Using the "Hamburger Method" to Write an Essay: Overview
- Planning the Essay
- Writing Paragraphs
The diagram to the left can help you easily remember the simple essay structure.
Emma Dunn, Writing and Multimodal Communication Speciliast at the University of Waterloo, explains:
In short, each ingredient of the hamburger represents a different paragraph of the essay. It starts with an introduction paragraph and ends with a conclusion paragraph, represented by the top and bottom buns, respectively. Just like a real burger bun, these paragraphs frame the juicy contents inside – the body paragraphs – which are each represented by a different topping: lettuce, tomato, or patty.
Pay attention to the order of toppings in the hamburger essay. The lettuce comes first; it’s light and flimsy, representing one of the lighter arguments of the paper. The tomato is somewhat more robust (in terms of argument), while the patty at the end is the true “meat” of the essay. Just like the toppings of a hamburger in real-life, the body paragraphs build on one another to fill out the paper, giving it substance and flavour.
Dunn, Emma, "How to Turn the High School "Hamburger" Essay into a University-level Paper." Writing and Communication Centre: September 14, 2020. University of Waterloo. Accessed November 24, 2023. https://uwaterloo.ca/writing-and-communication-centre/blog/how-turn-high-school-hamburger-essay-university-level-paper.
- Next: Planning the Essay >>
- Last Updated: Nov 25, 2023 12:41 AM
- URL: https://library.cdu.edu/hamburger-method
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How to turn the high school “hamburger” essay into a university-level paper
It goes by many names: the 5-paragraph essay, three-tier paper, or 1-3-1 model, to name a few. Many of you know it as the “hamburger” essay – an easy-to-follow model for writing papers that’s often taught in North American high schools.
During my first semester of undergrad, I heard it again and again from my professors and TAs: don't submit a hamburger essay. "Forget everything you learned in high school," they told me, "university writing is different!"
I had always done well on my high school writing assignments. I thought essay writing in university would be a breeze. So, the idea of throwing away all my past knowledge and practice felt confusing and overwhelming. If I wasn’t supposed to write essays in university the same way I wrote them in high school, then how was I supposed to write at all? And where was I supposed to learn these mysterious new writing techniques, anyway?
Now, after many years of honing my academic writing skills and becoming a writing instructor myself, I’m here to say, loud and proud: I love the hamburger essay.
This is somewhat of a controversial statement in higher education. For years, many professors have condemned the “hamburger” model of essay writing, resenting its rules and restrictions. And while many of these critiques are valid, I believe there are too many valuable aspects of the hamburger essay to throw it away altogether. In fact, many of the same techniques that make a hamburger essay great, can also be used to craft a quality academic paper.
So no, you don’t need to “forget everything you learned in high school” when it comes time to write your first university essay! Keep reading to learn how you can use turn your high school hamburger essay into a strong university-level paper.
What is the hamburger essay?
The hamburger essay is well-known and well-loved because of its simple and easy to remember structure. If you're new to the hamburger essay, check out the diagram below to learn more about how it works.
In short, each ingredient of the hamburger represents a different paragraph of the essay. It starts with an introduction paragraph and ends with a conclusion paragraph, represented by the top and bottom buns, respectively. Just like a real burger bun, these paragraphs frame the juicy contents inside – the body paragraphs – which are each represented by a different topping: lettuce, tomato, or patty.
Pay attention to the order of toppings in the hamburger essay. The lettuce comes first; it’s light and flimsy, representing one of the lighter arguments of the paper. The tomato is somewhat more robust (in terms of argument), while the patty at the end is the true “meat” of the essay. Just like the toppings of a hamburger in real-life, the body paragraphs build on one another to fill out the paper, giving it substance and flavour.
How to use the hamburger model in university
If you’re already familiar with the hamburger or 5-paragraph essay model, there are many great aspects of it that you can keep and adapt in your university essay writing . Keep reading to learn how!
1. The top bun (a.k.a the introduction paragraph)
The hamburger essay begins with a strong introduction paragraph (the top bun) that sets up the rest of the paper and presents the essay’s primary thesis statement or argument. In high school, students are often taught to begin their introduction paragraph with the broadest or most general information first, and gradually narrow in on the specifics. They’re also taught to begin the introduction with a narrative hook – a catchy phrase or fact to grab the reader’s attention – and to end the introduction with a “road map,” which outlines what each paragraph of the essay will discuss, in the order of information presented.
Although at the university level, introductions may be longer than one paragraph (depending on the length of the essay overall), they should still begin with more general contextual information first, then narrow in on a more focused thesis statement . This structure helps guide the reader by presenting them with the background information they require for the thesis and body paragraphs to make sense.
You can also keep the introductory “hook” and “road map” pieces of the hamburger introduction, but note the differences in what these elements look like at the university level. While high school writers often try to catch the reader’s attention by asserting a universal or historical truth (e.g. “Since the dawn of time…” or “Throughout history…”), a hook at the university level should remain focused on the specific topic at hand – a surprising fact or statistic works well here.
Additionally, while a high school-level road map might outline the topic of each and every body paragraph in the essay, a university-level road map should be less detailed. Because university papers are typically longer than high school papers, it makes more sense to only mention the paper’s main overarching arguments (if at all) in the road map section, rather than summarize every paragraph.
To learn more about how to write a strong university-level introduction, check out this WCC resource on introductions.
2. The bottom bun (a.k.a. the conclusion paragraph)
The hamburger essay ends with a satisfying conclusion paragraph (the bottom bun) that summarizes its findings and wraps up the paper’s arguments. High school students are often taught to structure their conclusion paragraph in the reverse order of the introduction, beginning with the most specific information and broadening out to the most general . Hamburger essay conclusions often restate the thesis at the start of the paragraph, then go on to summarize each point of the essay.
At the university level, you should continue to structure your conclusion by presenting the most specific pieces of information related to your thesis first, followed by the more general ideas. Structuring your conclusion this way helps transition the reader out of the paper’s arguments and into a broader reflection on the topic .
However, you don’t have to limit yourself to only one paragraph for your conclusion (hint: introductions and conclusions typically make up 10-15% of the essay length overall). And while it’s good practice to remind your reader of the essay’s main arguments and findings, too much repetition can be a bore. Try focusing instead on the significance of the paper’s claims and discoveries to highlight for the reader why your essay matters – why your thesis is significant in a larger context.
For deeper insight into how to write a university-level conclusion, view our conclusions resource here.
3. The toppings (a.k.a. the body paragraphs)
The body paragraphs of a hamburger essay are its meatiest parts (pun intended). In high school, students are often taught to explain, and provide evidence for, their main thesis by presenting three distinct points in three separate body paragraphs, ordered roughly from the weakest point to the strongest. In this model, each body paragraph supports the essay’s thesis by providing a new piece of information to back-up the author’s primary claim. Also, each paragraph articulates its main point in a single topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph.
For university essays, there’s a lot to like about the hamburger essay paragraph model. For example, it’s important that each paragraph of your university-level paper works to substantiate the paper's overarching thesis statement . This will prevent your essay from going off on tangents – that is, presenting ideas or research that are not directly related to the essay's focused goal. You should also pay attention to the order of ideas presented; while ordering your points from weakest to strongest (as in the hamburger model) isn’t necessary, there should be a logical flow to your ideas . Ask yourself: what does my reader need to understand first in order to understand what’s coming next?
Topic sentences are also super useful in academic papers : they help alert the reader to the paragraph’s main idea and provide context for the evidence presented within the paragraph itself. In a traditional academic essay, readers should be able to read the first sentence (or two) of each paragraph only, and still have a strong idea of the paper’s main arguments and points.
