Informational Essay (8th grade)
Focus: research, avoiding plagiarizing, select and use an appropriate organizational style to explain a topic
(Writing 8.2, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 8.10; Language 8.1, 8.2)
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 5 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
- Media Bias/Fact-Check website to verify the accuracy of your research sources
- Complete Online Formatting and Style Guide for MLA Format from OWL at Purdue
- MLA Style Guidelines Overview one-page summary from OWL at Purdue
Exemplar Articles and Essays:
- Compare/Contrast - "How to Spot Your Child's Frenemy" article from VeryWell Family
- Descriptive - "Seven Characteristics of a Bully-proof Friendship" article from VeryWell Family
- Compare/Contrast combined wtih Descriptive - "Do Girls and Boys Bully Differently?" article from VeryWell Family