Synthesizing

Synthesis pre-writing strategy: the kernel essay.

Synthesis Essay Pre-Writing Strategy:  The Kernel Essay

What is a kernel essay?  A kernel essay is a shortened form of a broader essay (usually a few paragraphs long) that emphasizes understanding how to format a claim (also known as thesis statement) and provide evidence for that claim.  The goal is that a kernel essay could then be extended into a full essay.  So how do I organize this?

Key Takeaways

Synthesis Kernel Essay Format:

  •  Introduce both texts (authors, titles, and common themes/traits.
  •  Based on these texts, I believe… (this is your claim)
  •  An analysis of Author 1’s argument (claim, evidence, limitations)
  •  An analysis of Author 2’s argument (claim, evidence, limitations)
  •  What these authors would say to one another (what they would agree with?  How they would challenge one another?
  •  What you think…
  •  Why any of this is important (also known as a final evaluation or commentary)

Based on your own sources, consider the questions above to brainstorm synthesis notes.  Then, use the sample below to model your own kernel essay.

Example Synthesis Kernel Essay:

In Charlie Beck and Connie Rice’s “How Community Policing Can Work” and Charles M. Blow’s “Romanticizing ‘Broken Windows’ Policing,” all three authors discuss the need for programs that bring attention to wrongful use of force among police.  However, each source focuses on a different program: Beck and Rice highlight the positive aspects of “guardian policing” while Blow criticizes the negative aspects of “broken windows policing.” Though different programs have advantages and disadvantages, I think all authors could agree that exploring programs to help reduce violent crime as well as police use-of-force is necessary in combating many tragedies we see in America today; however, the authors make interesting points about the importance of considering the causes of crime within individual communities.

Beck and Rice, one the “chief of the Los Angeles Police Department” and one a “civil rights lawyer,” provide evidence that guardian policing, which consists of having police officers establish trust with residents in high crime neighborhoods in Los Angeles, has been found to reduce the number of murders as well as the number of police shootings.  In fact, since it began in one particular neighborhood named Watts, there have been “no shootings by the partnership officers in over five years” (Beck and Rice). However, within this piece, Beck & Rice fail to discuss other potential solutions other than guardian policing, making this program seem the one-stop solution.

Charles M. Blow, though clearly an advocate for programs that would train officers in ways that may reduce their use-of-force in unnecessary situations, asks us to be wary before simply accepting any program as the savior for today’s problems.  He highlights a misguided program called “broken windows policing” for targeting certain racial groups, primarily African American communities, as violent, when that’s not necessarily the case. He writes, “How you view “broken windows” policing completely depends on your vantage point, which is heavily influenced by racial realities and socio-economics,” (Blow) and emphasizes the need for police officers to view effects of poverty before tying violence to race.

Both texts make valid points for the need for more programs to help reduce unnecessary use-of-force among police.  Though Blow’s piece is focused more on racial discrimination, he highlights strong points about the role poverty plays in a lot of these situations.  Beck & Rice consider community trust at the heart of the problem of some of the crime we see in neighborhoods. I believe Blow’s points challenge Beck & Rice in a positive way, encouraging readers to consider the many facets that contribute to crime in communities and consider ways to combat this issue that is specific to the community members the program works to target.

  • Adapted from Gretchen Bernabei's Trail of Breadcrumbs. Authored by : Amber Nichols-Buckley . Located at : http://trailofbreadcrumbs.net/writing-strategies/kernel-essays/ . Project : Trail of Breadcrumbs. License : Public Domain: No Known Copyright
  • Start diagramming Start diagramming

Figma design

Design and prototype in one place

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Collaborate with a digital whiteboard

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Translate designs into code

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Get the desktop, mobile, and font installer apps

See the latest features and releases

  • Prototyping
  • Design systems
  • Wireframing
  • Online whiteboard
  • Team meetings
  • Strategic planning
  • Brainstorming
  • Diagramming
  • Product development
  • Web development
  • Design handoff
  • Product managers

Organizations

Config 2024

Register to attend in person or online — June 26–27

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Creator fund

Build and sell what you love

User groups

Join a local Friends of Figma group

Learn best practices at virtual events

Customer stories

Read about leading product teams

Stories about bringing new ideas to life

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Get started

  • Developer docs
  • Best practices
  • Reports & insights
  • Resource library
  • Help center

FigJam Build a strong foundation with our essay plan template

No shaky arguments here. Whether it’s a class assignment, personal statement, or a missive on the company blog, FigJam’s essay writing plan will help you construct a stronger essay outline from the ground up.

three pieces of paper with a pencil and sticky note

Essay plan template

Share ideas, hone arguments, and refine your writing with our collaborative essay plan template.

essay plan template cover photo

Nail down your message

Organize evidence, strengthen supporting arguments, and hammer your main point home with our essay planning sheet.

