1. Informational Writing: Logical Progression
Grade 6
©Copyright by Write Score LLC

2. Review: Elements of Informational Writing
Introduction:
Hook/Grabber
Thesis
Body:
Paragraphs of Evidence and Elaboration
-Topic sentence
-Introduce Evidence
-Elaborate on Evidence
-Transition to next paragraph
Conclusion:
Wraps up the paper
Reinforces the thesis
Leaves the reader satisfied
The number of paragraphs does not matter. The body includes as many paragraphs as it takes to form complete support taking into account the assignment and word/time limitations.

3. The BODY: Topic sentence: Name one reason supporting your thesis.
Introduce and State Evidence: Use a signal phrase and provide evidence (reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and/or quotations) from the text to support your claim.
Elaborate on Evidence: Show how the evidence proves the point you are trying to make in this paragraph. Give more detail.
Concluding Sentence/Transition: End your paragraph with a concluding sentence that wraps up this paragraph and moves into your next point.

4. Topic Sentence: Example
Write a Topic Sentence -
Name one reason to support your thesis:
Thesis: Although not all the world is Christian (and Christmas is a Christian holiday), many nations celebrate it annually, each in a different way.
Topic Sentence: As for Asian countries, in Japan, for example, Christmas is considered to be a time to share one’s good mood and happiness with other people. 

5. Let’s take a look at signal words/phrases before we move on.
Introduce and State Evidence:
Introduce and State Evidence: Use a signal phrase and provide evidence (reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and/or quotations) from the text to support your thesis.
Let’s take a look at signal words/phrases before we move on.

6. Using Signal Phrases:
Signal Phrases introduce the support and evidence.
Here are a few examples:
The first passage states that…
The article “State of the Species” explains how…
The author of _____ agrees by explaining _______
According to ____________________
Other signal words/phrases:
addresses adds agrees believes claims
confirms declares determines estimates focuses on implies mentions notes observes points out
questions recommends reports says sees
states suggests writes

7. Introduce and State Evidence: Example
Use a signal phrase and provide evidence (reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and/or quotations) from the text to support your claim.
As for Asian countries, in Japan, for example, Christmas is considered to be a time to share one’s good mood and happiness with other people. As most Japanese people are not Christians, this holiday in Japan has no religious connotations. Japanese couples usually see Christmas Eve as a romantic occasion to spend time together, go to a restaurant, or have a walk, so it is somewhat similar to St. Valentine’s Day (which is, in its turn, super popular in Japan). Besides, unlike the United States, Christmas in Japan is not an official holiday, so companies work as usual, and the traditional Christmas food is cake and chicken.

8. Elaborate on Evidence: Example
Show how the evidence proves the point you are trying to make in this paragraph. Give more detail.
As for Asian countries, in Japan, for example, Christmas is considered to be a time to share one’s good mood and happiness with other people. As most Japanese people are not Christians, this holiday in Japan has no religious connotations. Japanese couples usually see Christmas Eve as a romantic occasion to spend time together, go to a restaurant, or have a walk, so it is somewhat similar to St. Valentine’s Day (which is, in its turn, super popular in Japan). Besides, unlike the United States, Christmas in Japan is not an official holiday, so companies work as usual, and the traditional Christmas food is cake and chicken.

9. Concluding Sentence: Example
End your paragraph with a concluding sentence that wraps up this paragraph and moves into your next point.
As for Asian countries, in Japan, for example, Christmas is considered to be a time to share one’s good mood and happiness with other people. As most Japanese people are not Christians, this holiday in Japan has no religious connotations. Japanese couples usually see Christmas Eve as a romantic occasion to spend time together, go to a restaurant, or have a walk, so it is somewhat similar to St. Valentine’s Day (which is, in its turn, super popular in Japan). Besides, unlike the United States, Christmas in Japan is not an official holiday, so companies work as usual, and the traditional Christmas food is cake and chicken.

10. Your Turn: Write body paragraphs using these elements
Topic sentence: Name one example of support for your thesis.
Introduce and State Evidence: Use a signal phrase/word and provide evidence (reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and/or quotations) from the text to support your thesis.
Elaborate on Evidence: Show how the evidence proves the point you are trying to make in this paragraph. Give more detail.
Concluding Sentence: End your paragraph with a concluding sentence that wraps up this paragraph and moves into your next point.

11. See a possible outline and sample introduction on your handout.
Your Turn
Writing Task: Using information from the article, write to explain how the Wright brothers went from having an idea to creating a working invention.
See a possible outline and sample introduction on your handout.

12. Checklist of Informative Writing
Use the following questions to revise and elaborate your essay.
 ____What is the most important thing I want to say about my subject?
____ Is my thesis clear and is it narrow?
____ How many reasons did I give to support my thesis?
____ Did I overlap or repeat any points?
____ How many paragraphs did I use to talk about each point?
____ Did I use evidence from the text?
____ Did I introduce the evidence with a signal word or phrase?
____ Why did I talk about them in this order?
____ Should the order be changed?
____ Can I substitute better examples, reasons, or details?