However, university-level essays can – and should – have more than three body paragraphs . This is perhaps the biggest complaint against the hamburger essay structure: that it tricks students into thinking they can only provide three pieces of evidence to back-up their thesis statements. Academic essays, especially research essays, should present the reader with a great breadth of evidence and information to prove their claims. It’s up to you – the writer – to decide how much evidence is needed, and how it can be organized logically into body paragraphs for the reader to follow.
On a similar note, some points in your academic paper will require more than one body paragraph to develop, and that’s ok! Let’s say, for example, that you’re writing an essay on the benefits of free community programming for reducing loneliness amongst senior citizens. It may take only one paragraph to present your research on loneliness amongst seniors, but maybe three or four paragraphs to show why publicly-funded programs are attractive to senior citizens in particular.
While some students believe, based on the hamburger model, that each new paragraph requires a brand new topic or point, in reality, there is more flexibility to the “rules” of academic writing. As long as each of your paragraphs is tackling one coherent idea at a time, you may choose to develop a single point over numerous body paragraphs . This is especially true if you have a lot of evidence to discuss!
To learn more about how to write strong body paragraphs at the university level, check out this WCC resource on body paragraphs.
Final thoughts…
Keep in mind that every writing assignment in university is different and not all papers follow the traditional essay format. In fact, most essay assignments come with specific guidelines from the professor, which you should always follow with care, and ask questions about if you’re unsure.
If you’re transitioning from high school and looking for help with your writing projects, why not check out our new program for first-years, Waterloo Ready to Write ! Or book an appointment with one of our friendly and helpful writing instructors at the WCC. We would love to help you out.
Writing essays in university can be intimidating, especially if you’re new at it. But remember, you’re here for a reason, and you’ve already got a great foundation to start from! Try to think about writing in university as an extension and adaptation of what you already know. If you have an open mind, take your professors’ feedback to heart, and push yourself to try new things, you’ll be setting yourself up for success.
How and Why to Use Writing Anchor Charts with Students
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Do you feel like banging your head against the wall when teaching writing?
Anchor charts to the rescue!
These all-important writing tools will ease frustration for you and your students.
This article contains affiliate links to things that you might like.
What Are Anchor Charts?
Anchor charts are visual references that help your students work independently.
They are the nuts and bolts of your instruction arranged in a straightforward, engaging way (typically a one-page chart or graphic).
An anchor chart is the reference tool for the student.
Instead of asking you what to do next (or sitting there staring out the window), the student follows the step-by-step guidelines on the anchor chart to complete the assignment.
You can tell a student one hundred times that a well-written paragraph starts with a topic sentence, has three supporting sentences, and ends with a concluding sentence, but he may blank when he has to do it himself.
With the visual reminder and reference tool (a.k.a. the anchor chart), the student can follow the template and write the paragraph with no reminders from you.
How to Make an Anchor Chart
An effective anchor chart is the following:
Includes Only the Essentials
All anchor charts are not created equal.
The best anchor charts contain only the essentials.
They should not be a transcript of your instruction.
The student has already heard the lesson.
Anchor charts should include the main ideas or keywords to jog the student’s memory.
Is Visually Appealing and Memorable
If possible, the anchor chart should have a graphic element.
This keeps the chart organized and visually appealing.
My favorite anchor chart for the paragraph is the hamburger .
It’s a great visual and is quite memorable.
Fits on One Page
The best anchor charts are one page, so you can place them in a sleeve protector for easy reference.
How to Use Anchor Charts
How do you use writing anchor charts?
It’s as easy as 1-2-3.
1-Give the Lesson
Teach the writing lesson as you usually would.
If you have a large-size version of the anchor chart (or you can project it), refer to it as you teach.
2-Hand Out the Anchor Chart
Give each student a copy of the anchor chart.
I like to print charts on cardstock and/or slide them in sleeve protectors so they will stand up over time. An anchor chart can be used again and again.
If this is the first time the student is seeing this anchor chart, go through it question and answer style.
(e.g., “What is the first thing you do?” or “How do you decide on a title?”)
3-Consider Adding a Graphic Organizer
Arrangement is one of the most challenging aspects of writing.
This is particularly true for students who struggle with dysgraphia.
Having a companion, fill-in-the-blank graphic organizer can help struggling writers organize their thoughts.
The anchor chart provides the reference, and the graphic organizer is a place to record and categorize the parts of the story or paper.
Ideas for Writing Anchor Charts
Here are some ideas for writing anchor charts.
Other Ways to Say “Said”
This FREE anchor chart has a list of verbs that you can swap out for the overused word “said.”
Paragraph Anchor Chart
Learning to write a paragraph is a fundamental writing skill.
This hamburger anchor chart pack has digital and print versions of the anchor chart and a companion graphic organizer.
How to Decide on a Title
Students often flounder when deciding on a title.
An anchor chart can walk them through just how to title their story or paper.
5 Parts of a Sentence
What are the parts of a sentence?
An anchor chart can remind students to begin with a capital letter, end with a mark of punctuation, include a subject and a verb, and make sure the words make complete sense.
Parts of a Story
What are the parts of a story?
It all starts with characters, setting, problem, and solution.
Using Anchor Charts for Writing
Most students need help to learn how to write.
They must practice the process over and over.
This is where anchor charts can be helpful.
They break the process down into manageable chunks and cue the student on what to do next.
Anchor charts can ease the frustration of both students and teachers by making students more independent.
You May Also Like:
- Picture Writing Prompts to Get Students Writing
- How to Teach Paragraph Writing
- Using Guided Writing with Your Students
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Hamburger Paragraph Chart
- homeschool printables , Grammar , Writing Printables , Homeschool Classroom
Learning the structure of a paragraph is an important step in the writing process. Today I’ve got a Free Hamburger Paragraph Chart you can use in your classroom. If you’ve never heard of this before, this is a fantastic resource for teaching young writers just exactly what they need to include inside a paragraph. The visual of a hamburger shows them to include an Introduction, Detail, Detail, Detail and then a Conclusion. I’ve also created a fun follow up worksheet for children to build their own hamburger paragraphs!
Free Hamburger Paragraph Classroom Chart
Free Hamburger Paragraph Worksheet
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As a homeschooling mother of four, I understand the need for children to build self-led learning skills and I’ve designed our step-by-step guides to encourage this development. Each guide features five steps of instruction, explaining to the child what is required for that step, and what specific worksheets need to be completed. You can assign these steps to children simply by following a 5 day a week teaching schedule or by adding a due date next to each check box. Read more about our Step-by-Step process below, and view samples of our guides in our eStore .
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Valerie Mcclintick
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This an awesome visual aid! I have been working with my son on paragraph structure, and he hasn’t quite understood it, yet. I know this will be a great help. Thank you for sharing. :)
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Deluxe Hamburger Paragraph Planning
Love this idea. I have seen smaller versions of this before but this is a great anchor chart. Great post :)
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Monday, October 19, 2020
Free printable hamburger graphic organizer for paragraph writing.
Writing paragraphs is challenging for lots of kids, my son included. So we've been making use of graphic organizers to help him with his writing. Basically, I want it to be less stressful and anxiety-inducing for him.
I really like using this hamburger graphic organizer for writing because it helps my son plan out his paragraphs before actually writing them. It helps break down the writing process into smaller, bite-sized pieces and helps him visualize what his paragraph should look like.
