Writing an essay is like building a house

1. Writing an essay is like building a house

2. 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

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

4. 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 ?

5. 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?

6. 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? What function would it serve ?

7. 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.

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

9. 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

10. 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]

11. 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…

12. 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. Living room bedroom THESIS STATEMENT

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

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

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

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

17. Each room has a door

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

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

20. 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

21. 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 unique size and arrangement that fits its purpose…

22. 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 unique size and arrangement that fits its purpose… SO DOES EACH BODY PARAGRAPH

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

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

25. your choice of evidence

26. your choice of evidence your variety of vocabulary

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

28. When each room [BODY PARAGRAPH] is completely furnished…

29. You are ready for that roof ! MYHOUSE STRONG THESIS

30. Only two parts of your essay are missing MYHOUSE STRONG THESIS

31. An INTRODUCTORY Paragraph MYHOUSE STRONG THESIS

32. An INTRODUCTORY Paragraph and a CONCLUDING Paragraph MYHOUSE STRONG THESIS

33. The INTRODUCTORY Paragraph MYHOUSE STRONG THESIS

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

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

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

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

38. Use the INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH to establish the tone and style.

39. 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…

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

41. 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!

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

43. LET’S REVIEW…

44. LET’S REVIEW… • We built a foundation

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

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

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

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

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

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