Create flow: Maintain a cohesive writing process with an essay planning template that clarifies how one section leads to the next.

Evaluate your argument from all sides: Crystallize your claim and test it out from new angles in a visual format.

Do your research: Fact check your work and sources before writing by laying out supporting evidence on an easy-to-read outline.

essay draft marked up with FigJam's collaboration tools

FigJam Make a statement together

Writing doesn’t have to be a solo act. FigJam’s Community-built widgets make it easy to draft with collaborators and source feedback from trusted peers. Fold in new ideas and fine-tune existing arguments with Badge, Storymapper, and Lil notes.

Break it down, then build it up

Perfect the nuts and bolts of your essay with a well-organized essay plan example. Next, find new ways to tell your story with templates from our Community.

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Story mapping

Design a compelling narrative step by step.

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Compare and contrast the main points in your essay.

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Other templates from the community

Share your message with peers, mentors, and more with interactive templates.

How to write an essay plan?

If you’re wondering how to plan an essay or how to write an effective essay plan with important points and supporting details, just tap into our free essay plan example to get started. From there, you’ll be prompted to break your essay down into the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Body paragraph #1
  • Body paragraph #2
  • Body paragraph #3

Fill in each of these sections with relevant information and credible sources. Then, share it with your trusted collaborators and peers to make sure your argument sings.

What are the 5 aspects of planning an essay?

The 5 aspects of planning an essay correspond to the 5 main sections of your essay: the introduction, the 3 body paragraphs, and the conclusion.

  • Introduction – Planning an introduction involves writing a thesis statement and a brief list that outlines the order of your supporting arguments.
  • Body paragraphs (3) – As you plan your 3 body paragraphs, you’ll collect evidence—from credible sources—that backs up any supporting detail, arguments, and thesis.
  • Conclusion – While you conceptualize this final section, consider how you can open up the floor for further conversation after the essay ends. Are there any related questions you wished you’d asked? What makes this a relevant topic—today? Jot down all of your ideas on a planning sheet for essays.

What is a good structure in an essay?

Many essays follow the classic 5-part structure—the introduction that states your main argument, the 3 points supporting that claim, and the conclusion that wraps everything up.

Keep in mind, however, that you don't have to follow this essay planning example exactly. Some of the best essays break the mold—so don’t be afraid to customize your essay planning sheet or collaborate on a creative structure as you outline.

Other templates you might like

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Explore 1,000+ templates on the Figma community

Explore even more templates, widgets, and plugins—all built by the Figma community.

Figma community

essay planning sheet

All Formats

Resource types, all resource types.

  • Rating Count
  • Price (Ascending)
  • Price (Descending)
  • Most Recent

Essay planning sheet

Preview of STAAR Expository and Persuasive Essay Planning Sheet-modified

STAAR Expository and Persuasive Essay Planning Sheet -modified

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

STAAR Kernel Essay Planning Sheets

Preview of First & Second Grade Persuasive Essay Writing Plan Sheet (Lucy Calkins Inspired)

First & Second Grade Persuasive Essay Writing Plan Sheet (Lucy Calkins Inspired)

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Argumentative Essay Planning Sheet

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

  • Word Document File

Preview of ACT Aspire Expository/Informational Essay Planning Sheet

ACT Aspire Expository/Informational Essay Planning Sheet

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Frankenstein Argument Essay Graphic Organizer / Planning Sheet

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

5 Paragraph Essay Narrative Planning Sheets

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Grades K-2 Persuasive Essay Writing Plan Sheet (Lucy Calkins Inspired)

Preview of Narrative Essay Planning Sheet

Narrative Essay Planning Sheet

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

  • Google Docs™

Preview of ACT Aspire Persuasive Opinion-Based Essay Planning Sheet

ACT Aspire Persuasive Opinion-Based Essay Planning Sheet

Preview of Free Argumentative Essay Planning Guide and Evaluation Sheet, Argument Essay

Free Argumentative Essay Planning Guide and Evaluation Sheet , Argument Essay

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Literature Essay Paragraph Breakdown Guides and Planning Sheets PEEL HATMAT RSI

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Essay Planning Sheets and Student Writing Cheat Sheet

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

  • Google Apps™

Preview of Personal Narrative Essay w/ multi-planning steps and peer-edit sheet

Personal Narrative Essay w/ multi- planning steps and peer-edit sheet

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Master the Informative Essay : Peer Evaluation Sheet and Planning Guide - FREE!