The idea is to make a nice juicy hamburger, loaded with toppings, instead of a boring bunwich with no "meat." As delicious as buns are, they're a bit boring on their own...
About the Hamburger Graphic Organizer
This graphic organizer is designed to help kids plan out and organize their thoughts before writing a paragraph.
Hamburger paragraph writing follows the format of writing a paragraph with an opening sentence about the topic, supporting it with three details, and wrapping it up or closing the paragraph with a concluding sentence.
Basically, they're building a hamburger where the buns are the opening and concluding sentence and the meat and toppings are the supporting details.
The hamburger would be pretty boring with just the buns, right? Same idea goes for paragraphs. A well-written paragraph needs details to support the topic or argument. Essentially, it needs a bit of "meat."
So encourage kids to think about the "meat" of their paragraph ahead of time by writing it down on this blank hamburger graphic organizer and they'll be that much closer to writing a better paragraph.
Download the Free Hamburger Graphic Organizer Printable
This printable includes two hamburger graphic organizers, one with lines and one without, that your child can fill in. A digital Google Slides version is included as well. To get your copy, click the link below.
>> Click here to download the free printable
Looking for More Graphic Organizers?
You'll find even more graphic organizers for reading and writing in the graphic organizers bundle pack.
Click here to get your copy of the graphic organizers bundle pack
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7 strong narrative writing anchor charts.
Narrative Writing is my personal favorite type of writing to teach. The creativity and possibilities that come with this type of writing are endless! Today, we are going to take a look at 7 strong anchor charts for teaching narrative writing. Anchor charts are always a great tool for introducing or even revisiting a skill. In this case, the anchor charts are going to help students better understand the requirements and structure of narrative writing.
Introduce the Narrative Writing Structure
First, students will need to know what Narrative Writing is! Students will be tasked with writing narrative stories throughout their education. The anchor chart above divides the topic into personal and fictional narrative writing. Initially, students will be writing stories about events that they experienced, personal narratives. However, writing those personal stories will help students develop writing skills that will enhance their fictional narratives, too!
Next, you will want to show students the narrative writing structure. This anchor chart displays the narrative writing structure as a hamburger [or veggie burger :)]. I like to think that this structure image helps students remember that you can fill your burger with yummy ingredients (events and details), but it also needs a top and bottom (an introduction and conclusion).
Teach Students to Focus on Small Moments
Now, students will need help narrowing their writing ideas down to a specific event. This concept is more difficult for students to understand than one would think. So, we like to use a watermelon as a metaphor.
The whole watermelon represents a broad topic or big idea, like “Summer.” You wouldn’t want to write about your entire summer in one story. So, you take a slice out of that watermelon. Maybe your family took a trip or did something fun together over the summer. The slice may represent a “Family Trip.” Within that slice, there are seeds or specific events/things that were memorable on the trip. For example, maybe it was your first time riding a big roller coaster, you made a friend at the playground, built a sandcastle at the beach, made cookies with your grandmother, etc.
Choosing one of those memories and zooming in on the details and feelings of the moment will make for a much better story than simply writing about summer.
Focus on Aspects of the Body of Writing
Our next Narrative Writing Anchor Chart will focus in on the Body of the piece. This will be all of those yummy ingredients within your story burger! You will want students to remember that a story has a beginning, middle, and end. They also need to know that within those parts, there needs to be detail and description that engages the reader. *This chart can also be made with a simple, 3-row chart where you could provide an example of each event with details. OR laminate it and reuse it over and over!
Feelings and actions are very important to narrative writing. I recommend having a mini-lesson where students can get involved in the making of a feelings and actions anchor chart. Discuss different feelings and emotions you may experience during a memorable event. Then, talk about the actions that you may do during the event or during those emotions.
Teaching Introductions and Conclusions Explicitly
Finally, you are going to need to talk about those buns! The introduction and conclusion parts of your story burger are just as important as the middle. Many times, it is more effective to write introductions and conclusions after the body of the piece has been written. Be sure to provide examples of different types of hooks and closings from narrative stories you may have read. This is a great opportunity to refer back to mentor texts you have already read. Revisiting just the introduction and conclusion, students will remember how those stories were as readers. It will help them, creatively, and keep them developing their skill!
These simple narrative writing anchor charts are going to be great tools to refer back to throughout the year!
Interested in Free Graphic Organizers for Your Writing Unit?
Or do you want ready-made lesson plans for narrative writing.
If you’re interested in getting your students to master writing without having to spend hours on planning and prep, I have all-inclusive units for you! These no-prep units have everything you need to teach opinion writing in your classroom!
Narrative Units come complete with anchor charts, lesson plans, graphic organizers, writing prompts, and more! Click the button for your grade-level below:
Want to learn more about teaching Narrative Writing?
- Mentor Texts for Narrative Writing
- How to Teach Narrative Writing
- The Importance of Pre-Writing
- Read more about: Anchor Charts , Common Core Aligned , Writing Blog Posts
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Anchor Charts to Improve Writing Skills
WHAT ARE ANCHOR CHARTS?
Anchor charts are tools that support learning in the classroom. They can be used to support everything from classroom management strategies to the teaching of writing.
Essentially, they are visual prompts that provide students with information regarding their prior learning on a given topic. These visual prompts are used to provide a scaffold to support the students during guided practice and independent work.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ANCHOR CHARTS FOR WRITING AND READING?
Anchor charts are becoming increasingly popular in classrooms for some very good reasons. They offer a wealth of benefits for students and teachers alike.
Here are just a few of the great benefits of using anchor charts as writing tools in the classroom.
Anchor Charts Provide Increased Student Engagement
Anchor charts are an effective way of encouraging student engagement. Not only do they increase student confidence when engaged in a writing task, but they help to keep students on task by offering support in the form of visual prompts that help unstick the stuck! These anchor chart examples below provide students with a great visual point of reference to learn from.
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Anchor Charts Deepen Comprehension
Often, students get involved in the actual production of the anchor charts themselves. When helping to produce the anchor charts, students will have opportunities to reconstruct their learning and thereby deepen their comprehension of the material in the process.
As they construct their charts, students begin to make new connections between the various aspects of their learning as they organize these aspects in a visually comprehensible manner.
Anchor Charts Supports Independent Work
Learning to write well can be one of the most challenging things a student learns to do at school.
As students learn to navigate the demands of various writing genres , seemingly endless questions arise at word, sentence, and whole text level.
This, in turn, makes heavy demands on the teacher’s time as individual students struggle with the various challenges of a given task.
Fortunately, anchor charts can help alleviate some of that burden by providing a visual resource and reference point that help students to answer many of the more commonly asked questions for themselves. This frees up the teacher from having to repeatedly answer the same questions throughout the course of a lesson, making more time to offer support where it’s most needed.
WHAT DO ANCHOR CHARTS LOOK LIKE?
Anchor charts come in all shapes and sizes and can be commercially bought or produced collaboratively by students and teachers in class.
Commercially bought Anchor Charts are great for permanent displays within the classroom.
Usually well-presented in bold lettering using dynamic colors, professionally-produced charts work well for topics that recur throughout the course of the year and are complex enough to require ongoing reinforcement.
When anchor charts are self-produced, they are usually handwritten in large print and displayed in a prominent position in the classroom for easy reference.
Usually, a co-creation between the student and the teacher, the charts should contain only the essential information regarding the topic.
When deciding what to include on a chart, think about the concepts, strategies, and prior learning that will most help students to work independently when engaged in their work.
