The document provides instructions for writing an essay using the "Caterpillar Method" which structures a paper with an introductory paragraph (head), three body paragraphs addressing different reasons (body), and a conclusion (tail). It then provides an example essay arguing that reducing teen violence requires after-school activities, mentors for at-risk youth, and investments in youth programs. The essay hooks the reader with a scenario of teen gun violence and asks members of a parent organization to support various initiatives to engage teens and provide role models.

1. Putting the Pieces together!
How do we write an essay from the
Caterpillar Method?
LOGICAL
FLOW

2. The Hook!
SPEECH: REDUCE TEEN VIOLENCE
Pop! Pop! Pop! Yesterday, the sound
of the gun shot resonated through
the air like an echo from a canyon.
Across the park skyline a young teen
dropped to his knees staring down
at the crimson blood running down
his chest after he was viciously
gunned down by a fourteen year old
gang member while playing with his
little sister.
The HAT!

3. What now? The First Paragraph!
Dear Parent Organization Members,
Teen violence must be reduced in our city so
incidences like the one I just mentioned can end. Are
you sick and tired of seeing teens misusing their time
violently after school in your neighborhoods and want
to see them in after school activities staying safe and
out of trouble? Are you willing to speak with a few “at
risk” teens contemplating or committing these crimes
and become their mentor so they have one person in
life that believes in them? Would you invest your time
and money in our youth to rescue them from gang life,
so our city can have a better future? We can reduce
teen violence, however; it requires your support for
afterschool activities, mentors, and investors for this to
happen.
T
1
2
3
Hook + Head of
the Caterpillar
5 sentences or
more?
T
1
2
3
Head of the Caterpillar turned into a paragraph…

4. Second Paragraph,
FIRST REASON ONLY
First, imagine walking down your street without seeing one teenager
doing something offensively violent. Where have they all gone? They are actively
playing in a chess competition, running mad delivering elderly community
members needed medical supplies, and participating in sports thanks to pre-paid
scholarships. We have to create afterschool activities such as clubs, sports groups,
artistic classes, and skill classes that allow these kids to stop making bad choices
by engaging them in interactive activities that take their mind off of violence. Did
you know in top cities across America38% of successful youth are prior gang
members who left the gang life to join sports, art programs, and clubs? We need
people in this organization to form a committee and create various afterschool
activities that can change our violent youth into productive citizens who
contribute to society. We need clubs that are exciting and more fun to be at than
a comedy show. In example, a club that teaches teens how to use a saw to cut a
woman in half, in a magic show not in real life. A leader who can run sports
groups and teach teens how to be peaceful when working to reduce the violent
nature in these habitual offenders? There has to be many creative artistic people
that can share their love for colors through painting, sculpting, and crafts. Which
of you can commit time and effort needed to provide these types of after school
activities?
1

5. Third Paragraph
SECOND REASON ONLY
Next, how can so many people sitting before me who have degrees in law,
medicine, education, science, and all you others that are perhaps skilled mechanics,
brick layers, or housewives with too much time on your hands not open your hearts
to becoming a mentor prior to me writing to you today? It doesn’t take a rocket
scientist to understand that these kids are crying out for attention because they are
alone without anyone supporting them emotionally and/or physically or simply put,
believing in them. You probably are saying, “Well, that kid just stole from me
yesterday”. “The boy in the black shirt and jean shorts just pulled his pants down
below his hips on purpose”. Keep in mind, if these boy and girls came from homes
where the mom comes home at 5:00 p.m. sharp and has a nice hot pot roast dinner
on the table, sits down and talks to them about their day while the Dad pops in at his
long day at work, well we wouldn’t have a problem would we? This is not reality;
these youth often come home to an empty house and an empty refrigerator. These
kids are used to no one caring about what they are doing. We have to create a teen
to homeowner mentor log and pair these at risk youth to each of you. We have to
keep journals on progress and monitor what works and what doesn’t work and then
meet to share this information amongst each other and more importantly with these
kids. They need you to model “good” behavior for them. Most of them only have
“bad” behavior modeled for them. Let’s give them hope and take back your
community; become a mentor today and watch teen violence go down!
2

6. Fourth Paragraph
THIRD REASON
Finally, as investors we need to face this scary teen violence topic,
that no one ever wants to discuss, because when we are sitting in homes that
could swallow a whale but do not mentor any of these teens who are often
forced into gangs, sold for sex, and kicked to the curb…we become just as
much the problem watching it happen instead of finding a solution. Gang
affiliated violence is scary because the unnecessary crimes and deaths make
no sense to most of us. Kids in gangs are taught violence is a good thing.
When you are a lonely kid and want to belong or fit in somewhere it is easy to
join up; even if it is the wrong group and costs you your life later on. When
you look back at your youth, it was much safer and not nearly as complicated.
In addition to learned gang violence, teens learn violence through the
television, the twisted songs on the radio, as well as the numerous video
games that are supplied to them daily which doesn’t add to their situation.
Obviously, we can sit idle and watch our community spiral into the depths of
the earth below us, or we can step up and devote our time and money to
select at least two teens each and invest in them both emotionally and
financially. Investing in our youth two by two, may save the life of not only
that teen, but other innocent lives that these teens may have taken in the
midst of gang membership.
3

7. Fifth Paragraph
T 1, 2, 3 SUMMARY! No new info!
In conclusion, teen violence must be reduced and it starts
with compassionate parent organization members like all of you. Now
that you know how you can help, you can sign up as leaders of various
afterschool activities at the back of the room. In the lobby, I need every
homeowner to write their name down on the mentor list and select
two kids, so we can get this started. Please sign up at the front table if
you would like to invest in two teens today and make a difference in not
only their lives but the lives that are saved thanks to it! Together, we
can reduce the violence! Whose life will you save?
Thanks for your support!
Please ask for me, John Guggenheim, if you have any questions
afterwards.
T
1
2
3
Caterpillar Tail

8. Color Coded: Paragraph 1
T
1
2
3
B
B
B
B

9. Paragraph 2
1

10. Paragraph 3
2

11. Paragraph 4
3

12. Paragraph 5
T
1
2
3

13. The final Paper Color Coded!
T= yellow, 1= Green, 2=Blue, 3=Red
T
1
2
3
1
2
3
T
1
2
3
NOTICE THE LOGICAL FLOW IN THE COLORS!
H
O
O
K

14. Alternate First Paragraph

15. THE CATERPILLAR TRANSFORMED!
Dear ____________,
Hook (should evoke emotion
in your reader!)
T Dear ……
1 Brief no deep
2 Information here!
3 Ask reader questions!
ONLY talk about afterschool activities and
how they reduce teen violence!
ONLY talk about mentors and how they
reduce teen violence!
ONLY talk about investors and how
they can reduce teen violence!
T Teen Violence must be reduced
1 SUMMARIZE, NO NEW
2 INFORMATION! ASK ?’S!
3
All
Body
Info
Connects
to the
sun!