The Essay Tree
• The Essay Tree’s purpose is to
help you understand and
produce the best essays
possible!
• Much like a real tree, the Essay
Tree is divided into six interrelated parts.
• Now, let’s begin “planting”
ideas.
Preface
Before you can grow
anything you need soil to
plant your seed in.
Your text / topic is the soil,
while your question is the
seed.
Part 1: The Roots
• A tree needs roots before it can even
emerge from the ground.
• So too does your essay require
RESEARCH before it can emerge
from your pen.
• Of course, without strong roots a tree
may wither or die…
• And so will your essay if your
research is not bountiful, relevant and
(you guessed it) nurtured!
Part 1: Roots (cont’d)
• Wait a minute! Nurturing research?
• That’s right! Without the proper organization,
research can quickly get out of hand.
• After all, if a tree’s roots were allowed to spread
unimpeded then they could become tangled, stuck or
even choke the life out of each other!
• Well your essay’s research is no different.
However, by adopting the next slide’s simple
symbol system (SSS) you can avoid these hardships.
Organizing Your Research
Simple Symbo l Sys te m
Moby Dick
(Primary Source)
Rough Research
Symbolism in M.D.
(Secondary Source)
Research Journal
Research Date
(The day you research)
Book Bioliography
(Follow MLA Guidelines)
Facts, Data
Statistics, Information
Relevant Quotations
Questions
Your Analysis/Ideas
Symbol
-
Symbol
Q!
Symbol
?
Symbol
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Part 1: Roots (cont’d)
• Pay Heed!
• Although you want a lot of research remember
two things:
• 1. Know when to stop!
Do not waste your time.
• 2. Be willing to dump!
You cannot keep it all…
• Now let’s move on to Part 2!
Part 2: Trunk
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Once a tree can support itself it’s time to
burst forth from its soil-filled depths!
A tree’s trunk is the foundation upon
which everything else rests.
Not surprisingly, your THESIS provides
the foundation for your entire essay.
Without a strong trunk or thesis both
your tree or your essay would collapse!
As such, you must first ensure that your
essay as strong as possible.
Part 2: Trunk (cont’d)
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So how do you make a thesis strong?
First, you re-read your topic or question. What is the assignment
asking for?
Of course, like a trunk, you must make sure there is a firm
foundation…is your research comprehensive and clear? Do you have
enough?
Well, now it’s time to review YOUR IDEAS (→) for a possible
starting point. Do you see any connections, commonalities or
constructions that relate to your topic?
Remember: A thesis reflects your essay's argument/position. For
example, a successful or 'arguable' thesis is a position you support
(or, at least, a position supported by your research). If it's a true
thesis, you should also be able to argue against it, from the opposing
side.
Part 2: Trunk (cont’d)
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Like a bonsai, your thesis should be constantly
trimmed and directed to get the best single
sentence possible.
Basically, your first thesis should never be your
final thesis! You should constantly revise and
review.
Like a tree, your thesis will evolve as your
research, perspective and requirements grow.
Always ask yourself, how can I make this better?
clearer? more focused? shorter?
A thesis should be clear, concise and coherent.
Your thesis should tell the reader what your a)
essay will be about and b) what your position is.
The Bad Theses
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Topic: Teen Smoking
BT #1: Teen smoking sucks!
Tip: Never use slang or colloquial language in a thesis. Ever. Never
ever! Try to avoid overtly showing your emotions. Let your
argument and evidence speak for you.
BT #2: Perhaps teen smoking might stop if something positive
occurs.
Tip: Avoid ‘weak’ words such as perhaps and might; the reader will
question your authority. Also, avoid using overly generic words such
as something for the same reason.
BT #3: Puffing away, dying each day, shall we allow teens to throw
their lives away?
Tip: Follow Gertrude’s advice to Polonius: “More matter with less
art.”
The Good Thesis
• Topic: Teen Smoking
• GT: Teenage smoking adversely affects
societal development.
• Now ask yourself, what makes this thesis
good?
• Now, ask yourself what could YOU do to
make it better?
Part 2: Trunk (cont’d)
What do tree planting and thesis
writing have in common?
LOCATION, LOCATION,
LOCATION!
For most formal essays, your thesis
should be the second to last or last
sentence in the introductory
paragraph.
The Quantum Mechanics of Essay
Manipulation
However, this will not always be the case.
Like moving from Newtonian Physics (Grade 9-10
science) to Quantum Physics (Grade 11-12 science), all of
the “known rules” become infinitely more complex,
flexible and, well, weird.