HOW ARE ANCHOR CHARTS CREATED IN THE CLASSROOM?
To produce an anchor chart in the classroom requires very little in the way of resources other than some chart paper and some colored markers. Other than these, and defining a clear purpose and focus for your anchor chart, there is no specific preparation required.
However, there are a number of common elements to consider when producing anchor charts for use in the classroom. Some of these include:
● Paper: Decide whether you are using adhesive paper, lined paper, blank paper, colored paper etc
● Font-Size: This should be large enough to see from the various working areas of the classroom
● Collaboration: Is it teacher-produced or a collaboration? What is the level of student involvement?
Where Anchor Charts are to be co-created with students, generally, they will be produced in collaboration with the students as you teach the lesson.
The chart will include the most important content and relevant strategies. In the case of the various writing genres, a list of the main criteria that must be included works well.
The anchor charts can then be used by the students as a checklist to refer to as the writing is produced. They can also serve for a final check when the work has been completed.
Here are some general tips to help ensure you get the most out of Anchor Charts in your classroom:
● Keep things simple
● Be sure the writing is well organised and easy to read
● Use headings and bullet points to help display the main points
● Use different colors for headings, bullet points etc
● Use simple pictures, graphs, illustrations etc to help reinforce points
● Don’t fill with lots of distracting details or graphics
Anchor Charts as Writing Tools – Examples
Anchor charts can be used very effectively to break down many of the more complex aspects of writing.
From punctuation use to the specific criteria for various writing genres, Anchor charts are a fantastic way to visually reinforce student understanding of these diverse processes.
The content of each chart will be dependent on their focus. But, let’s look at the possible content of two examples of Anchor Charts to help serve as models for what might be contained in an anchor chart produced in your classroom.
1. Point of View Anchor Chart
The Point of View Anchor Chart can be used both to help guide students in identifying the point of view in a text as well as to help in the creation of the student’s own texts. We have an excellent guide on point of view that can be found here.
Looking out for keywords is an effective way to determine the point of view in a piece of writing. Point-of-view keywords are generally centred around the pronouns and the level of insight and perspective we are offered.
Let’s look at some of the more common points of view used, first in a little detail and then at how they might appear on an Anchor Chart.
First Person – a character is telling the story (narrator), and we often gain insight into the characters’ thoughts. Clues that indicate a first person will be the use of pronouns such as I , my , me , mine , we , us etc.
As bullet points, this might look like this:
● First Person
○ Character narrates the story
○ Narrator is in the story
○ Narrator’s thoughts are revealed
○ Uses pronouns: I , my , me , mine , we , us etc.
Third Person Limited – the narrator is outside the story and telling the story. In third-person limited, the writer sticks closely to the point of view of a single character, so we are usually only privy to that one character’s thoughts and experiences. The narrator does not know everything about the events that occur in the story. Indications that the third person is being used may be the use of characters’ names and pronouns, such as he , him , his , himself , she, her , hers , herself , it , its , itself , they , them , their , theirs , and themselves .
● Third Person Limited
○ Narrator is outside the story
○ Narrator tells the story primarily from one character’s POV
○ Only the main character’s thoughts and feelings are revealed
○ Narrator has limited knowledge of events
○ Uses pronouns: he , him , his , himself , she, her , hers , herself , it , its , itself , they , them , their , theirs , and themselves .
Third Person Omniscient – the narrator tells the story and is privy to everything. Not only all the details of every event in the story, but the interior life of each character, such as emotions, opinions, and feelings, whether expressed or not. The usual third-person pronouns are used along with the character names.
● Third Person Omniscient
○ Narrator tells the story from ‘above.’
○ Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of every character
○ Narrator knows everything that happens
2. Instructional Writing Anchor Chart
The criteria for writing clear instructions can be very handily displayed as an anchor chart.
When writing a set of instructions, students can refer to the chart to help organize their writing. The same chart will also serve as a checklist for self-assessment at the end.
An instructional writing anchor chart may include information such as:
Instructional Writing:
● Includes an explanatory title, e.g. ‘How to…’
● Laid out in bullet points or numbered instructions
● Uses time connectives to organise, e.g. ‘first’, ‘then’, ‘finally’ etc.
● Uses imperatives to instruct the reader
● Use straightforward, functional language
● Supported by illustrations or diagrams
● Diagrams and illustrations contain captions
In Conclusion
As we can see, anchor charts can serve as useful writing tools that support the development of student writing skills in the classroom.
When displayed prominently in the classroom, they can help students efficiently bridge the gap between being emergent writers lacking in self-confidence to becoming self-assured, independent writers.
It is important to remember, too, that though anchor charts are great tools that support students, ultimately, the intent is for the students to internalize the knowledge and information they contain. So don’t allow them to become a permanent crutch!
USEFUL VIDEOS TO EXPLAIN ANCHOR CHARTS
Other great articles related to anchor charts for writing.
13 Literary Devices to Supercharge your Writing Skills
The Writing Process
Graphic Organizers for Writing and Reading
Elements of Literature
Multiliteracies
Essay Writing: A complete guide for students and teachers
This Reading Mama
Hamburger Paragraph Writing with Main Idea & Details
By thisreadingmama 1 Comment
My 1st and 2nd grader have been working for a while on personal narratives in our writing time. So after we worked through our Healthy Body Unit , I decided it was time to do some nonfiction paragraph writing! I found some fun clip art and created these simple paragraph writing organizers for them…hamburger style!
If you’re using this after a body unit, feel free to download our free human body report pages to go along with these!
*This post contains affiliate links. **The free printable can be found at the END of this post. Click on the teal download button.
Hamburger Paragraph Writing Using Main Idea and Supporting Details
When we ask learners to write in a way that they aren’t familiar with, graphic organizers {especially ones with cookies on them}, can help them break the process down in their head. And when it becomes less complicated in their head, it can make the process easier to get on paper.
Now, you and I both know that not all nonfiction writing is organized in this neat, nice package. But teaching paragraph writing using a main idea {or topic} with supporting details is an easy place to start! {Older learners can expand this concept into multiple paragraphs.}
{By the way, this entire process took 3-4 days.}
First, I just handed them the hamburger organizer. We looked at and talked about each part. Having examples from texts handy is vital! If you can’t find a good example, you can quickly write your own.
I gave them this simple graphic organizer to write down their own sentences based on the body part they chose from our unit .
The hardest part by far for my learners was the closing sentence. How exactly do you tie the topic back in without completely duplicating the topic sentence? We brainstormed a lot with closing sentences on day 2. I didn’t give them their answers, but I wanted to show them how flexible it was with other examples. {This is why examples are KEY.}
Do learners have to use these graphic organizers? Absolutely not, but they can sure help in the process of brainstorming and getting thoughts on paper!
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Enjoy! ~Becky
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November 8, 2017 at 3:41 pm
I love the hamburger organizer. I’ve been working on writing with my reluctant second grader and look forward to trying this idea with him. Thanks for the printable! -Kelley
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5 Paragraph Essay Graphic Organizers
I will never forget the teacher that taught me how to successfully write a 5-paragraph essay. Her name was Mrs. Wingfield. That one skill has served me well through high school and college. It is a skill that many underestimate. For that reason, I am very mindful to teach it to my students and my children. Our 5 Paragraph Essay Graphic Organizers make teaching how to write a 5-paragraph paper that much easier!
Before teaching a 5 paragraph essay we always start with more elementary writing including using the Hamburger Paragraph Graphic Organizer . Be sure to check it out!
