How to take a kernel (5 sentence) essay to a full essay.
FIRST:
Find the important words in the prompt. In this case, the prompt is expository:
Write an essay explaining the importance of showing kindness to others.
THEN:
From this prompt, identify the most important words that must appear in the essay. Write these
important words in the top margin of a sheet of notebook paper. These are the focus of your paper. In
this prompt, they are:
important or importance
kind or kindness
Now come up with other ways to say these words. For example, instead of using the word “kind,” use
the word “nice.”
NEXT:
 Write a kernel essay format on your paper. Skip lines between these parts to give yourself
enough room to write your sentences. Suggested lines to skip are in parenthesis in the kernel
essay, but use your best judgment based on knowing who you are as a writer.
Topic with important words (3-4) –
Example 1 (9-10) –
Example 2 (9-10) –
Example 3 (9-10) –
Concl/echo with important words –
 Begin filling in the kernel essay by creating your controlling idea sentence (topic sentence) and
your echo sentence (concluding sentence).
 Right now, these can be basic sentences including the words, or you can develop one or both of
them at this point.
Topic with important words – It is important to be kind.
Example 1 –
Example 2 –
Example 3 –
Concl/echo with important words – For everyone, kindness is one of the most important things
in the world.
 Notice that the introductory sentence is not developed, but the concluding sentence (echo) seems
like it is.
ADDING EXAMPLES:
 Now, it is time to add in your examples, supports and details for the middle of your paragraph.
Add these in a way that will make sense or has a specific purpose to your paper.
 These are not full paragraphs, yet. You are only adding the nugget of information that you will
include in your paper.
Topic with important words – It is important to be kind.
Example 1 – Maya Angelou once said, “Kindness is only superior to love if we give it away.”
Example 2 – Bill Gates gives away millions each year to make people’s lives better.
Example 3 – When I am playing a sports game, at the end of the game, there is always a
handshake and a “good game” line from both teams.
Concl/echo with important words – Kindness is one of the most important things in the world.
DEVELOP PARAGRAPHS:
 Now it is time to add information to each of the details given to make paragraphs. Each
paragraph should have a well-developed thought and flow nicely to the next paragraph.
 You may choose to write your sentences stacked during this process, instead of in paragraph
form.
(3-5 sentences with the words from the prompt in your controlling idea) Topic with
important words –People can choose to be nice or mean, but it is the ones who seek to be kind
that seem to achieve more in life. Kindness is defined as: being friendly, generous, and
considerate. Individually, all of these matter, but is most important to be kind.
(3-6 sentences with strong connections between ideas) Example 1 – I think it may have been
Maya Angelou who said, “Kindness is only superior to love if we choose to give it away to
others.” It doesn’t just happen. You need to look for ways to give away your kindness at places
in your community. This might be through volunteering at a local animal shelter or helping the
homeless by donating clothing or money. However, being considerate can also mean unloading
the dishwasher for your parents without being asked. All of the little things people do add up.
(3-6 sentences with strong connections between the first and second paragraph and in the
second paragraph’s ideas) Example 2 – Pennies are little, but they add up to dollars. Bill
Gates gives away millions each year to make people’s lives better. This helps the whole world
when he helps a group who is suffering, because they then have opportunities they wouldn’t have
before. Their opportunities make the world a better place.
(3-6 sentences with strong connections between the second and third paragraph and in the
third paragraph’s ideas) Example 3 – Isn’t that what kindness is all about? Making the world
a better place where ever we can? Even when I am playing a sports game, at the end of the game
like soccer, there is always a handshake and a “good game” line from both teams. Even though
one team lost and the other won, this small kindness of a handshake lines lets us know we did a
good job and worked hard. For the team that lost, this makes a big difference.
(3-5 sentences with an echo to the introduction and including the important words)
Concl/echo with important words – Kindness is one of the most important things in the world
to all of us. A smile, a donation, a handshake can change someone’s day and make it better and
that’s what it’s all about.
 Re-read what you have written; make changes and deletions, and then write your paper on the
lined paged.
 Remember to indent paragraphs and make changes to strengthen your paper.
FINAL PAPER:
People can choose niceness or meanness, but those who try to be kind seem to
achieve more. Kindness: being friendly, generous, and considerate. All of these
matter, but is most important to be kind.
I think Maya Angelou said, “Kindness is only superior to love if we give it
away.” You need to look for ways to give away kindness in your community. This
might be by volunteering at a local shelter or helping the homeless by donating
clothing or money. Being kind can also mean emptying the dishwasher without
being asked. All the little things do add up.
Pennies are little, but they become dollars. Bill Gates gives away millions to
make people’s lives better. This helps the world when he gives to a group who is
suffering, because they have opportunities they wouldn’t have had. Those chances
make the world better.
Making the world better is what kindness and compassion are about. Even
when I am done playing a sports game, there is always a handshake and a “good
game” line from both teams. Even though one team lost, this small kindness of a
handshake lets us know we worked hard. For the team that lost, this makes a big
difference.
A smile, a donation, a handshake can change someone’s day and make it better
and that’s what it’s all about. Kindness is the most important things in the world to
all of us. It is the thing that can change our lives.