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Stop and Smell the Crayons

A Teaching Blog by Laura Merritt

Writing with Sentence Frames: Unlock the Powerful Benefits of Writing

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As a primary teacher, we are working on so many foundational skills with our students. One of those skills is communicating through writing. I think we can all agree that this is a skill our students will use for the rest of their lives. So helping them to build a solid foundation in writing is important. But. . . this can be a tough process for our kindergarten and first grade students. As a writing teacher, there is so much power in using sentence frames as we teach our students how to write.

Learning to write can be tough for our young students. Not only are they learning to form sentences, how to spell words, and correct grammar, but they have to learn how to get those ideas from their head onto paper. Writing with sentence frames helps your students express themselves more effectively.

I love encouraging my students to use sentence frames because they give students a starting place. Even without an extensive vocabulary or strong spelling skills, our students can have writing success with sentence frames. And. . . sentence frames can be used across the board no matter if you are writing a narrative, an informative essay, or answering comprehension questions. By guiding our students on how to start, we can model writing for all these purposes and many more.

What are Sentence Frames?

Sentence frames are pre-written sentence structures that your students can use to guide their own writing. They provide a framework that helps them to focus on the key elements of a sentence. Some sentences frame examples for beginning writers are:

• I can see a…
• I like…
• This is a…
• We have a…
• I can…

There are so many more out there! Anything that gives students a starting place for their sentence can become a sentence frame.

Writing with sentence frames takes away some of the stress that students may face when it comes to writing. When using sentence frames, students don’t have to spend precious writing time thinking about how to start the sentence. They can just focus on getting the main details or the writing skill you are currently working on.

For example, at the beginning of the year, this I like… sentence frame can be used to help students learn how to write a complete sentence and work on capitalizing the first letter and adding punctuation to the end. It also helps them build some new vocabulary words. Later in the year as you are learning about adjectives and describing words, you could use this same sentence frame page and ask students to add at least 1 adjective to the sentence. Their sentence “I like doughnuts.” can be expanded on and turned into “I like doughnuts with pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles.”

Writing with sentence frames makes writing accessible to all of your students and can truly be used all year long.

The Benefits of Writing with Sentence Frames

There are many benefits to teaching writing with sentence frames. Here are four of my favorites.

1. Increases Writing Confidence

Learning to write is just hard! Not only are students learning the concept of communicating through writing, but everything else they have to do, handwriting, reading, and spelling, are all new skills too! It’s no wonder that students can get easily frustrated with writing. I don’t think it is because they don’t like writing, but rather because they are overwhelmed and bordering on frustration.

Sentence frames can really help students avoid the overwhelm and frustration. Sentence frames help students feel more confident by providing them with a structure to follow. This can help them produce stronger writing, which in turn can boost their confidence.

2. Sentence Frames Improve Writing Fluency

Sometimes we all need a little help to get started, especially when it comes to a task that we are not interested in starting. When it comes to writing, a particular student always comes to my mind. She could sit there for the entire writing block without starting because she couldn’t think of how to start the sentence. Sentence frames can help students develop and strengthen their fluency in writing. By providing a template for writing, your students can focus on the content of their writing rather than struggling with sentence structure. In the end, your students are able to produce more writing in less time.

This can be especially helpful if you have students with dyslexia or dysgraphia in your class. Not only can writing be hard, but it can also feel downright impossible for kiddos with these learning disabilities. Providing sentence frames can make all the difference for these students.

3. Supports English Language Learners

Sentence frames are particularly beneficial for English Language Learners because they help make this new language more accessible. By providing a structure for writing, sentence frames can help these students develop their language skills more quickly. They can also help them participate more fully in class discussions and activities.

Using sentence frames with your English Language Learners allows them to learn about sentence structure, proper grammar, and develop vocabulary all at the same time.

4. Enhances Collaboration

I try to intentionally build in opportunities for my students to collaborate with others. This helps them to build up their ability to communicate and work with different people.

Sentence frames can be used as a collaborative tool in the classroom. My students can learn from each other and develop their writing skills together when using sentence frames. They could be using sentence frames orally in conversation about a topic, or they could be writing with sentence frames. Either way, they are sharing their thoughts in an organized way that keeps them on topic.

By working together, students are modeling for each other their thinking process, sharing new vocabulary words, and encouraging each other to build their language skills. The learning environment becomes more engaging and supportive to all learners using them!

Did Writing with Sentence Frames Win You Over?

I hope these benefits of writing with sentence frames showed you how they can be a powerful tool for teaching writing. Sentence frames can truly do all of those things, and more, for your students. You will see a boost in student confidence, an increase in writing fluency, support for English Language Learners, and enhanced collaboration in the classroom.

If you’re not already using sentence frames in your writing instruction, I encourage you to give them a try! As teachers, we are always looking for new tools to add to our teacher toolbox. In my Sentence Frames for Writing resource , I have 36 different sight word based sentence frames ready to use in your classroom today! They are a great way to connect the sight words students are learning to read with writing skills.

By incorporating sentence frames into your curriculum, you can help your students become better writers!

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Informative Essay Outline – Ultimate Guide & Examples

Amanda Green was born in a small town in the west of Scotland, where everyone knows everyone. I joined the Toastmasters 15 years ago, and I served in nearly every office in the club since then. I love helping others gain confidence and skills they can apply in every day life.

Writing an informative essay requires excellent research skills to educate your audience; I know this from first-hand experience. But creating an outline for your paper is easier said than done. I promise!

I created this guide to show you the correct outline for writing an informative essay with examples. Follow my tips so you can organize your thoughts and ideas.

What Is an Informative Essay?

An informative essay’s purpose is to inform and educate readers on a specific topic. Some reports seek to define a term, while others compare and contrast different objects. Some informative essays analyze data or provide procedures for doing something.

It’s the type of essay that should present something other than an opinion. That means you should omit personal pronouns “I” and “me” on the paper. You should also not persuade your reader in an informative essay.

Informational Essay Outline

Most essays and speeches follow four parts: an introduction, thesis, body, and conclusion. The main purpose is to help the writer connect all the information and support their thesis statement. Below is an outline for an informative essay structure with examples.

• Introduction

The essay introduction is where you introduce the topic of your choice. It should be shorter than the body paragraphs because it merely provides a background of your informative essay topic. Give the readers an overview of the body paragraph.

This part also includes the relevance of your topic. Ask yourself why you are writing about this subject. What makes it timely?

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Here’s an example:

“Tobacco, a plant that contains an addictive drug called nicotine, kills over 8 million people worldwide annually. It occurs as individuals inhale and exhale the burning plant material’s fumes.”

The thesis statement is often part of the introduction. It’s a complete sentence at the end of the first paragraph discussing what the informative essay will inform its readers. The thesis should be brief, concise, and written in simple terms.

For example:

“Smoking is the major cause of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and stroke.”

• Body paragraphs

The main body of the essay includes a paragraph for every supporting detail. Teachers usually require students to have three points in this section. For every target point, the writer should support it with facts.

The target point is also known as the topic sentence. This statement will serve as the basis of the paragraph for cohesion. After that, support the sentence with facts and studies. Don’t forget to cite your sources to avoid plagiarism.

Don’t forget to summarize each point after every body paragraph to tie everything together.

Below is an example of a body paragraph about one target point.

“Smoking can cause cancer because it weakens the body’s immune system or damages a cell’s DNA. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (2014), nearly 9 out of 10 deaths caused by lung cancer are caused by smoking cigarettes or exposure to second-hand smoke. Although treatments are advancing, it continues killing more people than other types of cancer.”

The informative essay conclusion summarizes the entire essay, highlighting the key points. Here, you should restate your thesis statement and the paper’s purpose. Do not introduce any new ideas or recommendations.

Here is a quick sample informative essay conclusion.

“Smoking is responsible for a majority of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. It increases the risk of cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Nevertheless, people consume it because of the adrenaline rush that creates short-term energy and pleasure. With an effective action plan, anyone can quit this bad habit for good.”

How to Write an Informative Essay: The Writing Process

Now that you know the correct structure of an informative essay, here are some tips for writing one.

Review the Instructions

If you’re writing an informative essay for school, the teacher might have specific instructions for the activity or topic. Find out what you should write about and what they want to read from your paper.

Then, learn the required word and paragraph count. Some professors also have instructions for the writing style guide you should follow.