*You might be interested in purchasing our entire Writing Paragraphs Bundle which is perfect for those looking to teach students how to write paragraphs and then 5-paragraph essays! Take a look!
As a Christian Book and Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. As always, we only recommend items that we truly feel will benefit your homeschooling experience. We appreciate it.
What is a 5 Paragraph Essay?
A 5-paragraph essay contains within it an opening paragraph, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. Within the paragraphs themselves, there is a topic sentence, 3 supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence. 5-paragraph essays are typically used when writing middle school and high school papers. Whether it be a book report, biography project, or an essay on the Civil War, being able to write a comprehensive and organized paper is paramount to becoming a successful student.
Why 5 Paragraph Essay Graphic Organizers?
Graphic Organizers are students’ best friend. They make organizing facts, examples, and details manageable. For students who struggle with processing information, graphic organizers give them a visual sorting sheet. We have found the 5 paragraph essay graphic organizers helpful while completing our Country Research Projects or Biography Research Project. My students have used similar organizers when writing their planet papers. Whenever your student is required to write an essay or paper, these graphic organizers can help direct their writing.
How do I use them?
There are three different versions to choose from. All three focus on a student organizing 5 paragraphs with each paragraph containing a topic sentence, 3 body sentences, and a concluding sentence. Visually, one may be more appealing to you. My students are encouraged to use one of these before writing their rough draft. For my more advanced writers, they have used one of these to organize their paper and then typed their final papers out on the computer with minimal corrections. These graphic organizers are particularly helpful to those students who struggle processing information. You may offer it to all your students but require it of some.
BONUS 5 Paragraph PRINTABLES
We offer essay writing sheets with an illustration page too. These extras make it easy for a teacher to assign a project on a variety of different topics using only these printables.
DOWNLOAD 5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
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Home » Anchor Charts » What Is An Opinion Writing Anchor Chart And Where To Find One Online
What Is An Opinion Writing Anchor Chart And Where To Find One Online
Learning how to write academically can pose a challenge. Students need to get familiar with several types of writing, and it can be difficult to keep up with different formats and approaches for each writing style. Younger students especially struggle as they’re new to writing in general and need help with the basic concepts, such as paragraphs and transition words.
An anchor chart is there to help them visualize the information you present, and they can also use it as a reference point in the future. We’ll show you what an opinion writing anchor chart should consist of and where you can download high-quality, ready-to-use anchor charts for your class.
What Is an Opinion Anchor Chart
Unlike informational writing, which presents facts as they are, opinion writing is there to show the author’s point of view on a specific topic and to persuade the reader to agree.
An opinion anchor chart is a teaching tool that helps students get a visual representation of the writing format, as well as some of the writing concepts . The chart also serves as a reminder they can turn to when writing their essay.
A writing anchor chart can focus on different elements of writing, but you should always start with the ones that focus on the structure, such as:
- Introduction anchor chart
- Paragraph anchor chart
- Conclusion anchor chart
- Body paragraph anchor chart
Elements of a Good Opinion Writing Anchor Chart
How exactly would you create an opinion writing anchor chart? Well, again, much like opinion itself, that varies. How you do it depends on your students’ age and cognitive level. Even so, however, the basic anchor principles are the same. How far you go with them can be adapted to suit the grade level.
Differentiate between ‘fact’ and ‘opinion’
Fact and opinion are both important in writing a good opinion piece because they serve different purposes. Facts provide the foundation or support for an opinion. In contrast, opinions are the main idea or position the student tries to express.
It’s important to differentiate between the two so that students understand how to use them effectively in their writing. And, believe it or not, they often struggle to understand the difference.
For example, they may think a statement like “John thinks ice cream is the best food on earth” as an opinion, informing the reader of John’s attitude towards ice cream. However, the fact remains that John thinks ice cream is the best food on earth.
An opinion would be assuming that everyone should feel the same way. For example, “Ice cream is by far the best food on earth”.
An opinion piece without any facts to back it up is likely to be less convincing and less effective. Finding a middle ground between the two is important to write an effective opinion piece.
Show the differences between an opinion piece and a commentary
Students often confuse an opinion piece with a commentary. An opinion piece is a personal response to an issue – like a current event, a school or home rule, or even a new menu in the cafeteria. A commentary, on the other hand, is an unbiased analysis of an issue or topic. But, unlike an opinion piece, a commentary doesn’t offer the writer’s personal take on a subject.
You can illustrate this with a chart or table that shows the differences between opinion and commentary. For example, in the “Opinion” column, you might write, “Opinion is personal,” ; whereas in the “Commentary” column, you could write, “With commentary, it’s nothing personal” .
Show them how to organize their ideas with an essay outline
Create a simple visual representation of the framework – or essay outline. An opinion piece can’t be written off the bat. Students will need to construct an opinion piece. A standard essay outline lists the main points covered in the piece. So, first, pick a topic.
Alternatively, each student can pick their own topic, and you can all work on your anchor charts together. Next, create a mind map of the beginning, middle, and end of the “story” or opinion that needs to be put across: i.e., opening statement, argument, and conclusion.
Demonstrate persuasive writing
An opinion piece is written to persuade the reader to share the writer’s point of view on a topic. To write an opinion piece, you must develop the three key components from the previous point above a strong opening statement, an argument (or supporting paragraphs), and a concluding paragraph.
The first paragraph should grab readers’ attention and offer a detailed topic summary . The second paragraph should feature one or more supporting examples to help prove your point. The final section should conclude the topic and summarize the main points of your opinion piece.
Writing Hooks Anchor Chart From Sassy Savvy Simple Teaching
Opinion writing hooks anchor charts are the first charts you should introduce to your students when it comes to actual writing. Use charts to show them what a hook is and how they can use it to pull the reader in.
Since writing a hook can be difficult for students, try to provide them with colorful examples and leave empty spaces for them to fill out. This will help them get a visual aid of hooks and start their creative process.
You can have an anchor chart that focuses on one or all of the most common hook types:
- Interesting fact
Opinion Transition Words Anchor Chart From Weebly
Show the students how they can link sentences and paragraphs together with transition words. This is a powerful tool that many students (especially younger ones) neglect, and they can get used to using it by having a chart by their side. This chart can help them come up with the appropriate transition word. As time goes by, using transition words will become more natural, and they won’t have to refer to the anchor chart every time.
You can use different designs here, depending on how you want them to use transition words. For example, you can use a stoplight design and give examples for three types of transition words:
Opinion Reasons Anchor Charts—OREO From Our Global Classroom
Opinion Reasons anchor charts are great as they teach students about the structure of a good opinion writing piece. It shows how they’re supposed to present their thoughts and how to reinforce them with logic. Having a memorable acronym is only a bonus.
Use this chart to introduce the OREO formula and show students how to present their ideas. The formula is as follows:
- Opinion —Introduce your opinion about a given topic
- Reason —Provide information or logical explanations that support your opinion
- Examples —Give details and real-life scenarios that support your opinion
- Opinion —State your opinion again to affirm your point of view
Download High-Quality Opinion Writing Anchor Charts From Teach Simple
While writing anchor charts can be straightforward, and you can even get your students to make them, they still need to be carefully thought out. How do you make sure you use all the necessary information and the easy-to-remember definitions? Planning an anchor chart can be difficult, and it can take you hours, especially if you’re new to it.
If you don’t have the time (or the will) to come up with your own for every class you plan, you can sign up for Teach Simple and find thousands of lesson plans , anchor charts, and other materials related to ELA and writing in particular.
