This document outlines the structure of a hamburger essay, with the introduction as the top bun containing the main idea and background, three body paragraphs as lettuce, cheese, and other toppings containing the topic sentences and details, and a conclusion as the bottom bun restating the main idea. The hamburger essay outline provides a visual way for students to organize their ideas and thoroughly explain them in narrative and informative essays.

1. This outline works best for narrative and informative/explanatory essays.

2. The top bun is the main idea
of the essay. It will eventually
be the introductory
paragraph.This is where a
brief description of
background information is
provided.The main idea of the
essay is also included in the
introduction.

3. The lettuce is the topic sentence
of the first body paragraph.The
paragraph will be built around
the topic sentence. If this is a
narrative essay, then it is the first
event in the story. If this is a
informative or explanatory
essay, then this is the first
section of information on the
topic.

4. The cheese is the topic
sentence of the second
paragraph. In a narrative,
this is the second event of
the story; and in an
informative/explanatory
essay, this is the second
piece of information about
the topic.

5. This is the third and final
topic sentence of the essay.
The final event in a
narrative essay, and the
final piece of information in
an informative or
explanatory essay.

6. The bottom bun is the
concluding paragraph.This
is were the main idea is
restated and a final
sentence or two is written
to tie up all loose ends and
bring a sense of closure to
the essay.

7. The hamburger essay outline
can help students organize
their ideas.These types of
organizers make essays
visual. Many students,
including us college students,
need their ideas to be laid out
to be able to explain
them thoroughly.