Hamburger Paragraph Amazing Formula

Whenever you write paragraphs, you should try to properly organize your brilliant ideas into well-structured building blocks for the college essay/ report/ research paper/ or anything else that your teachers assigned you. And here’s how to do it, hamburger-style:

1. Top bun – Opening sentence. First, introduce your readers to the subject matter and give them clues as to what to expect from the paragraph that follows. Try to intrigue or even shock your readers so that they want to read the continuation.
2. Filling – Main arguments. The filling is the main reason why you eat a hamburger and why somebody reads your hamburger paragraph. Try not to betray your readers’ expectations:
   • 1st detail – like an appetizer, only starts convincing the audience.
   • 2nd detail – adds value to the first detail.
   • 3rd detail – the strongest one; does the main job of making readers say ‘wow’.
3. Bottom bun – Concluding sentence. There’s nothing special about this one – it doesn’t add any new info, but it is absolutely necessary for completing a hamburger and making it whole.

Hamburger Paragraph Example

Here’s how this type of paragraph should look like:
Celebration of their commitment is only one of the reasons why gay couples want to get married. Another strong reason is getting access to the legal benefits that come with marriage. The legal recognition of relationships gives couples a number of advantages, which civil unions are denied. For example, the right to hospital visits and access to family insurance policies are pleasant benefits that come with official marriage. At the same time, such marriage protections as child adoption, automatic inheritance and medical decision making power can be of vital importance in certain life situations. The marriage equality debate can’t be limited to a social dimension only, because it involves many civil rights issues.

Hamburger Type Paragraph Template

Here’s a simple pattern you may use for writing a hamburger paragraph:
TOP BUN: What are you going to speak about?
FILLING: What arguments can you give to support your main claim/ develop your initial point? (Arguments should be presented in order, from minor to major evidence)
BOTTOM BUN: What have you just told? What were you trying to show/prove with those details?
Sure, this classical recipe for writing paragraphs shouldn’t limit your creativity. Adapt this formula to the needs of your particular essays whenever necessary.
Do you agree that the hamburger principle works best for paragraphs?

Let’s see how it looks if used by our experts:

A Good Example of an Essay on Gender Discrimination

Discrimination on the basis of gender is a serious social problem worldwide. Gender stereotypes and corresponding gender roles are rooted deeply in our culture and consciousness. Since early childhood, kids undergo the influence of society paradigms, which shape their mindsets and behaviors. However, not everyone feels attached to their social groups to the same extent.

(Attention, please! Here goes a thesis statement for this essay on gender ) Those individuals who feel less identified with their gender groups are more likely to notice the discriminative practices and challenge the existing state of affairs.

Those who feel less attached to their gender groups may have different personal reasons for participating in anti-discriminative actions. They tend to not take group-based inequality for granted and have strong emotional responses to instances of discrimination even if they are not directly involved in them (Iyer & Ryan, 2009, p. 792). Therefore, a certain level of detachment from the group improves the individual’s perception of social justice (Kinkinginhoun-Medagbe, 2008, p. 57). The lack of connection decreases the influence of gender stereotypes and allows a person to see beyond the limits prescribed by society.

Starting from the blue or pink blanket in the hospital, our surroundings influence our perception of gender roles and justice in the workplace and society. However, owing to the effort of numerous feminist movements, girls start protecting their rights since school years. For instance, in 2000, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights received 5, 000 complaints of discrimination from schoolchildren (Spears & Bigler, 2004, p. 715). Regardless of this striking number, a significant number of offenses is definitely left unreported. At the same time, the amount of reported discrimination clearly shows the existing tendency towards increased self-awareness and ability to challenge the gender stereotypes at schools and workplaces.

(Didn’t you forget about a conclusion for this gender essay?) Although social paradigms make gender stereotypes rooted deeply in our mindsets, individuals who feel less identified with their groups are ready to challenge discriminative practices.

Reference List

Iyer, A. & Ryan, M. (2009). Why do men and women challenge gender discrimination in the workplace? Journal of Social Issues, 65 (4), pp. 791 – 814.