Every product listed on Teach Simple is made by a teacher exclusively, and other teachers review each material to ensure it meets various standards and quality requirements. This way, you can rest assured you’ll enrich your classes with high-quality anchor charts made by people who know what it takes to teach students different types of writing.
Different ways to use anchor charts to teach opinion writing
Let’s look at how anchor charts can be used differently to highlight opinion writing.
Scaffolding From Lucky Little Learners
Students who are not proficient in each element of scaffolding writing can become overwhelmed quickly, so instruction in these elements is crucial. However, breaking them down into bite-sized portions will make them much more manageable.
Fact Vs. Opinion sorting From Lucky Little Learners
Sorting facts and opinions is something that should be done in groups. What better way to get your students to express their opinions? And you can build the anchor chart together, making it far more relevant to the students. You could use many techniques to practice this skill with your team. For example, ask your students to jot down one thing they know about broccoli on a post-it note and stick it to the board. The students will typically write that it’s green, tasty, gross, healthy, and a vegetable. Once the notes are placed on the board, discuss whether a claim is a fact or an opinion and categorize it.
Display examples
It is essential to show students what various levels of mastery look like. Showing your students examples of completed writing can help them visualize expectations and encourage them to keep working and growing.
Model good opinion writing from Mrs. Winter’s Bliss
To illustrate how you would use a graphic organizer to plan your writing, model it for your students. At the beginning of your writing, introduce your perspective with a topic sentence. Next, list your supporting arguments. Finish with a final sentence that reiterates your viewpoint. As a group, identify the topic sentence, the supporting reasons, and the conclusion in your shared writing.
Opinion Essay Structure From Wild About Fifth
Opinion writing resources from Teach Simple
Looking for an opinion writing chart that covers all the bases? Here is everything you need. All these charts and resources support the elements you need to get started to ensure your students understand how to express their opinion in writing.
Opinion writing anchor chart By First in Line
These charts give students the O.R.E.O. acronym to remember and can be placed on a display board or in their notebooks.
Digital graphic organizers By Teach Me This
This resource is jam-packed with digital opinion writing templates that will give your students multiple opportunities to practice this comprehension strategy.
“What do you think?” opinion writing activity By Have Fun Teaching
This graphic organizer is perfect for younger students and guides them every step of the way.
“Would you rather…?” By Aunt Minty’s Education Place
This resource is compiled with 20 high-interest opinion/persuasive writing activities designed for students in Grades K-3.
Opinion writing unit – analyze two accounts of the same topic
This resource lets students practice analyzing multiple versions of the same issue and integrating their learning into a complete opinion response.
Opinion writing unit: paid for chores By Life Beyond the Gradebook
Two texts are included in this resource, one in support of the topic, and one against the topic. The students should use these texts to find evidence that supports their own opinion and use it in their essays.
Opinion writing Anchor Charts from Teachers
Opinion transitions from art of it.
Sentence starters and transition examples can ease students in and take some of the pressure off.
Opinion writing planner From Art Of It
This prewriting graphic organizer will guide students through their planning process.
Opinion writing checklist From Worksheetplace
This checklist is great for helping students check their work to ensure they have covered everything.
Having a wide variety of opinion anchor charts available can help break down a topic into smaller chunks and make it easier to understand. In addition, using visual aids like anchor charts helps make the lessons more memorable and engaging. Finally, when students need a confidence boost, they are usually grateful to have something to refer so they can move forward independently.
Check out our top pick for anchor charts for writing :
- Opinion Writing Anchor Chart
- Writing With a Purpose Anchor Chart
- Anchor Charts for Writing
- Appeal to Senses Anchor Chart
- Poetry Writing | Anchor Charts & Visuals
- Anchor Charts Professional Development
- Fact and Opinion Anchor Chart
- Idioms Anchor Chart
- Homophones Anchor Chart
- Writing a Beginning, Middle, and End
- Verbs Anchor Chart
- Nonfiction vs. Fiction Comparison Anchor Chart
- Teaching Plot Anchor Chart
- Author’s Claims Anchor Chart
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What Is A Theme Anchor Chart And Where To Get Them Online
Informational writing anchor charts—what types there are.
Last Updated on August 30, 2023 by Teach Simple
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FREE Poetry Worksheet Bundle! Perfect for National Poetry Month.
40 Must-Have Anchor Charts for Teaching Writing of All Kinds
Writing information and inspiration for all!
When it comes to writing, many kids struggle to get their ideas down on paper. That’s why we’ve rounded up all the best writing anchor charts, to help your students master narrative, transitions, punctuation, editing, theme, and so much more! Try some of these ideas in your classroom to give your kids the writing support they need.
1. Why Writers Write
First and second graders will draw inspiration from this fun-filled anchor chart about why we write. Make this chart applicable to older students by expanding on each aspect with a specific audience or goal. “To share experiences” can become “to share experiences with friends, in a postcard, or with readers of a memoir.”
Source: Cara Carroll
2. Expanding Sentences
Show students how a simple sentence can become a real powerhouse by exploring when, where, how, and why, along with adding adjectives. So powerful!
Source: Upper Elementary Snapshots/Expanding Sentences
3. Personal Narrative
Personal narrative is a style that all students practice in elementary school, and writing anchor charts can help keep them on track. Visit the link below for great worksheets to use with your students to prepare them to write their personal narratives.
Source: Rachel’s Reflections
4. Hook Your Reader
Want to know how to draw the reader in and make them eager to continue? You need a hook! Teach students how to grab a reader’s attention from the get-go, pulling them in with facts, questions, or even sound effects.
Source: Little Minds at Work
5. Point of View
Learn the differences between first person (I), second person (you), and third person (narrator), and talk about when each type is effective.
Source: Oh Boy … It’s Farley!
6. Organized Paragraph
Use a stoplight to help early elementary students understand and write clear paragraphs. As students are editing their work, have them read with green, yellow, and red pencils in hand so they can see how their paragraphs are hooking and engaging readers. See a video of this chart in action here.
7. Practicing Transitions
There are more stoplight writing anchor charts, and this one is perfect for helping students learn and practice their transition words. Draw the stoplight first and invite students to help come up with different words. Then encourage students to put the transition words into practice.
Source: A Happy, Hungry, Healthy Girl
8. Author’s Perspective
Sometimes, an author’s opinion comes out strongly in their writing, even if they don’t state it up front. Use this chart to help students find the clues to an author’s perspective.
Source: Crafting Connections/Author’s Perspective
9. Author’s Purpose Pie
This is a quick and easy anchor chart to help students see different types of writing. It’ll also help them do a quick check to make sure their writing aligns.
Source: Literacy Ideas
10. Dig Deeper
Keep going! Sometimes it’s hard to express what you mean by certain writing and revision requests, and writing anchor charts can show exactly what you mean. Now students can get a good look at what it means to dig deeper.
Source: Pinterest
11. Alternatives to “Said”
If your students are learning about writing dialogue, an anchor chart like this could really come in handy. Encourage students to try other ways to have their characters respond.
Source: ESL Amplified
12. Understanding Character
Before you can write about character, you first have to understand it. This anchor chart will help your young writers understand the difference between inside and outside characteristics.
Source: Teacher Trap
13. Diving Deeper Into Character
Now that your students understand the difference between inside and outside characteristics, dive deeper into describing a specific character. This anchor chart is a wonderful idea because students can write their idea(s) on a sticky note and then add it.