Part 3: Branches
• After a tree (and your essay) is
established with a firm foundation, it
is time to “branch out.”
• Branches add endless variety but
always remember, they stem from
the trunk.
• Indeed, a branch lives by the trunk
and dies by the trunk.
• So too do an essay’s criteria or subtopics.
• So let’s take a closer look at the best
way to expand your essay’s size and
scope.
Part 3: Branches (cont’d)
• Criteria are the focal headings under which
you place your proof, evidence and
explanations.
• Criteria work to expand your thesis’ scope by
using relevant headings to funnel specific
information into paragraphs or groups of
related paragraphs.
• Basically, criteria broaden your essay.
Part 3: Branches (cont’d)
Here we are again with the importance of
location.
Location #1:
The criteria should be listed as a sentence
immediately after the thesis.
Location #2:
Each CRITERION SENTENCE (aka
Topic Sentence) should be located at the
beginning of your new body paragraph(s).
Part 3: Branches (cont’d)
Teen Smoking Criteria Examples
Healthcare
Costs
Legal Issues
Media
Representation
Peer Pressure
Social
Exclusion
Monetary Cost
Physical/
Aesthetic
Effects
Changing
Societal
Expectations
Quit Smoking
Programs
Part 4: Leaves
• Of course, what use is a branch
without leaves?
• Leaves fill out the branch, adding
colour, depth and variety.
• So too do the Point, Proof and
Explanations (PPE) fill out the criteria,
support the thesis and work to
complete the essay.
• Again, remember, everything in an
essay grows from, and thus is
connected to, everything else.
Part 4: Leaves (cont’d)
• So how to the three work together?
• Point: A statement that introduces your specific
argument/opinion related to the criterion, related
to the thesis.
• Proof: The evidence (facts, stats, quotes) that
supports your claim.
• Explanation: Your personal analysis that further
explores the connection between your point and
the evidence and goes on to explain what this
connection means.
Fertilizing Explanations
• These two questions are like fertilizer for
plants…they keep your explanations
healthy and full:
– SO WHAT?
– WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE?
• Answer and include the answer to these
questions in your explanation sentences.
Part 4: Leaves (cont’d)
• Point: The tobacco industry supports teen
smoking.
• Proof: This can be seen by the fact that
there is only “a 10% likelihood that
someone will start smoking after
18”(Ontario Health).
• Explanation: As such, the tobacco industry
subtly targets teens knowing they represent
the most malleable target audience.
Note the transition words and
phrases in the preceding slide.
These words not only improve
your essay’s flow, but also help
connect each sentence, thereby
creating a stronger bond and
thus a firmer authoritative
stance.
Part 5: Fruit
• A tree is more enticing
when it is laden with fresh
fruit.
• Well you’ll have a more
enticing essay if you add
literary flair to your work.
• So what is literary flair?
Well, let’s find out!!!!! 
multiple exclamation points are NOT
flair
Part 5: Fruit (cont’d)
• Flair is anything that makes your essay more
enjoyable or engaging to read.
• Mainly, flair can be found in the introduction and
conclusion since these two paragraphs hook and
release the reader.
• Examples of flair are: relevant quotations,
shocking statistics, opening anecdotes, poignant
poems, interesting narratives, innovative images
and much more.
• Can you think of other forms of literary flair?
Part 6: The Hole
• Now even if you have grown a great
tree, you still must be wary of pests and
diseases.
• So too must you be wary of errors and
omissions in your essay.
• Proofreading is an essential aspect in
writing an essay.
• And, be prepared to re-write, re-word or
re-organize anything that does not work.
• Finally, try to write your paper over
time, finish it earlier and review it after
3-4 days have passed. This will give you
a fresh perspective.
Part 6: The Hole (cont’d)
• When proofreading, follow these easy steps and watch your
writing improve!
• 1. Run a spell check
• 2. Put your essay away for 2+ days. Make changes.
• 3. Print out a hard copy and read it over for errors –
grammatical, syntax and spelling. Your eyes will catch on
paper what they overlook on a monitor.
• 4. Now make your corrections and print out another hard copy
and examine it for thesis-based improvements: accuracy,
organization and argument changes. Does your essay reflect
and support your thesis? Make these changes.
• 5. Finally, print out a final hard copy and give it to a trusted
proofreader. Discuss any changes they might suggest.
THE END
Now that you know what to do, put it into practice.
There’s s a whole word of writing out there for you to explore.
Good Luck!