The Cheeseburger Method to
Essay Writing
Aim: To learn the structure of a Regents
essay.
Do Now: How do you make a double cheeseburger? List the
steps.
Top Bun: Topic
Sentence. This is part
of the Introduction
Meat Patties: Main Paragraphs.
Here you give specific examples
and facts to support your topic
sentence.
The onions, ketchup, tomatoes, special
sauce, etc. are the additional information
that spices up your essay. The “spices” is the
outside information
Cheese Slices:
Transitional
Sentences. They
connect the topic
sentence to the
more specific
information you are
about to give.
Bottom Bun: Conclusion. The last
part of your essay. The closing
sentence reminds readers of the topic
statement and informs the reader
that the essay has come to end.
Additional Information
• Think of your essay as needing to be like a
double or triple-layered burger.
• The two halves of the bread bun are the vital
INTRODUCTION and the CONCLUSION. Without
both parts of the bread bun, the burger falls
apart.
• When writing a Document Based Essay, am
essential part of the “spices” is the outside
information.
• The more time and effort you put into the
hamburger, the tastier.
2)The onions, ketchup, tomatoes, special
sauce, etc. are
1)Top Bun:
3)Cheese Slices:
Classwork
Directions: Fill
in each of the
boxes. Indicate
which part of an
essay is each
part of the
cheeseburger.
4)Meat Patties:
5)Bottom Bun: