BUILDING THE ESSAY: BLUEPRINT TO HOUSEWARMING

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BUILDING THE ESSAY BLUEPRINTTOHOUSEWARMING
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My kids cant write.
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Oh, they can write, but their essays are a mess,
and it takes me hours to grade them.
Hmmm
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It sounds as though their organizational skills
are poor. How do they prewrite?
Sigh
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They web, cluster, whatever. They have their own
styles of prewriting. When it hits the paper,
though, its not well organized, and they hate
revising.
Hmmm
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Have you tried Four Square or some other
organizational formula?
?
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No, I dont like formula writing. I think it
inhibits their creativity.
Hmmm
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How that relates to real life
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I told you I can figure it out. Just quit
bugging me.
Why dont you just stop and ask for directions or
look at the map?
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I built the whole house without even a blueprint!
It looks pretty good, doesnt it! Who says you
have to have a plan?
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Oh it says Read the directions carefully before
you begin to assemble the
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Writing an essay is just like the process of
building a house. It takes a great deal of
planning, work, fixing up the things that are
done incorrectly, re-doing the things about which
the clients change their minds, more planning,
more work, more mistakes, more re-doing, etc.
to build a house.
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Building a house properly requires the
followingA ProcessA BlueprintA Punch List
(the list of repairs and finish work required to
complete a large project, such as the
construction of a house)
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The ProcessPlanning, Executing, Modifying,
Correcting, SellingThe BlueprintThe
organizational pattern for every part of the
wholeThe Punch ListThe assessment tool for
checking off what the builder and contractor see
that the tradespeople have accomplished and still
need to do
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Building Process vs. Writing Process
Building Process - Planning, Executing, Modifying, Correcting, Selling Writing Process Prewriting, Drafting, Revising, Editing, Publishing
The Blueprint - The organizational pattern for every part of the whole Four Square The organizational pattern for every paragraph in the essay
The Punch List The list of what needs to be done and has been accomplished The Rubric The list of what needs to be done and has been accomplished
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Dude, I need to write an expository essay.
Dude, watch this Powerpoint.
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Expository means explanatory.
Its easy! Ill explain it to you. First, you
How do they do that?
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Expository writing explains a process.
Fellow camper, it is a highly technical process.
Let me explain. First, you
My friend, your marshmallow roasting skills are
excellent. How do you do it?
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Expository Writing - A ProcessHow to do
somethingHow to make somethingHow something
happens How something worksHow something
happened in history(a report)What happened in
someones life(a biography) How to get
somewhere,accomplish something, reach a goal,
play a sport
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Compare/Contrast (How things are similar
and/or different)Problem/Solution (What the
problem is/was and what the solution
is/was/should be) What happened in a piece of
literature (a review)How to pursue a hobby or
job
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How do I write an expository essay on How to
Build a House?
Simple! Building a house is a process, isnt
it? Sojust use the writing process!
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You know prewriting, drafting, revising,
editing, and publishing
Writing process? Whats that? We used it in
school, but I dont remember the steps.
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THIS IS PREWRITING!
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We want to build a new house. Our apartment is
too small, and our doggy is unhappy!We need
ideas, a blueprint, and an architect.
I like trees
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Im the architect. I meet with the clients and
draw the plans (the blueprints) for their house.
My clients dog is so cute!
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Im the contractor. I take the architects
blueprints, schedule the workers, and oversee the
construction.
The architect is so cute
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Safety first! Pre-planning for a safe building
site will ensure success.
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Dont build here -- too close to power lines!
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Level the building site.
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THIS IS DRAFTING!
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The contractor called me to pour the concrete
foundation.
He put me on hold forever to talk to the
architect
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The future homeowners friends are building the
sidewalks.
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The plumber figured out where all of the pipes go
in the concrete slab.
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OK its time for me and the rest of the framers
to put up the walls!
Are those the homeowners? Cute dog! Oopswrong
2x4!
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The walls are up. The contractor called me to
connect the floor plumbing to the wall pipes.
This wrench is way too small
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Wires!Ya gotta have em!
Im as crazy as they come!
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Better get a roof on to keep the wires dry!
Oops, Im sliding! Look out below!
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Insulate the attic and the walls!
Sometimes I pretend this is cotton candy!
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Weld the steel beam.
Luke, you are my son. The force is strong in you.
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Brick it up!
What do you mean the chimney was supposed to be
rock? Ask the homeowners if they think brick
looks OK.
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Time to call the painter!
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Oops wrong number.
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Yeah, youre the one!
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We dont call this leaking we call this
normal atmospheric condensation.
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THIS IS REVISION!
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REVISE!Add trees to the yard the dog wants more
trees!
Trees. I need trees.
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REVISE!The air conditioning unit is frozen up.
Call back the heat and air guys. We need a
different unit.
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REVISE!The living room light switch turns on the
garbage disposal.
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REVISE!Re-frame the family room wall the
homeowners want more windows!
They want to be able to see the dog when hes in
the yard because hes so cute.
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REVISE!Put up a fence. The neighbors do not
like your dog as much as you thought they would.
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REVISE!This paint color looks much better!
Sometimes you dont know what you want until you
see it!
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THIS IS EDITING!
OOPS
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EDIT! You built it on the neighbors property
line!
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EDIT!Plumbing didnt pass inspection. Theres a
leak in the slab.Bummer.
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EDIT!The siding leaks. Replace the flashing and
caulk it with 25-year latex paintable caulk.
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EDIT!Bedroom wallpaper was hung in bathroom!
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EDIT!Dude, fix this outlet theres no
electricity to it!
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THIS IS PUBLISHING!
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Lets have a housewarming party and show off our
new house!
Arf! Bow wow! I am happy!
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Dude, first you have to brainstorm then you have
to use an organizer like a web, a cluster, an
outline, or Four Square.
Dude, now I understand the process, but how do I
get started writing?
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Which do you recommend? I know a lot of
information about building a house because my dad
is a homebuilder.
Four Square. You organize each paragraph in a
separate square.
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FirstBrainstorm

• blueprints
• plansideasarchitectcontractorframerelectrici
  anlight fixtures

• plumberbricklayerrooferlandscaperdecoratorpa
  intertreesback yardneighbors

the lotbackhoefront end loadersidewalksflower
bedsopen housewindowsbedroomsfamily room
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then try to figure out some logical way to
divide it up into paragraphs.
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Thats great! Thatll work for the 3 paragraphs
in the body of your essay! Now lets organize it.
All I can think of is 1. Before you build 2. The
actual building 3. After you build.
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Trans. In the first place Plan the building project Safety Builder must plan aheadArchitect BlueprintsContractor Schedules all tradespeople Trans. Now it is time for the actual building of the house... Do the project in a logical orderFloor Plumbing, HAWalls Wiring, cabinetry, brickRoof Insulation, shingles
Trans. Finally, the decorating Finish the project beautifully Inside the house Paint, stain, wallpaperOutside of the house Lighting fixtures, paintLandscaping Trees, flower beds As one can see, building a house can be challenging, exciting, and satisfying if the builder plans the project carefully, executes the project logically, and finishes the project beautifully.
Building a house is challenging.
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Paragraph 1 (Introductory Paragraph)DRAFT! Buil
ding a house is a challenging job. The builder
must plan carefully, do the actual building
projects in logical order, and then decorate the
home beautifully. This is how a house becomes a
home!
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Paragraph 1 (Introductory Paragraph)DRAFT! Buil
ding a house is a challenging, exciting, and
satisfying occupation. The builder must plan the
project carefully and execute the project in a
logical order then he must decorate and
landscape the home divinely. It is in this
manner that a mere house becomes a warm, cozy,
loving home!
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Paragraph 2DRAFT! In the first place, the home
must be envisioned or planned before it can be
built. The builder and the homeowners talk to
the architect about the plans, or blueprint.
The homeowners choose a building site, and the
builder works with the backhoe operator to clear
and level the site. Finally, the builder or
contractor schedules the tradespeople to do the
various jobs, ensuring that safety is a priority.
All of this takes a great deal of planning.
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Paragraph 3DRAFT! Now it is time for the
actual building of the house, and the different
jobs must be completed in a logical order.
First, the plumbing must be laid in place in the
floor before the concrete slab can be poured.
Heat and air vents are also part of the flooring
system. Next, the walls emerge as the framers
nail 2 x 4s together to form walls that hold
cabinets, enclose wiring, and support brick. At
last, the roof is shingled and the insulation is
put in the attic. Most of the house is finished.
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Paragraph 4DRAFT! Finally, the soft touches
will add beauty to brick, stone, and wood.
Inside the house colorful paint choices, warm
wood stain colors, and lively wallpaper patterns
add cheerfulness to the interior. Outside,
stately lighting fixtures are complemented by
lovely landscaping in the forms of trees and
multiple flower beds. Contrasting paint colors
on the exterior of the home make looking at it a
pleasure. It is as beautiful outside as it is
inside.
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Paragraph 5 - ConclusionDRAFT! As one can see,
building a home can be challenging, exciting, and
satisfying if the builder plans the project
safely and carefully, makes logical decisions
about the order of the jobs, and then decorates
and landscapes appropriately. The process of
building is hard work, but if it is done
correctly, a house can become a home.
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More expository topics
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Tell how to make a dinosaur model. What
materials would you use? What steps would you
take?
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Think about two games you like to play. Tell how
they are alike and how they are different.
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Here it is the gift you have always wanted!
Tell what the gift is, explain why you have
always wanted it, and tell what you plan to do
with it.
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What would you like to be when you grow up?
Write about the kind of job you would like to do
someday. Tell what it is, what you know about
it, and why you think it would be a good job.
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Write about something you wish you didnt have
to do. Explain how it is done and why you dont
want to do it.
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What is your favorite television commercial?
What product does it promote? Explain why this
is your favorite.
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Explain the step-by-step process of how to do
something you do well such as training a dog,
learning to skate, or throwing a Frisbee.
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Think about the best way you know to earn money.
Explain the steps involved and tell why it is a
good way.
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Explain why you think _____is the best pet.