Preview of Writing An Essay Checklist & Bonus Planning Sheet!

Writing An Essay Checklist & Bonus Planning Sheet !

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Expository Essay (5 paragraphs) Planning Sheet

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

STAAR Essay Planning Sheet -New (Expository, Persuasive, and Literary Analysis)

Preview of Blank STAAR Graphic Organizer-Expository Essay Planning Sheet

Blank STAAR Graphic Organizer-Expository Essay Planning Sheet

Preview of Explanatory/Informational Essay Planning Sheet

Explanatory/Informational Essay Planning Sheet

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Essay Writing Checklist and Planning Sheets Organizer

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Camel Informational Essay Planning Sheet

kernel essay planning sheet pdf

Polar Bear Informational Essay Planning Sheet

Preview of Kindergarten Persuasive Essay Writing Plan Sheet (Lucy Calkins Inspired)

Kindergarten Persuasive Essay Writing Plan Sheet (Lucy Calkins Inspired)

  • We're hiring
  • Help & FAQ
  • Privacy policy
  • Student privacy
  • Terms of service
  • Tell us what you think

IMAGES

  1. STAAR Kernel Essay Planning Sheets

    kernel essay planning sheet pdf

  2. Explanatory/Informational Essay Planning Sheet by Elevating English

    kernel essay planning sheet pdf

  3. Informative Essay Planning Sheet

    kernel essay planning sheet pdf

  4. Essay planning template (Download)

    kernel essay planning sheet pdf

  5. STAAR Kernel Essay Planning Sheets

    kernel essay planning sheet pdf

  6. Essay Planning Template by Shona Anderson-Morse

    kernel essay planning sheet pdf

VIDEO

  1. Linus Torvalds: Speaks on Fatigue and the Future of Linux

  2. AWA| Argument Essay| Planning your Essay

  3. Kernel Recipes 2022

  4. Kernel Recipes 2023

  5. Kernel Recipes 2022

  6. 6.5 Kernel formulation

COMMENTS

  1. PDF THE KERNEL ESSAY

    The What The kernel essay is a graphic organizer protocol that provides prompts to guide thinking. The Way Invite students to use any one or combination of kernel essay protocols before, during, or after a lesson. The Trick Kernel essays are a short, targeted set of sentences completed in a brief amount of time.

  2. PDF Planning Sheet

    o . Writing to persuade. o . Writing about literature. Put your truism (aka assertion aka problem aka main question) here. Put your text structure here. Write your kernel essay here.

  3. PDF Kernel Essay

    When you've answered each question, you've written a kernel essay! Example: A time when you felt invisible: when my teacher didn't see me raise my hand and I accidentally peed my pants! 1. I was 5 years old, sitting in my kindergarten classroom. 2. We had just got back from lunch, and I had a lot of water to drink.

  4. Synthesis Pre-Writing Strategy: The Kernel Essay

    Key Takeaways. Synthesis Kernel Essay Format: Introduce both texts (authors, titles, and common themes/traits. Based on these texts, I believe… (this is your claim) An analysis of Author 1's argument (claim, evidence, limitations) An analysis of Author 2's argument (claim, evidence, limitations) What these authors would say to one another ...

  5. Results for kernel essay

    kernel essay modified organizer letter to self with sentence frames for planning draft extra sentence frames ab wrtg Using the planning sheet, scaffolding and sentence frames, students reflect on their goals and look back and see how they have grown and matured throughout the year. Reflection activity for students at the beginning or end of the school year.

  6. PDF Kernel Essay Model

    Kernel Essay Model Final moment I was on my couch and was holding my baby cousin. Then she started to fall asleep! I had to stay still for about 20 minutes. I was mesmerized by how warm and soft she was. I realized how much I love babies and want to have one of my own. My truth: You can discover things about yourself when you least expect.

  7. Writing for a Reader

    Kernel Essays. A writer writes about the topic, using the text structure as a guide, creating one sentence per box. These sentences are called a kernel essay. The next step is for the writer to read the kernel essay aloud to several listeners to see how that structure worked for the writer. Peter Elbow calls this a "skeleton essay."