Kinkinginhoun-Medagbe, F., Diagne, A., Simtowe, F., & Adegbola, P. (2008). Gender discrimination and its impact on income, productivity, and technical efficiency: Evidence from Benin. Agric Hum Values, 27, pp. 57 – 69.

Spears Brown, C, & Bigler, R. (2004). Children’s perceptions of gender discrimination. Developmental Psychology, 40 (5), pp. 714 – 7126.

Any more idea as to how to write essays on gender? Please, leave your comments below.

5 Worst Spoilers for Business Essays

Sometimes, tutors only scan your paper to see what it’s worth. And here is what can stop teachers from loving your essays:

1. Once upon a time… Too long, off-topic introduction. Showing your knowledge of history or sharing your philosophical thoughts isn’t good for Business classes. Get to the point as soon as possible – better do it in the 1st sentence.
2. Wikipedia fan club. This unreliable source is second only to the phrase ‘our neighbor Ben says’. You should never confess that you use Wikipedia when you are at college.
3. In my humble opinion (imho)… Mask your uncertainty, so that even you forget about it.
4. Lots of/ plenty of/ a great number of… Business tutors are obsessed with figures. Dig out relevant stats to support your position and here you go – the most persuasive business student ever.
5. Meaningless graphs without proper explanation. Eye candies can be great or absolutely useless, depending on the way you use them. Good for you if you decide to include some graphs, but be sure to offer your comments on them.

5 Sins that Can Ruin Business Essays

5 more errors that stand between you and your excellent grades for business papers:

6. Clichés and too general statements. Try not to write something too obvious: “Business depends on a variety of factors” or “Effective management is important for the company’s performance”. Everyone agrees, but nobody is really impressed.
7. Too much creativity. Avoid using too many expressive means, such as similes and metaphors (crisis struck the county like a thunder from the blue sky, the manager was like a stepfather to his subordinates etc.)
8. A scattered collection of quotes. Remember that the good balance between quotes and your own ideas in a business paper is 1:3. The best reason for citing external sources is to support your own ideas.
9. No quotes. Another extreme is to not include credible citations. Yes, you may and should have your personal opinion on the question. Yet, without proper supporting evidence, you don’t sound convincing at all.
10. Too much political correctness. The attempts to avoid extremes can make you fall between two stools. For instance, instead of writing that “The change management had certain implications for the company”, you’d better write that “The change management had a negative impact on the company’s performance and decreased its revenue by 14%.”

Good luck with your business essays!
P.S. Do not hesitate to share your good grades in the section below, so that we can congratulate you.

Take a Standpoint in the Gun Control Debate

Did you know that 33 people are killed with guns every day in America?
This is one of the numbers you can use in your essay on gun control. Are you ready to learn more reasons both for and against gun control? Here they are, in a nutshell:

Have you chosen your standpoint? Great! Now you sound like you know all the sides of the issue.

10 Catchy Titles and Fresh Ideas for Essays on Gun Control

Do you know what’s another step to your A+ gun control essay? It’s a catchy title, which emotionally expresses your standpoint and grabs your readers’ interest.
1-2-3 – choose a catchy title for free:

Pro-gun control papers:
1. More Guns – More Violence.
2. Stop the Wrong People from Getting Guns.
3. Revision of Second Amendment to Prevent Human Tragedies.
4. The Second Amendment and Gun Control Can Co-Exist.
5. The Thin Line Between Self-Defense and Deadly Force.

Anti-gun control papers:

6. Gun Control Is Not the Answer – Education Is.
7. Gun Culture Propaganda Starts with Cartoons.
8. Mass Media Is to Blame: Murders Seem Easy Routes to Fame.
9. Gun Control: Why Then Not Ban Everything that Poses a Potential Threat?
10. Criminals Don’t Obey Gun Control Laws.