Source: Crafting Connections/Teach and Task Lessons
14. Six Traits of Writing
This anchor chart is jam-packed with things to help fourth- and fifth-grade writers remember the six traits of writing. Use the chart as a whole-class reference or laminate it to use in small groups. When it’s laminated, students can check off each aspect they’ve included in their own writing. Meaningful dialogue? Check! Problem and solution? Check!
Source: Working 4 the Classroom
15. Writing Realistic Fiction
This anchor chart reminds upper elementary students how to create realistic stories. It really walks your students through the process, so they have all the elements they need to create their own stories.
Source: Two Writing Teachers/Realistic Fiction
16. Sequence of Events
Help early elementary students stay organized with an anchor chart that’s focused on order-of-events language. Tactile learners can write their first drafts on sentence strips and use this format to put the events in order before they transcribe their work onto writing paper.
Source: Life in First Grade
17. Informational Text Structures
Focus upper elementary students on the most important aspects of informational writing while keeping them organized. This chart could be used to support paragraph writing or essays.
Source: Teaching With a Mountain View/Informational Text Structures
18. OREO Opinion Writing
This deliciously inspired opinion anchor chart can be used by students in grades 3–5 during writers workshop or when developing an opinion for discussion or debate. To build out student writing, have them “double-stuff” their OREOs with extra E examples. See a video featuring this chart here.
19. Features of a Great Report
Use examples of outstanding student work to make this anchor chart. Keep it relevant by updating the examples with student work throughout the year. In kindergarten, this will also showcase how students move from prewriting and pictures to writing words and sentences.
Source: Joyful Learning in KC
20. Write From the Heart
Sometimes the hardest part about writing is coming up with whom and what you should write about. This is the fun part, though! Use this anchor chart to remind your students that they have lots of good writing options.
Source: First Grade Parade via Cara Carroll
21. Argument Writing
Use this anchor chart with middle schoolers to make sure they’re considering all sides of an argument, not just the one that matters the most to them. One way to adapt this chart, as students develop their understanding of argument, is to write each element—claim, argument, evidence—under a flap that students can lift if they need a reminder.
Source: Literacy & Math Ideas
22. Writing Process
This is an anchor chart you’ll direct your students to again and again. The writing process has several steps, and it’s good to remind students of this so they don’t get frustrated.
Source: What’s Skow-ing On in Fourth Grade?
23. Writing Checklist
For those young writers in your class, these cover the basics in a clear way.
Source: Kindergarten Chaos
24. RACE for Writing
Use the RACE mnemonic when your students are working on persuasive writing. It reminds them to cite their sources and be sure to answer the question being asked.
Source: @mrspuffer
25. Cause and Effect
Cause and effect will always be an essential part of any story. Help your students come up with different scenarios for cause and effect. In many instances, you could have multiples effects, so challenge your students to identify three to four at a time. This will really give them something to write about!
Source: 2nd Grade Superheroes
26. A Strong Lead
This upper-grade anchor chart gives students lots of ways to start their writing. Update it midyear with strong examples of leads that students have written or that they’ve found in books. Students could also copy this chart into their notebooks and keep track of the different ways they’ve started their own writing, seeing if they’ve developed a signature lead.
Source: Miss Klohn’s Classroom
27. Crafting Power Sentences
Inspire students to get crafty and creative with their sentences. Update the moods or keywords with every writing assignment, so students are constantly refining their clauses, verbs, and descriptions.
Source: Teaching My Friends
28. Show, Don’t Tell
“Show, don’t tell” is a cardinal rule of writing. This anchor chart, best for upper elementary writers, can be used to strengthen scenes in fiction and narrative nonfiction works. Build out this chart for middle school writers with additional ideas and more complex emotions.
Source: Upper Elementary Snapshots/Show, Don’t Tell
29. Narrative Organizer
Leave this chart up in your classroom for your students to reference often when they’re writing. It really takes them through creating a successful story.
30. Expository Writing
This chart makes it easy for students to remember key concepts, both with color-coding and simple metaphors. Give them colored pencils and ask them to underline the corresponding sections in their essays.
Source: Adventures of a Future Teacher
31. Peer Editing
Peer editing teaches kids a variety of skills, and not just with writing. They learn to read closely, offer (and accept) useful constructive feedback, and get more comfortable sharing their writing with others. This chart helps kids through the sometimes-challenging process.
Source: Taleof2Teachers
32. Strong Sentences
Get early elementary students to write longer, more descriptive sentences with this chart. Bonus: Use sentence strips to switch out the examples of strong sentences, based on student writing.
Source: The Good Life
33. Internal Story
This chart gives students the language to add their own thoughts to their writing. Modify this chart by highlighting key phrases for students with special needs. Or have students create different thought-bubble icons to represent each internal dialogue sentence starter.
Source: Totally Terrific in Texas
34. Evidence Supported
Upper elementary students will benefit from reminders on how to refer to and cite text evidence. Use this anchor chart during writing and discussion to help connect the language that we use across domains.
Source: History Tech
35. Publishing Guidelines
Kids are often quick to turn in their papers without making sure they’ve included all the necessary requirements (like their names!). Use this chart to remind them about the important things to check for before they hand in their work.
Source: Juice Boxes and Crayolas
36. Figurative Language
As you teach your students about figurative language and how to use it, you’ll want to have examples. This anchor chart dives into five different concepts. Each of these could actually be its own anchor chart. Perhaps have your students come up with examples on sticky notes and then place them on the chart.
Source: Willow Grove Elementary School
37. Forms of Poetry
Introducing poetry types to your students? This anchor chart covers the basics and helps kids remember that not all poetry needs to rhyme.
Source: ELA Anchor Charts
38. CUPS and ARMS
This is a popular method for teaching kids to revise and edit as well as the difference between the two. Simple acronyms keep the key strategies close at hand.
Source: Amy Lemons
39. Spicy Edits
Encourage your students to think of their writing like a recipe, which they can always tweak and improve. Have them choose one element, or “spice,” to add to their work as they revise.
Source: Beyond Zebra/Pinterest
40. Writing Buddies
Sometimes students can get stuck when working with writing buddies, but writing anchor charts can help. This one encourages students to be positive and make good, thoughtful suggestions.
Source: Apostrophe Books Twitter
What are your favorite writing anchor charts? Share your ideas in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, find out why the “hamburger” essay has gone stale, and what to try instead ..
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Hamburger Paragraph Writing Poster Anchor Chart
What educators are saying
Also included in.
Description
This writing workshop anchor chart kit comes with pieces to build your own writing paragraphs anchor chart and a student-sized printable! Love the concept of an anchor chart, but dread the thought of drawing or making it pretty? This is your solution. The anchor chart heading and graphics pieces are an easy way to include students in the anchor chart process. You can print the poster page in any size you want (both color and black/white are included), which makes this resource easy to differentiate and really versatile. Display a colored poster on a wall, print the black and white page for students, miniature posters on a table/desk or laminate or put on a keyring. Use them during reading and writing workshop, small group work, or send home for students to use with their homework. Students will reference them all year long!
