What do an essay and a burger have in common? If you cannot answer this question right away, you’ve probably never heard of the so-called “hamburger method” in writing. In which case, it’s high time to learn all about it.
Why should you do that? Because if you learn this popular technique, writing essays will become as simple as making hamburgers for lunch! Considering how common an essay assignment is, that would be very convenient, wouldn’t it?
However, understanding the method is not enough to make you an excellent writer: you also need to practice to master it. So, if the deadline is near, buy an essay sample from a professional writer on essayhub.com can be the best option for you right now. But of course, you should know how the essential hamburger technique works anyway, so read on.
In this article, we’re going to break down the burger essay format and explain how you can use it to deal with your writing tasks quickly and effectively in the future. Let’s go!
Essay Burger Format Definition
First of all, let’s get back to the initial question. So, what does an essay and a burger have in common? And the answer is structure. A hamburger (or a cheeseburger, or even a sandwich) is all about the layers – and so is the essay! Essentially, the essay burger format is a format that implies structuring a piece of writing like a burger.
However, not every essay can be structured this way: the method typically works just for classic five-paragraph essays. If you need something more complex, you might prefer ordering a custom sample. Luckily, with essay writing services reviews on NoCramming, you can do it faster than ever! Still, the burger method is applicable in most cases.
Moreover, you can even use the technique for other paper types by applying the burger structure to the body paragraphs instead of the whole paper.
So, how does the method work, exactly?
Breaking Down the Format
Now, let’s get more specific and break down the format so that you can see it clearly.
The Hamburger
Look at a big multi-layered hamburger (or imagine one). What layers does it have?
Here they are:
- Top bun
- Filling 1
- Filling 2
- Filling 3
- Bottom bun
Now, let’s move on to the five-paragraph essay.
The Five-Paragraph Essay
Similarly, let’s deconstruct the much-dreaded classic five-paragraph essay. What “layers” does it have?
Here’s the structure:
- Introduction
- Body paragraph 1
- Body paragraph 2
- Body paragraph 3
- Conclusion
So, what’s the idea?
The Analogy
Continuing the analogy, here’s what the “burger essay” looks like:
- Introduction – the top bun
- Body paragraph 1 – filling 1
- Body paragraph 2 – filling 2
- Body paragraph 3 – filing 3
- Conclusion – the bottom bun.
It’s that simple! But how do you use it?
How to Cook a Perfect Burger Essay
Elementary! Just follow these steps, and your essay will be irresistible.
Write the Introduction (Top Bun)
Start with something engaging to grab your readers’ attention. Then, proceed with introducing your topic and providing some background information. For example, if you’re writing a book review, mention the book title, the author, the date of release, and the main subject.
After that, move on to the thesis statement – a concise sentence containing the stance that you’re going to defend throughout your paper – and transition to the first body paragraph.
Write the Three Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs are the main parts – the “meat, cheese, and vegetables” – of your burger. Therefore, they must be filling and tasty – i.e., contain enough information and be well-written to hold the readers’ attention.
Start each of the body paragraphs with an argument related to your initial thesis statement, and proceed with providing evidence from reliable sources. Remember not to include too many direct quotations, and always cite the ones you add correctly. Then, add your analysis to support the argument further.
When you’ve provided enough evidence and your analysis, make a short conclusion and transition to the next body paragraph.
Write the Conclusion
The conclusion is your “bottom bun” — which implies that it is made of the same ingredients as your top bun – an introduction, that is. Indeed, the main goal of the conclusion is to reiterate the initial thesis statement (the core component of the very first section of your essay).
Additionally, you should provide a short summary of the body paragraphs and add a concise concluding sentence to finalize your paper. Ideally, that sentence should connect your topic to a broader subject – but be careful not to introduce any new ideas in your conclusion.
How to Use the Burger Method for Body Paragraphs
Basically, that’s all! Now you know how to use the burger technique to structure a perfect five-paragraph essay. But if you want to go even further, you can also use the analogy to craft the body paragraphs.
In this case, the structure will be as follows:
- The argument (topic sentence) – the top bun
- The evidence (quotations and paraphrased information from your sources) – filling 1
- More evidence – filling 2
- Your analysis – filling 3
- Conclusion and transition – the bottom bun.
This is how the basic structure looks. But of course, details may vary – just as ingredients in a burger. You might want to add more evidence or more analysis, but all in all, the overall format always remains the same.
Wrapping Up
For some students, the classic five-paragraph essay structure seems a bit too complicated. That’s why teachers and students (especially in high school) prefer the visual and convenient burger model. If you are one of those students who used to have problems memorizing the format, you should definitely try the burger technique and make sure it actually works!