5 Latest Resources for Gun Control Essays

Got a catchy title and weighty arguments for your paper?
Good, but don’t go away so fast, please. We’ve got one more pleasant bonus for you. Don’t forget to include citations from authoritative sources in your papers:

1. Stephen King’s ‘Guns’.
2. ‘The Case for Gun Policy Reforms in America’ Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johns-hopkins-center-for-gun-policy-and-research/publications/WhitePaper102512_CGPR.pdf
3. ‘10 Myths about Gun Control’ http://people.duke.edu/~gnsmith/articles/myths.htm
4. Don Kates and Gary Mauser ‘Would Banning Firearms Reduce Murder and Suicide?’ Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy.
5. The National Rifle Association. http://home.nra.org/#/nraorg

Good luck with your essays on gun control!

College Entrance Essays and Their Structure: Key Elements

And now, check this model structure for entrance essays for college:

1. Making a strong point/offering a viable hypothesis;
2. Describing the conflict and developing the analysis;
3. Deducing key results and offering efficient solutions.

College Entrance Essays: Formatting Rules Are Easy to Remember!

There’s no single college entrance essays format – every single time, you’ll have to check the instructions carefully. However, take a look at these general recommendations:
College requirements

• Detailed and cohesive outline;
• Thorough research and vast bibliography;
• Well-developed argument and an efficient solution.

College Entrance Essays Classification: Get the Key to Any Type!

Listen carefully – you’re about to learn how to get an A in college! To get a perfect mark, you’ll need to know what sort of paper you have to write. In most cases, the papers people write for college admission fall into one of the following categories:
Goals, plans and future career.
Devote a college essay to your future goals and show your potential at the same time – that’s a win-win move!
Your sources of inspiration and subject of interest
When dealing with a college admission paper, describe the things you like doing most – that’s what is going to make the college essay different from a bunch of essay clones. Here is what you should think of including:
Your experience and chances to practice the issue in question.
When writing an application to college, you can also describe your current and past achievements. Share your achievements with others!
The first time you became involved in the field you’re interested in.
Describe the moment you ‘fell in love’ with your favorite subject.
The current problems in a given field and the ways to solve them.
An original and a bit zany topic.
Search for modern challenges and problems for your college essay topics.

College Entrance Essays and Probable Topics: Check the List

Whenever you deal with a college entrance essay, there’s nothing supernatural to expect. Check these ideas that are among the most likely college entrance essays topics:

1. My Future Job the Way I See It: Obstacles and Opportunities;
2. Challenges on the Way to Success: My Life in 10 Years from Now;
3. What Inspires Me Most: Searching for Sources of Creativity;
4. Where I Get My Creative Ideas from: The Vault of Inspiration;
5. My First Professional Experience: Expectations vs. Reality;
6. Practicing Professional Skills: My First Experience and Impressions;
7. Struck by a Revelation: When I Realized What My Vocation Was;
8. The Time When I Decided to Devote My Life to a Certain Field;
9. The Current Social Problems and Their Roots: Searching for Solutions;
10. On the Modern Society and the Ways to Develop It: Changing the World in a Millisecond.

College Entrance Essays vs. Personal Statements: Read Samples

When writing a college application, make sure that you don’t mistake it for a personal statement. Check their similarities and differences below. Similarities of college applications and personal statements

 
The last, but not the least thing to remember, is that each of these papers can be an effective application for admission into a college.
Differences between application essays and personal statements
When writing an essay or a personal statement, you should know very well the basic differences between the two. So check the following table:

 
With these personal statement examples and essay extracts, you’ll be able to make your way to the academic top!
As you can see, writing college entrance essays is easy and exciting – so why don’t you try it yourself and have some fun doing it? You’ve almost earned your admission to college – you’re just one step away from it.

3 Main Principles of Writing an Autobiography

First and foremost, you should remember that an autobiography (that is also called a memoir) is a story about your own life. If you write the life story of another person, that is called a biography.
You will easily write a winning autobiography if you follow these 3 simple principles:

• make it logical – choose one main idea and express it in a thesis statement to combine all memories into a meaningful whole;
• do not be a bore – reveal some personal details and tell something that nobody but you can tell;
• make it easy-to-read – include an introduction, main body and conclusion; do not hesitate to use a new paragraph to develop a new idea; avoid using overcomplicated language and constructions.

