Writing an essay is like building a
house
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?
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 ?
How could you keep it from falling
over?
What function would it serve ?
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
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…
A house isn’t very useful until it is divided into
different rooms to fit the different purposes you
will demand of ita place to eat, a place to sleep, a
place to watch TV, etc.
Living room
bedroom
THESIS STATEMENT
An ESSAY needs divisions, too.
They are called BODY PARAGRAPHS
BODY
PARAGRAPH
BODY PARAGRAPH
ONE
THESIS STATEMENT
BODY PARAGRAPH
TWO
Just as each room is slightly different, so is each body
paragraph different.
BODY
PARAGRAPH
BODY PARAGRAPH
ONE
THESIS STATEMENT
BODY PARAGRAPH
TWO
Each room is different and
each body paragraph is different.
BODY
PARAGRAPH
BODY PARAGRAPH
ONE
THESIS STATEMENT
BODY PARAGRAPH
TWO
But, they do have similarities in
the way they are structured…

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 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 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…

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
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 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
STRONG THESIS
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,
and prepares
your guests for
what they will
enjoy once
they are inside.
STRONG THESIS
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…
STRONG, WELL-BUILT FOUNDATION and
many more
exciting
surprises
inside.
THESIS STATEMENT
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…
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.
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.
TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING
EVIDENCE
COMMENTARY
INTRODUCTORY
PARAGRAPH
CONCLUDING
PARAGRAPH
THESIS STATEMENT
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
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
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
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.
INTRODUCTORY
PARAGRAPH
THESIS STATEMENT
TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
COMMENTARY
TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
COMMENTARY
TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
COMMENTARY
CONCLUDING
PARAGRAPH
NOW, let’s see how those steps look when you are “BUILDING” an essay.
INTRODUCTORY
PARAGRAPH
THESIS STATEMENT
TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
COMMENTARY
TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
COMMENTARY
TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
COMMENTARY
CONCLUDING
PARAGRAPH
DID YOU NOTICE…
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