlines I. Main Idea A. Secondary Idea 1. Sub Idea
a. Example
B. Example

19. Pre-Writing Line Clustering
In line clustering you put the subject of the essay you are working on at the top.
You then complete three steps to do a line cluster

20. Line Clustering
LIST
List all of the ideas that come into your mind regarding your subject
You should list SIX ideas
Each IDEA should have at least FIVE words in it

21. Line Clustering LIST (Example)
Subject: Dogs are my favorite kind of animals
Very loyal and loveable all of the time
Fun to play with both inside and outside the house
They take a lot of care and attention
Large dogs need much more space than small dogs
Small dogs can stay in your lap and in your bed
Small dogs can make neighbors more upset

22. Line Clustering
After you list everything you then think of ways you can CATEGORIZE the things in your list together
Example from the left:
Categories can be:
A: Benefits of Dogs
B: Challenges of Caring for Dogs
Subject: Dogs are my favorite kind of animals
Very loyal and loveable all of the time
Fun to play with both inside and outside the house
They take a lot of care and attention
Large dogs need much more space than small dogs
Small dogs can stay in your lap and in your bed
Small dogs can make neighbors more upset

23. Line Clustering STEP THREE:
Label each of your IDEAS in your LIST by the CATEGORY

24. Line Clustering Category A: Benefits Category B: Challenges
Very loyal and loveable all of the time
Fun to play with both inside and outside the house
Small dogs can stay in your lap and in your bed
Category B:
Challenges
They take a lot of care and attention
Large dogs need much more space than small dogs
Small dogs can make neighbors more upset

25. Columns
The last form of Pre Writing in the Schaffer Method is forming Columns

26. Columns
The subject of your pre writing goes in this box #1

27. Columns
Dogs #1
Two main ideas go in the second two boxes #2

28. Columns
Dogs #1 #2
Responsibility
Companions

29. Columns #1 #2 #3 Dogs Responsibility Companions
Each idea in #3 has at least five words
Each idea in #3 has at least five words

30. Columns #1 #2 #3 Dogs Responsibility Companions
Very loyal and loveable all of the time
-They take a lot of care and attention #3

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

32. 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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

44. 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

45. 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

46. 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.

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

48. 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.

49. 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

50. 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.

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

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

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

54. 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+

55. 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.

56. 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.

57. 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

58. 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

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

60. Ratio
You should have the correct ratio of 1 part concrete detail (CD) to 2+ parts commentary (CM)
Your teacher will evaluate your writing using this ratio

61. Word Counts
The minimum length per paragraph to earn a “C”

62. 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.

63. 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

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

65. 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

66. 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.