15 Questions for Writing an Autobiography

Even when you use the 3 above-discussed principles, you might still stumble in the middle of your autobiography. Your inspiration can betray you after you start writing a memoir. But the following 15 questions won’t let you down. This list will help you generate brilliant ideas for your autobiographies whenever you need them:

1. What famous quote can describe your life?
2. Which 3 adjectives can be used to describe you as a person?
3. Who influenced your personal development?
4. What are your best and worst childhood memories?
5. What is your family social and ethnic background?
6. What are your relations with parents and other relatives?
7. What are your main achievements in life?
8. What are your weaknesses that you would like to get rid of?
9. What are your goals for the future?
10. What places would you like to visit and why?
11. What skills would you like to develop and why?
12. What was the most memorable day in your life?
13. What was the most important lesson you have ever learnt in your life?
14. What are the most important values in life, in your opinion?
15. Which fault you would never forgive in others or yourself?

If you are a student, your life story might not be that long. However, these 15 questions will guide you in writing an autobiography that you can be proud of and the 3 simple principles discussed above will help you make your memoir flawless.

Do You Want Help with Essay Writing? 5 Simple Steps

These are 5 effective steps that will help in writing your essays and making them flawless:

1. Do not be afraid of any topic. Be sure that you can cover nearly any question. It is pretty easy to choose a fresh and interesting perspective to boring themes, or collect the materials for topics that are initially unclear to you. Anyway, making essay writing effective and exciting is possible and within your means.
2. Concentrate on the subject matter and collect your thoughts. Try to get rid of thoughts about the weekend or Facebook. Imagine that you “switch off” all irrelevant thoughts in your head by using only one button.
3. Make a plan and create an outline. In essay writing, just like in war, you need a good strategy for conquering your enemies (counterarguments and logic flaws.)
4. Breathe life into your paper. Use vivid examples, interesting similes and simple, but strong language. Do not hesitate to clearly express your opinion, but support it with weighty arguments.
5. Visualize your success. Imagine your perfectly polished essay and a perfect grade for it even before you complete it.

Help with Essays Writing: Effective Algorithm

To choose the right action plan and receive help with papers at its best, answer first this question about the topic of your paper and follow the actions shown below:

As you can see, there is nothing difficult in writing stellar academic papers. Simply take these simple steps, use the algorithm and enjoy the brilliant results of your work. Good luck with your essays!

… an update on the status of current research related to the issue in question.
This is not yet a paper – you discuss the sources. And here’s what you can discuss:

1. whether the research results known so far have strong/weak points;
2. whether various research findings have practical implications yet, and, if so, what kind of implications they have;
3. the kind of approaches adopted by various researchers in the field;
4. the conclusions that authors come to and the results they offer.

Literature Review Outline Specifics: Create Brilliant Papers!

When planning a literature review, remember that, no matter whether you’re dealing with a Chicago, MLA or APA literature review outline, there are several rules you’ll have to follow anyway:

1. This is not a research proposal;

Do not explain the method, state the subject, etc. Instead, focus on main issues reported in current related research and discuss their features.

2. Use subparagraphs (at least two for each point);

e.g., check this sample literature review outline:
Review of Literature: Outline

1. Issue #1
   1. Its Features
      1. Positive features
         1. Feature number one. (Continue the text on the same line…)
         2. Feature number two. (Continue the text on the same line…)
      2. Negative features
         1. Feature number one. (Continue the text on the same line…)
         2. Feature number two. (Continue the text on the same line…)
   2. Its Significance
      1. Positive effects
         1. Effect number one. (Continue the text on the same line…)
         2. Effect number two. (Continue the text on the same line…)
      2. Negative effects
         1. Effect number one. (Continue the text on the same line…)
         2. Effect number two. (Continue the text on the same line…)
2. Issue #2…

Now that’s what experts call an example of a literature review!

3. Make sure that the points make a logical sequence;
4. Make certain that the outline reflects the key ideas you present;
5. Clearly state what each paragraph is about.

