18 Writing Informational Essays

Mode:

Form:

110.22.b.10.A, 110.22.b.10.B

21st Century Skills:

Writing Reading

English Language Arts:

Writing Reading

Page 137 from All Write

The Basic Shape of an Essay

Discuss the graphic on page 137, stressing the fact that an essay contains three main parts—a beginning, middle, and ending. Have students apply this diagram to another essay, either one that you provide or one from All Write. Encourage students to return to this graphic to test their own essays for completeness.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.6.W.2.4

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 6.2.2

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Mode:

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21st Century Skills:

Writing

English Language Arts:

Structure Writing

Page 138 from All Write

Writing Guidelines

The next two pages provide guidelines for writing an informational essay. Review the tips for selecting a topic and gathering details. Then provide students with a specific writing assignment, and guide them through the steps for prewriting. Be sure to provide plenty of time for students to gather information about their topics. For additional help, point them to pages 140–142.

Note: Thoughtful Learning's online writing topics page can help students discover a topic for their informational essays.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11.B

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 6.2.1.b, LA 6.2.2, LA 6.2.2.a

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Level:

Mode:

Form:

Writing Process Prewriting

21st Century Skills:

Writing Project

English Language Arts:

Page 139 from All Write

Writing Guidelines (Continued)

Review the guidelines for writing, revising, and editing informational essays. Remind students that their essays need beginning, middle, and ending parts. Consider modeling each part for students before they develop the parts on their own.

When students are ready to revise their first drafts, have them use the questions on page 139 as a guide. (The checklist is also available for download.) Also have them test their first draft against the graphic on page 137.

Downloads:

Informational Essay Revising and Editing Checklist

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11.B

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 6.2.1.b, LA 6.2.2, LA 6.2.2.a

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Level:

Mode:

Form:

Writing Process Writing Revising Editing

21st Century Skills:

Writing Project

English Language Arts:

Page 140 from All Write

Writing About a Place

Review the guidelines for collecting details when writing about a place. The guidelines are arranged according to different types of thinking, from observing through evaluating. Model using these guidelines before you have students try them on their own.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.22.b.10.B.ii, 110.22.b.11.B

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 6.2.1.c, LA 6.2.2.d

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Mode:

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English Language Arts:

Prewriting Writing

Page 141 from All Write

Writing About an Object and Writing a Definition

Review the guidelines for collecting details when writing about an object. Model using these guidelines before you have students try them on their own. This page also provides a strategy for writing a definition. Model this strategy when appropriate for your students.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.22.b.10.B.ii, 110.22.b.11.B

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 6.2.1.c, LA 6.2.2.d

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Level:

Mode:

Explanatory Essay Definition Description

Form:

21st Century Skills:

Writing Project

English Language Arts:

Prewriting Writing

Page 142 from All Write

Writing About an Event

Review the guidelines for collecting details when writing about an event. Model using these guidelines before you have students try them on their own.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.22.b.10.B.ii, 110.22.b.11.B

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 6.2.1.c, LA 6.2.2.d

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Level:

Mode:

Form: