1. Logical Progression: Informational Writing
Grade 10
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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 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.
The number of paragraphs depends on the content of your paper and the time/length requirements.
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: Write a Topic Sentence.
Name one reason to support your thesis:
Thesis:
In the United States, fast food has become an unhealthy way of life for many families.
Fast food restaurants provide families with convenient meals that contain high levels of fat and salt.

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. Let’s Take a Look at an Example
In the following pages, we’ll look at an example of a sample body paragraph on the topic of fast food.
Assume the thesis is:
In the United States, fast food has become an unhealthy way of life for many families.
Assume the first body paragraph is about the high levels of fat and salt in fast food and that the topic sentence is:
Fast food restaurants provide families with convenient meals that contain high levels of fat and salt.

8. 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.
Fast food restaurants provide families with convenient meals that contain high levels of fat and salt. This high sodium content can cause serious health issues, such as high blood pressure or strokes, and has been found to cause damage to the heart and kidneys. According to The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, “The daily recommended limit for sodium is 2,200 mg. Frequenters of fast food restaurants often exceed these recommendations since the average fast food burger and fry combination meal contains 1,260 mg of sodium.” When half of the daily limit of sodium is consumed in one meal, it makes it virtually impossible to stay within the daily recommended limits. Many fast food restaurants have begun to offer healthier menu alternatives, however, these items are often priced higher than their unhealthy counterparts, limiting the number of potential consumers.

9. Elaborate on Evidence:
Show how the evidence proves the point you are trying to make in this paragraph. Give more detail: Elaborate.
Fast food restaurants provide families with convenient meals that contain high levels of fat and salt. This high sodium content can cause serious health issues, such as high blood pressure or strokes, and has been found to cause damage to the heart and kidneys. According to The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, “The daily recommended limit for sodium is 2,200 mg. Frequenters of fast food restaurants often exceed these recommendations since the average fast food burger and fry combination meal contains 1,260 mg of sodium.” When half of the daily limit of sodium is consumed in one meal, it makes it virtually impossible to stay within the daily recommended limits. Many fast food restaurants have begun to offer healthier menu alternatives, however, these items are often priced higher than their unhealthy counterparts, limiting the number of potential consumers.

10. Concluding Sentence:
End your paragraph with a concluding sentence that wraps up this paragraph and moves into your next point.
Fast food restaurants provide families with convenient meals that contain high levels of fat and salt. This high sodium content can cause serious health issues, such as high blood pressure or strokes, and has been found to cause damage to the heart and kidneys. According to The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, “The daily recommended limit for sodium is 2,200 mg. Frequenters of fast food restaurants often exceed these recommendations since the average fast food burger and fry combination meal contains 1,260 mg of sodium.” When half of the daily limit of sodium is consumed in one meal, it makes it virtually impossible to stay within the daily recommended limits. Many fast food restaurants have begun to offer healthier menu alternatives, however, these items are often priced higher than their unhealthy counterparts, limiting the number of potential consumers.

11. Your Turn: Identify the Parts
On your handout (or just using the following slide), identify the parts of the sample body paragraph:
Topic Sentence
Signal Phrase
Evidence
Elaboration
Paragraph Wrap-up and Transition

12. Your Turn: Identify the Parts
There is a higher concentration of fast food restaurants in high poverty communities and for many budget conscious families, fast food seems to be the answer. The low cost of fast food seems to contribute to the overall health of these communities. According to a recent study by the Center for the Prevention of Chronic Disease, “rates of obesity are higher among lower-income groups. 38 percent of low-income minorities are obese, compared to the national average of 21 percent.” Sadly, super-sized value meals contribute to excessive levels of calories and fat consumed by many families. Yet, these families often have little choice. The relative convenience and low cost of fast food meals overrides the necessity for healthy eating. In order to change the health of Americans in all communities, we must increase access to healthy, affordable food.
Topic Sentence
Signal Phrase
Evidence
Elaboration
Paragraph Wrap-up and Transition

13. Your Turn: Identify the Parts
There is a higher concentration of fast food restaurants in high poverty communities and for many budget conscious families, fast food seems to be the answer. The low cost of fast food seems to contribute to the overall health of these communities. According to a recent study by the Center for the Prevention of Chronic Disease, “rates of obesity are higher among lower-income groups. 38 percent of low-income minorities are obese, compared to the national average of 21 percent.” Sadly, super-sized value meals contribute to excessive levels of calories and fat consumed by many families. Yet, these families often have little choice. The relative convenience and low cost of fast food meals overrides the necessity for healthy eating. In order to change the health of Americans in all communities, we must increase access to healthy, affordable food.
Topic Sentence
Signal Phrase
Evidence
Elaboration
Paragraph Wrap-up and Transition

14. Writing Task:
Compare the survival techniques explained in the articles How to Survive in the Arctic and Surviving the Desert. How are they similar; how are they different? Write an explanatory essay based on the articles How to Survive in the Arctic and Surviving the Desert.
Now, using what you’ve learned and the articles How to Survive in the Arctic and Surviving the Desert, write your own body paragraphs.
Use the handout to help make sure your paragraphs flow logically.

15. Checklist for Informative Writing
Use the following questions with 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?