It seems that you’re quite ready for a great sample of a literature review format! Coming up next… an example outline format!

Literature Review Outline Elements: Remember the Basics

Well, it’s time to learn how to outline a literature review! There’s a bazillion ways to do it. For example, literature review outline writing like this will do you a good job:
Example of an Outline Format

1. Introduction: how well researched is the topic nowadays?
2. Crucial research studies on the issue
   1. Study A: the issue, main point, conclusions;
   2. Study B: the issue, main point, conclusions;
   3. Study C: the issue, main point, conclusions;
3. Conclusion: what can be done to research the topic further?

Alternatively, you can split the studies investigated according to the stage of research presented and the results they offer – check this sample of literature review writing:

1. Introduction: how well researched is the topic nowadays?
2. Description of existing research studies on the issue;
1. All-embracing, fully-developed research studies;
2. Research studies with preliminary results;
3. Research studies which make an interesting point, but are not fully developed.
3. Conclusion: what can be done to research the topic further?

In addition to the above, you might also need to consider other aspects – take a look at the following sample review of literature:

1. Introduction: how well researched is the topic nowadays?
2. Seminal research studies on the issue
1. 1^st Aspect of the issue: research studies that deal with it;
2. 2^nd Aspect of the issue: research studies that deal with it;
3. 3^rd Aspect of the issue: research studies that deal with it;
3. Conclusion: what can be done to research the topic further?

And now, it’s time you check an example of an outline for literature review writing!

Literature Review Outline Template: Follow This Example

When creating a literature review plan, it’s best to use a template to guide you. Consider the following scheme:
Literature review outline sample

1. Introduction: Post-Modern Literature
   1. Definition of the phenomenon
   2. The development of Postmodern literature
2. Seminal Research Studies on the Issue
   1. Research studies on Postmodern themes
   2. Research studies on Postmodern techniques
   3. Research studies on Postmodern perspectives
3. Conclusion: Promising Ideas for Research on Post-Modern Literature
   With this literature review outline example, you’ll surely handle the most complicated literature review structure!

Literature Review Outline: The Final Essential Ingredient

There is still one more ingredient you’ll need to know before you start writing your literature review outline.

To outline literature review papers correctly, try drawing first a concept map for your literary review outline!

Create a graphic map with all the concepts and ideas you’ll want to include in the outline for a literature review. When you start to outline literature review writing, make sure that you’ve included everything you have on the map into it.
Well, now you’re ready to write the most fantastic outline for a literature review ever! So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and try writing your own outline of a literature review– your success is just around the corner!

A Lazy Student Autobiography Example

An autobiography is a story of your own life. Even if you think you don’t have much to include in your memoir, you can still make it quite interesting.

Bill Gates said: “I always choose a lazy person to do a difficult job, because he will find an easy way to do it.” This is why we found a lazy but smart student to write an autobiography and we now share the easiest ways to do it with you. So, here is a student memoir sample, with subheadings:

My childhood. (Why not start from the very beginning? Writing about your early years is the easiest and most logical start for an autobiography.)

I was born on a cold winter night, when even time seemed to stand still in my native Bennington, Oklahoma. I do not remember much of my early childhood, but my Mom said that I was a very active, curious and communicative child. I could ask tens of questions per minute, even without waiting for the answers. I suppose this is why my parents offered me books and educational movies as early as on my 3rd birthday.

Who Am I? (Describe yourself in a few words. It does not necessarily need to be too creative. Do not forget to make a transition from the previous part.)

Fortunately, my thirst for knowledge did not come to an end when I was at school. I was passionate about History and Science. This passion helped me develop very good skills in these areas and I was admitted to the college of my dreams. Today I am a student at a law school and I feel very happy about it.

My goals. (They say that a life with a goal is a life that is whole. Be positive and show everyone that your life is whole.)
I am certain that my degree will become my ticket to a better tomorrow. I want to become a good lawyer in the field of employment legislation. I study hard and devote my free time to reading scholarly reviews and watching interviews with recognized specialists in the field.