  8. Adapted from Gretchen Bernabei's Kernel Essays

    ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERNS FOR YOUNG ARGUMENT WRITERS. Adapted from Gretchen Bernabei's Kernel Essays. E. Make your own kernel essay structure! Draw it here: [1] These organizational structures are not concerned with paragraphs as much as ideas or sections about the argument a young writer is learning to compose. Help students view the sections ...

  9. PDF EXPLODING the KERNEL ESSAY

    EXPLODING the KERNEL ESSAY Moment or Idea 1. Where was I? What was I doing? 2. What was the first thing that happened? 3. What was the next thing that happened?? 4. What is the final moment? 5. What did you learn from this? Author: C0803977 Created Date: 9/25/2014 7:10:09 AM ...

  10. STAAR Kernel Essay Planning Sheets

    After downloading the pdf, if you'd love a Google doc format of this template to modify for your students, please contact me at [email protected]. Total Pages 2 pages

  11. Bernabei's Kernel Essay Template by Mrs Stewart Hearts English

    Description. A digital version of the Kernel Essay idea from Gretchen Bernabei- A fabulous pre-writing and planning organizer for any type of writing! Total Pages. Answer Key. N/A. Teaching Duration. N/A.

  12. The Kernel Essay

    The Kernel Essay. This was my first formal, observed lesson taught during my second semester of student teaching, with 7th grade ELA/Writing. Students were beginning their Personal Narratives. Below you will find my lesson plan, an example of the Kernel Essay that I modeled along with the students, modifications for SPED/ELL students, and my ...

  13. PDF Home

    Home - Trail of Breadcrumbs

  14. PDF Module in English Grammar Kernel

    "A kernel clause which is both a sentence and a simple sentence, like His engine has stopped or The police have impounded his car, is a kernel sentence Within this ... in your essay. Do this in a whole sheet of pad paper. Gordon College Olongapo City College of Education, Arts, and Sciences KCV K 1: Kara and Rita were quarrelling.

  15. Kernel Essays Teaching Resources

    Middle School Miracles. 5.0. (17) $1.50. PDF. This is a resource, developed by Gretchen Bernabei, that helps teach and enage students who struggle with developing their ideas and structuring their essays. The Kernel Essay Template is a graphic organizer for planning out essays and has an attached rubric.

  16. PDF Essay Planning: Outlining with a Purpose

    Outlining is a vital part of the essay planning process. It allows the writer to understand how he or she will connect all the information to support the thesis statement and the claims of the paper. It also provides the writer with a space to manipulate ideas easily without needing to write complete paragraphs.

  17. PDF Essay Planning Template

    Essay Planning Template. Templates are useful ways to codify the writing process into manageable chunks. This template should be thought of as generic since each discipline has its own way of writing that you should become aware of and follow in those classes. Assignment direction will often outline the basic process that you should be ...

  18. Essay Plan Template

    Organize evidence, strengthen supporting arguments, and hammer your main point home with our essay planning sheet. Create flow: Maintain a cohesive writing process with an essay planning template that clarifies how one section leads to the next. Evaluate your argument from all sides: Crystallize your claim and test it out from new angles in a ...

  19. PDF Kernel Essay Text Structures

    Kernel Essay Text Structures I had this question... previous I asked somebody for an answer I asked some-body else to confirm the answer I tested the answer for myself with this experience What I learned from my experience Seeking an Answer What this word meant to me when I was 4 When I was a little older What the

  20. Kernel Essay Template Teaching Resources

    Browse kernel essay template resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources.

  21. Kernel Essay Planning Sheet Pdf

    Kernel Essay Planning Sheet Pdf, Step On The Brakes Homework Yahoo, Ode To The West Wind Short Essay, Curriculum Vitae Formato Word Da Scaricare, Ted Talks 5 Tips To Improve Your Critical Thinking, ESSAY TEMPLATE EXPOSITORY THESIS STATEMENT TEMPLATE HDA5MK4X CAUSE, Health Care Cover Letter Sample ...

  22. Kernel Essay Planning Sheet Pdf

    Kernel Essay Planning Sheet Pdf - Download Once the deadline is over, we will upload your order into you personal profile and send you a copy to the email address you used while placing order. ... Sample Acknowledgement For Thesis Pdf, Essay On Leaders Are Made Or Born Nursing Management Business and Economics Psychology +99

  23. Essay Planning Sheet Teaching Resources

    Browse essay planning sheet resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources. ... STAAR Kernel Essay Planning Sheets. by . The Curly Girl's Classroom by Stacy Shellhorse. 4.9 (17) ... After downloading the pdf, if you'd love a Google doc format of this template to modify for ...