Related Resources:
⭐ Reading Workshop Launching Readers Workshop
⭐ Writers Workshop Personal Narrative Writing Process Unit
⭐ Reading Comprehension Journal Log BUNDLE
⭐ Reading Fluency Tracker & MORE
⭐ Poetry Unit Reading and Writing Poems
⭐ Writing Prompts Informative Explanatory
⭐ Writing Prompts Opinion Argumentative
⭐ Writing Prompts Personal Narrative
More Anchor Charts:
⭐ Adding Details
⭐ Adjectives
⭐ Asking Questions
⭐ Author's Purpose
⭐ Capitalization
⭐ Cause and Effect
⭐ Character Traits
⭐ Close Reading
⭐ Compare and Contrast
⭐ Complete Sentences
⭐ Compound Words
⭐ Conclusion Writing
⭐ Context Clues
⭐ Fact and Opinion
⭐ Fiction vs. Nonfiction
⭐ Figurative Language
⭐ Friendly Letter Writing
⭐ Hamburger Paragraph Writing
⭐ Homophones
⭐ How To Writing
⭐ Inferences
⭐ Informative
⭐ Irregular Plural Nouns
⭐ Main Idea and Details
⭐ Making Connections
⭐ Making Predictions
⭐ Nonfiction Text Features
⭐ OREO Writing
⭐ Onomatopoeia
⭐ Peer Conference
⭐ Peer Editing
⭐ Point of View
⭐ Prefix and Suffix
⭐ Punctuation
⭐ RACE Writing
⭐ Reading Expectations
⭐ Reading Fluency
⭐ Retelling
⭐ Sequencing
⭐ Silent Magic e
⭐ Similes and Metaphors
⭐ Small Moments Writing
⭐ Spice Up Your Writing
⭐ Story Elements
⭐ Story Structure
⭐ Synonyms and Antonyms
⭐ Transitions
⭐ Verbs Poster
⭐ Visualizing
⭐ What Good Writers Do
⭐ Writing Expectations
⭐ Writing Hooks
⭐ Writing Ideas
⭐ Writing Rubric
⭐ Writing Student Goals
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How to use the paragraph hamburger organizer. Discuss the three main components of a paragraph, or story: The introduction (top bun) The internal or supporting information (the filling) The conclusion (bottom bun) Ask students to write a topic sentence that clearly indicates what the whole paragraph is going to be about.
That's what we need to make a writing (and a burger) interesting! For example: Detail 1 : English can open up many job opportunities. Detail 2 : English can give you more independence when traveling around the world because English is a common language. Detail 3 : English can give you more opportunities to meet new people.
The "hamburger" essay method that is sometimes called the 5-paragraph essay or 1-3-1 model. The diagram to the left can help you easily remember the simple essay structure. Emma Dunn, Writing and Multimodal Communication Speciliast at the University of Waterloo, explains:
1. The top bun (a.k.a the introduction paragraph) The hamburger essay begins with a strong introduction paragraph (the top bun) that sets up the rest of the paper and presents the essay's primary thesis statement or argument. In high school, students are often taught to begin their introduction paragraph with the broadest or most general information first, and gradually narrow in on the ...
Paragraph Anchor Chart. Learning to write a paragraph is a fundamental writing skill. This hamburger anchor chart pack has digital and print versions of the anchor chart and a companion graphic organizer. How to Decide on a Title. Students often flounder when deciding on a title. An anchor chart can walk them through just how to title their ...
Hamburger Paragraph Writing Guide Anchor Chart. This anchor chart displays how to use the hamburger graphic organizer for students. It details writing an opening sentence, three supporting sentences, and a closing sentence. The document size is 17" x 22" but it could be printed on larger paper.
Hamburger Paragraph Chart. Learning the structure of a paragraph is an important step in the writing process. Today I've got a Free Hamburger Paragraph Chart you can use in your classroom. If you've never heard of this before, this is a fantastic resource for teaching young writers just exactly what they need to include inside a paragraph.
Description. The hamburger analogy makes paragraphs fun and easy! Seven anchor charts explain steps in the writing process with strategies and examples. Together, they teach how to organize and develop informative texts. Open the preview to take a closer look. Sequentially, the sandwich posters develop a paragraph about how Charlie Nagreen ...
This " Hamburger Paragraph" anchor chart is useful in introducing and teaching students the basics of writing a full paragraph. It lists the different parts of a paragraph (Introduction Sentence, Supporting Sentences (3), Concluding Sentence), in the shape of a hamburger to help students remember the elements and pieces of a complete paragraph.
April 19, 2017 - 1 comment. One of my favorite writing lessons is all about the Hamburger Paragraph Plan. It is such a third grade-friendly layout and something that provides enough structure to help any student feel success with their writing. For more on how I introduce this with my class at the beginning of the year, click HERE.
Basically, they're building a hamburger where the buns are the opening and concluding sentence and the meat and toppings are the supporting details. The hamburger would be pretty boring with just the buns, right? Same idea goes for paragraphs. A well-written paragraph needs details to support the topic or argument.
First, students will need to know what Narrative Writing is! Students will be tasked with writing narrative stories throughout their education. The anchor chart above divides the topic into personal and fictional narrative writing. Initially, students will be writing stories about events that they experienced, personal narratives.
Here are some general tips to help ensure you get the most out of Anchor Charts in your classroom: Keep things simple. Be sure the writing is well organised and easy to read. Use headings and bullet points to help display the main points. Use different colors for headings, bullet points etc.
Use this anchor chart to teach the parts of a paragraph. This file is formatted for 11x17, but it also prints well as 8.5x11. ... Writing-essays. ELA test prep. High school ELA. Literature. Informational text. Writing. Creative writing. Writing-essays. ... HAMBURGER Paragraph Anchor Chart. Rated 4.75 out of 5, based on 4 reviews. 4.8 ...
Hamburger Paragraph Writing Using Main Idea and Supporting Details. When we ask learners to write in a way that they aren't familiar with, graphic organizers {especially ones with cookies on them}, can help them break the process down in their head. And when it becomes less complicated in their head, it can make the process easier to get on ...
What is a 5 Paragraph Essay? A 5-paragraph essay contains within it an opening paragraph, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. Within the paragraphs themselves, there is a topic sentence, 3 supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence. 5-paragraph essays are typically used when writing middle school and high school papers.
Mar 22, 2019 - Enjoy this FREE Hamburger Chart Graphic Organizer to help your students organize and plan their writing. Similar to the Step up to Writing method, and makes a smooth transition into T-Charts. Includes 3 variations.This product is part of my ★ PARAGRAPH WRITING USING STEP UP TO WRITING UNIT ★ and ★ ...
The chart also serves as a reminder they can turn to when writing their essay. A writing anchor chart can focus on different elements of writing, but you should always start with the ones that focus on the structure, such as: Introduction anchor chart; Paragraph anchor chart; Conclusion anchor chart; Body paragraph anchor chart
Use this anchor chart to teach your students the structure of an expository essay! Hamburger Writing Anchor Chart. Previous Next; Oyucky Muniz. 1 Follower. Follow. Grade Levels. 2 nd - 5 th. Subjects. Writing. Resource Type.
28. Show, Don't Tell. "Show, don't tell" is a cardinal rule of writing. This anchor chart, best for upper elementary writers, can be used to strengthen scenes in fiction and narrative nonfiction works. Build out this chart for middle school writers with additional ideas and more complex emotions.
The hamburger model assists students in constructing organized, well thought-out, and detailed paragraphs with ease. This model takes students through the step-by-step process of developing a topic sentence, details and examples, and a conclusion. The easy to use model allows students to work on these skills individually until they are ready to ...
25 of our favorite charts for teaching your students all about writing. 1. The Why Behind Writers Workshops Source: The First Grade Parade First and second graders will draw inspiration from this fun-filled anchor chart about why we write. Make this chart applicable to older students by expanding on each aspect with a specific audience or goal.
The anchor chart heading and graphics pieces are an easy way to include students in the anchor chart process. You can print the poster page in any size you want (both color and black/white are included), which makes this resource easy to differentiate and really versatile.