Process Essay Writing
Staring into the Abyss
“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever
becomes the master” - Ernest Hemingway
Essay Writing Overview
1. Types of Essays
2. Why We Write
3. Methods of
Instruction
4. Basic Elements of
Successful Essays
5. Grading, grading,
and more grading?
Types of Essays
California Assessment Program*
Autobiographical
Observation
Interpretation
Evaluation
Reflection
Controversial Issue
* Source: California Department of Education
Types of Essays (cont.)
Traditional College Rhetorical Modes
Narrative- “What happened and when?”
Definition- “What is it?”
Division/Classification- “What kind is it? What are its
parts?”
Process Analysis- “How did it happen?”
Cause and Effect- “Why did it happen?”
Argumentation/Persuasion- “Why should I want to do
or think that?”
Comparison/Contrast- “What is it (not) like?”
Example/Illustration- “For example?”
Why We Write- Student Reasons
Writing is hard, but
“hard” is rewarding
Writing helps you sort
things out
Writing helps to
persuade others
Writing helps you get
into and through
college
Writing helps you in the
real world
The girl had the
making of a poet in
her who, being told
to be sure of her
meaning before she
spoke, said, “How
can I know what I
think until I see what
I say?”- Graham
Wallas, The Art of
Thought
Why We Write- Teacher Reasons
Writing helps to make
better readers
“Reading and writing are
intertwined and
inseparable language
tools”- Nagin
Writing helps to make
better thinkers
“Analytic writing leads to
deeper reasoning about
less information”- Langer
and Applebee
Methods of Instruction
C-SEE
“C-SEE, I told you so”
Jane Schaffer Method
“Chunks”: BT-CD-CM-CS
We shape our dwellings and afterwards our
dwellings shape us- Winston Churchill
Methods of InstructionC-SEE or Evidential Block
C = Claim
S = Set-Up
E = Evidence
E = Explanation
Methods of InstructionC-SEE: C = Claim
Topic sentence for the paragraph
NOT summary or quotation
Proves / supports your Thesis
Statement
Can be more than one sentence
Ex.: Jack represents the id.
Methods of InstructionC-SEE: S = Set-up
Gives the context for your quotation /
evidence
Can be more than one sentence
Must be punctuated properly
“,” after dialogic set-up
“:” after independent clause set-up
Ex. When the boys are arguing about the fire
going unattended, Jack demonstrates his
views through violence:
Methods of InstructionC-SEE: E = Evidence
MUST NOT be merely summary
“Ralph sat down.”
MUST relate to your thesis statement
and/or claim
MUST have page or line reference
Ex.: “Jack smacked Piggy’s head” (71).
Methods of InstructionC-SEE: E = Explanation
$$$
You do the work of explaining how the
quotation PROVES your claim
Should be 1:3 to 1:5 ratio with quotation
Ex.: Jack’s actions demonstrate that he is
becoming more violent, giving in to his anger,
a classic representation of the id. His
animalistic impulses appear to dominate and
overcome his higher nature. In this situation,
Piggy represents the super-ego, the voice of
reason and order.
Methods of InstructionExample of Evidential Block*
C: Mr. Kortman dominates on the basketball court.
S: I talked to one of my friends this morning who tried
to play defense against him, and he said,
E: “Mr. Kortman scored 43 points off me yesterday,
draining threes, slamming on my head, and faking me
out of not only my shoes but my socks, too!”
E: Anyone who can score 43 points in one game is
pretty good. My friend has always been recognized as
a great defender, so if anyone scores off him, they’re
doing pretty well. Furthermore, we can agree that any
player who can fake his defender out of his socks and
his shoes clearly dominates. [etc.]
* Examples courtesy of Kevin Leal
Methods of InstructionExample of Evidential Block*
C: Simba matures physically, but, more importantly, he
has grown emotionally over the course of the story.
S: At the end of the story,
E: Simba confronts Scar and the evil hyenas.
E: Though it is significant that Simba confronts his
enemies physically, it is more important that he no longer
runs from his problems but faces up to his mistakes of the
past. He admits to the truth of his father’s death,
accepting responsibility in a new and healthy manner.
Furthermore, he demonstrates his inherently heroic
nature by confronting the enemies of his civilization in a
way others have been unable to.
Methods of InstructionJane Schaffer Method
Schaffer preferred to break the writing
process down into discrete “chunks”
This method is most effective when
applied to literary analysis or response
essays
Any given body paragraph would
contain 2-3 chunks
Methods of InstructionSchaffer: Body Paragraph
BT - Body Thesis (or TS - topic sentence)
Chunk #1
Lead + CD (concrete detail – evidence from the text, usually
in the form of a direct quotation)
CM – commentary (student’s opinion)
CM – commentary (student’s opinion)
CM – commentary (student’s opinion)
Chunk #2
Transition + Lead + CD (2nd piece of evidence)
CM
CM
CM
CS (concluding sentence)
Methods of InstructionSchaffer: Benefits
Easy to make Shaping Sheets
Repeatable format that students can
master
Makes assignment expectations clear (i.e.
2 Body Paragraphs, 2 Chunks apiece)
Clear what CM should answer
1. How does the concrete detail prove your body
thesis?
2. To what extent does it provide proof?
Methods of InstructionSchaffer: Example
As we begin our journey, through the Odyssey by Homer, we are shown
throughout that Odysseus is an effective leader because he is clever.
Odysseus and his men stop on an island and meet the Cyclopes where
Odysseus fools a Cyclops by proclaiming, “my name is Nohbody : mother,
father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbody” (906 l. 274-275). This shows
that Odysseus is an effective leader because he uses a clever trick to trick the
Cyclopes when he calls for help. This is because an effective leader should be
able to get his followers out of a tough situation. However there is more
trickery on Odysseus’ part when he clears the great hall of weapons so that the
suitors would not be able to attack him; “wildly they turned around and
scanned the walls the long room for arms; but not a shield, not an ashen spear
was there for a man to take and throw” (956 l.255-258). This shows Odysseus
as an effective leader because he gains the element of surprise which is one of
the most important things. This is because he is clever and knows how think
before the enemy in case any other problems occur. Overall The Odyssey
shows the main character Odysseus as a clever and effective character.
Basic Elements of Successful Essays-
 This
Turning
into
This 
Basic Elements of Successful EssaysIntroduction
Presents the subject of the essay
Responds to the prompt
Proceeds from general to specific
3-6 sentences
Ends in thesis statement
Strong, academic diction
Basic Elements of Successful EssaysThesis Statement
Central focus for essay
Argumentative
Responds to prompt
Not a list or formula
Goes beyond classroom
discussion
Basic Elements of Successful EssaysBody Paragraphs
Logical steps in a
complete argument
Solid topic sentence
Smooth transitions,
when necessary
Concrete details
(quotation/evidence)
set up correctly
Profound and insightful
analysis of evidence
Basic Elements of Successful EssaysConclusion
3-6 sentences, reversing the funnel of
the introduction.
Specific to general
Profound insights
Rewording of the thesis
Hardest paragraph to write
Least important
Basic Elements of Successful EssaysThe Perfect Essay
Skill
Practice
Forward-looking perspective
thinking, planning, and practicing
Remember P.O.W.E.R.
Sentence variety
Vocabulary growth
Philosophical and academic maturity
Questions
Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you
get the right ones in the right order, you can
nudge the world a little- Tom Stoppard