The Schaffer Essay:

1. The Schaffer Essay: Advanced Essay Writing

2. An 5-Paragraph Essay Contains the Following Parts: • Introduction Paragraph (w/ thesis) • Body Paragraph #1 • Body Paragraph #2 • Body Paragraph #3 • Conclusion Paragraph

3. Topic Sentence (TS) • Topic Sentence This sentence should state the fact and be straight to the point.

4. Topic Sentence (TS) In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig is very wise.

5. Concrete Detail (CD) • Concrete Detail This sentence is the "what" sentence and is a fact. It should be either facts, examples, illustrations, evidence, support, paraphrases, citations, quotations, etc. CDs can not be argued with. • Use transitions such as • For example, • For instance, • To illustrate, • Consider,

6. Concrete Detail (CD) In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig is very wise. For example, “Remembering his mother’s warning about a wolf, he builds his house out of sturdy brick.”

7. Commentary (CM) • Commentary There are at least two commentary sentences in each paragraph. These contain analysis, interpretation, opinions, insight, or reasons about the CD. • Most commentary sentences start with one of the following transitions: • This shows that… • This is important because… • As one can see… • It is clear that… • Basically, …

8. Commentary (CM) In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig is very wise. For example, “Remembering his mother’s warning about a wolf, he builds his house out of sturdy brick.” The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house. This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf.

9. Concluding Sentence (CS) • Concluding Sentence  The Concluding Sentence (CS) is the closing sentence that wraps up the TS and sums up the paragraph. It closes up the thoughts and often provides a clue to what the topic will be in the next paragraph. • It usually begins with transitions like: • As a result, • In summary, • All in all, • It can be more than one sentence.

10. A Whole Body Paragraph In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig is very wise (TS).For example, “Remembering his mother’s warning about a wolf, he builds his house out of sturdy brick.” (CD)The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house. This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf (CM). To summarize, the third pig outsmarts not only his brothers but the “big, bad” wolf as well. (CS)

11. Concluding Sentence (CS) In the fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs,” the third pig is very wise. For example, “Remembering his mother’s warning about a wolf, he builds his house out of sturdy brick.” The wolf is unable to blow down the brick house. This shows that the third pig is smarter than his brothers, who were both eaten by the wolf. To summarize, the third pig outsmarts not only his brothers but the “big, bad” wolf as well.

12. Transitions That Show Contrast • however • although • yet • even though • but • nevertheless • unlike • at the same time • conversely • still • despite • on the other hand • in contrast