My ups and downs. (This part will show that you analyze your experiences and try to learn certain lessons from them.)
Sure, I understand that life is not just a bed of roses and challenges and hardships are an integral element of life. As my parents could not help me to cover my college expenses in full, paying off my student loan has become an important challenge for me. I combine a part-time job and full-time study to earn my living and my education. Yet, I feel triumphant at the beginning of every month when I receive my wages and I plan how I will spend my money…

An Autobiography Template for Students

Simply complete these phrases, develop the ideas, add some specific details to your student autobiography examples and ta da!! Your A-level autobiography is ready!

1. I was born in…
2. I was an active (quiet, knowledge-loving, shy, curious, etc.) child.
3. My childhood dream was…
4. My earliest memory is…
5. I am grateful to my parents (teachers/ friends), because…
6. My role-model was…
7. My lifetime dream is…
8. The most memorable day in my life was…
9. The phrase that I will never forget was…
10. If only one of my dreams could come true, I would wish for…

Feel free to use this example of autobiography for students and take the effortless steps described above to complete an A-level memoir with ease.

Autobiography Sample Starters

Unless you are a celebrity or a prodigy kid, you probably don’t have too much information to include in your writing. Yet, this doesn’t mean you cannot write a captivating autobiography. Here are some good ideas on how to start your own autobiography example, so that you grab readers’ attention right from the start. Any of these starters can make your autobiography uniquely interesting:

• Start with some interesting details from your childhood (ask your mom about them): your first word, first steps, funny games, etc.
• What profession did you dream of, when you were 5?
• Find a famous or funny quote which matches your life position.
• Recollect your earliest childhood memory.
• Write the introduction part through the eyes of a 1-year-old you (for example, what a baby feels when s/he sees her/his parents, house and toys.)

Autobiography Sample with Questions

Along with an effective starter, asking interesting questions about your life experiences and views is the second secret to writing a sample autobiography of A-level. Here is a good example for you:

Basic information
I was born and raised in California, which is called the Golden State or the state of opportunities. No wonder then that I started looking for opportunities right from the cradle. My mom says that my first word was “money”. Even though I have strong doubts that babies can be that greedy and I suppose that I actually meant to say “Mummy”, everyone in our family says that I am an inborn economist.

Earliest memories
My earliest memory is from my third birthday party, in 1995, when I fell in love with balloons, cakes and Joan. My parents say that Joan was truly my first love. She and I were unpacking toys and playing with coins from a money box. Even though I was only 3, parents and relatives gave me some pocket money for my birthday. I am not certain if three-year-olds can have any romantic feelings and are truly interested in money. Perhaps all parents are likely to see some extraordinary qualities in their kids.

Who am I now?
It is now hard to say if it was my parents’ influence, but as the years passed by, I decided to choose International Economics as my profession. Actually, when I had to make a choice of college, I already had no doubts.

Life goals
Now I am a student of Economics and I cherish the hope that my diploma will become my ticket to a better tomorrow. Certainly, I also dream of meeting a nice girl one day and building a family in the future. However, as of now, my study and professional development are my core goals.

Most important life values
The most important life values for me are my health and the support of relatives and friends. As a would-be economist, I must admit that everything else can be bought with money.

As you can see, writing an autobiography can and should be easy and interesting. One last thing you should know before you start writing your own autobiography samples is a couple of warnings to help you avoid common pitfalls:

1. Do not get lost in your memories and thoughts. As you start searching for information to include in your autobiography, make certain you know when you found enough and it’s time to start writing as well.
2. Avoid too much pessimism. Try not to start sympathizing with yourself: “Oh, poor me, I had so many hardships in my life.”
3. Do not use the style of a historical textbook. Avoid writing something like: “I was born in the year X. I went to school in the year Y. I entered college in the year Z.” Your reader can fall asleep in the middle of reading your paper. Try to make it lively and interesting.

Now with these tips and example, you are forearmed and have excellent chances for creating good autobiography samples and receiving excellent grades for them.