Informational Essay
Focus: research, avoiding plagiarizing, select and use an appropriate organizational style to explain a topic
(Writing 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 6.10; Language 6.1, 6.2)
Pre-writing Practice:
- Using the exemplar essay assigned by your teacher, read about a topic and answer the accompanying questions.
- Write your own "quick-write" brainstorm of ideas you could include in a similar informational essay, using the graphic organizer provided in class.
Informational Writing Directions:
- Research and take notes about your chosen topic. Be accurate. Cite your sources. Take care not to plagiarize!
- Write a 4 to 6-paragraph informational essay on the graphic organizer pages, following the guidelines in your English notes.
- Self edit & peer edit using the CUPS and ARMS guides.
- Type a second draft.
- Peer edit using the Second Draft Informational Writing Peer and Self-Editing Checklist.
- Make corrections and print a final copy.
Informational Writing Resources:
- Informational Essay Research Expectations & Examples
- Second Draft Informational Writing Peer and Self-Editing Checklist
- Complete Online Formatting and Style Guide for MLA Format from OWL at Purdue
- MLA Style Guidelines Overview one-page summary from OWL at Purdue