Formatting guidelines are also common among high school and college professors. Make sure to follow the font style, spacing, and size instructions.

A good essay is about more than just content. Teachers also grade these aspects to help you practice formality in writing. Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you’re unclear about the instructions.

Choose a Narrow Topic

Broad themes like love, weather, music, and technology are not recommended when writing an informative essay. Pick a topic that does not include general knowledge.

Consider smoking, for example. This topic is too broad for a 500-word essay. Try focusing on a subtopic, such as the diseases it causes or why people smoke. Perhaps you can also write about the correlation between smoking and poverty.

Create a Logical Thesis Before Writing the Body

You can only create subtopics for your informative essay if you already have a solid topic and thesis statement. Consider what you want your reader to know and why you choose this subject.

Start with a question in mind and write an initial answer. Research the topic, then formulate a tentative response. Make sure it’s based on facts with credible sources and summarizes your overall exposition. A logical thesis statement for this essay type also doesn’t include an opinion.

Create Several Drafts

Whether you’re asked to submit drafts or not, making several versions of your paper is crucial to ensure its quality. After every draft, you should create a more improved version of it with a better structure and fewer errors.

If you have to submit every draft, the lecturer may write their comments and return the paper for revision. Revising is the process of adding or removing information, fixing sentences, rearranging, or changing your evidence. It helps make your writing more understandable.

Here are some guide questions when revising your informative essay.

• Are some parts of your informative essay in proportion with others?
• Do you spend too much time on general knowledge and less on evidence?
• Does the paper follow the thesis statement?
• Is the formality appropriate?
• Does the essay follow a logical pattern?
• Are all the facts accurate?
• Have you cited all information appropriately?

Write a Successful Conclusion

Your outline for an informative essay should include a successful conclusion. It wraps up what you have been informing your readers. You can take from general to specific information while focusing on restating your topic.

Do not add extra information to your conclusion unless it’s a call to action for possible future research. In general, this part of the essay should restate your thesis statement, explain why the topic is essential, and address your main points.

One tip for writing a successful conclusion is to use your introductory paragraph as a guide. It also contains the thesis statement and main points. So, you can reword it and add a closing sentence. Provide closure to the reader, leaving them with a significant impression.

Proofread Your Paper

Proofreading is the final stage in the essay writing process before submitting your informative paper or persuasive essay. This step is crucial because professors also grade your essay or academic paper based on a technicality in informative writing. Check for grammar, punctuation, formatting, and spelling errors to make your writing more precise and accurate.

Review from the larger aspects of your text to the narrow ones. Check your complex sentence constructions, variety, vocabulary, and repetitive phrases. You also want to review your list of references. Are you using the correct style guide?

Learn More Writing Tips for Essay Writers

Writing an informative essay takes more than just research skills. You also need to ensure clarity, organization, and coherence in your work. Take a moment and read some informative essay examples you can find online. 

The best method to write an informative essay is to have a specific thesis statement which you can expand in the body paragraphs. Revise, edit, and proofread your work before submitting the final draft. I hope my guide and tips helped you on your way!

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Informative Essay — Purpose, Structure, and Examples

What is informative writing.

Informative writing educates the reader about a certain topic. An informative essay may explain new information, describe a process, or clarify a concept. The provided information is objective, meaning the writing focuses on presentation of fact and should not contain personal opinion or bias.

Informative writing includes description, process, cause and effect, comparison, and problems and possible solutions:

Describes a person, place, thing, or event using descriptive language that appeals to readers’ senses

Explains the process to do something or how something was created

Discusses the relationship between two things, determining how one ( cause ) leads to the other ( effect ); the effect needs to be based on fact and not an assumption

Identifies the similarities and differences between two things; does not indicate that one is better than the other

Details a problem and presents various possible solutions ; the writer does not suggest one solution is more effective than the others

Purpose of informative writing

The purpose of an informative essay depends upon the writer’s motivation, but may be to share new information, describe a process, clarify a concept, explain why or how, or detail a topic’s intricacies.

Informative essays may introduce readers to new information .

Summarizing a scientific/technological study

Outlining the various aspects of a religion

Providing information on a historical period

Describe a process or give step-by-step details of a procedure.

How to write an informational essay

How to construct an argument

How to apply for a job

Clarify a concept and offer details about complex ideas.

Explain why or how something works the way that it does.

Describe how the stock market impacts the economy

Illustrate why there are high and low tides

Detail how the heart functions

Offer information on the smaller aspects or intricacies of a larger topic.

Identify the importance of the individual bones in the body

Outlining the Dust Bowl in the context of the Great Depression

Explaining how bees impact the environment

How to write an informative essay

Regardless of the type of information, the informative essay structure typically consists of an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction

Background information

Explanation of evidence

Restated thesis

Review of main ideas

Closing statement

Informative essay introduction

When composing the introductory paragraph(s) of an informative paper, include a hook, introduce the topic, provide background information, and develop a good thesis statement.

If the hook or introduction creates interest in the first paragraph, it will draw the readers’ attention and make them more receptive to the essay writer's ideas. Some of the most common techniques to accomplish this include the following:

Emphasize the topic’s importance by explaining the current interest in the topic or by indicating that the subject is influential.

Use pertinent statistics to give the paper an air of authority.

A surprising statement can be shocking; sometimes it is disgusting; sometimes it is joyful; sometimes it is surprising because of who said it.

An interesting incident or anecdote can act as a teaser to lure the reader into the remainder of the essay. Be sure that the device is appropriate for the informative essay topic and focus on what is to follow.

Directly introduce the topic of the essay.

Provide the reader with the background information necessary to understand the topic. Don’t repeat this information in the body of the essay; it should help the reader understand what follows.

Identify the overall purpose of the essay with the thesis (purpose statement). Writers can also include their support directly in the thesis, which outlines the structure of the essay for the reader.

Informative essay body paragraphs

Each body paragraph should contain a topic sentence, evidence, explanation of evidence, and a transition sentence.

A good topic sentence should identify what information the reader should expect in the paragraph and how it connects to the main purpose identified in the thesis.

Provide evidence that details the main point of the paragraph. This includes paraphrasing, summarizing, and directly quoting facts, statistics, and statements.

Explain how the evidence connects to the main purpose of the essay.

Place transitions at the end of each body paragraph, except the last. There is no need to transition from the last support to the conclusion. A transition should accomplish three goals:

Tell the reader where you were (current support)

Tell the reader where you are going (next support)

Relate the paper’s purpose

Informative essay conclusion

Incorporate a rephrased thesis, summary, and closing statement into the conclusion of an informative essay.

Rephrase the purpose of the essay. Do not just repeat the purpose statement from the thesis.

Summarize the main idea found in each body paragraph by rephrasing each topic sentence.

End with a clincher or closing statement that helps readers answer the question “so what?” What should the reader take away from the information provided in the essay? Why should they care about the topic?

Informative essay example

The following example illustrates a good informative essay format:

EL Education Curriculum

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• ELA 2019 G7:M2:U2:L9

Write an Informative Essay: Draft an Introduction

In this lesson, daily learning targets, ongoing assessment.

• Technology and Multimedia

Supporting English Language Learners

Materials from previous lessons, new materials, closing & assessments, you are here:.

• ELA 2019 Grade 7
• ELA 2019 G7:M2
• ELA 2019 G7:M2:U2

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Focus Standards:  These are the standards the instruction addresses.

• W.7.2a, L.7.1a

Supporting Standards:  These are the standards that are incidental—no direct instruction in this lesson, but practice of these standards occurs as a result of addressing the focus standards.

• RI.7.1, RI.7.2, W.7.4, W.7.5, W.7.10, L.7.6
• I can write an introduction for my essay giving context on crime detection and epidemiology, clearly stating the focus of the piece. ( W.7.2a )
• Opening A: Entrance Ticket, Unit 2, Lesson 9 ( W.7.2a )
• Work Time A: Annotated, color-coded model informative essay introduction ( W.7.2a )
• Work Time B: Language Dive: Model Essay, Focus Statement note-catcher ( W.7.2a, L.7.1a )
• Closing and Assessment A: Introductory Paragraph of Pair Informative Essay ( W.7.2a )

• Ensure there is a copy of Entrance Ticket: Unit 2, Lesson 9 at each student's workspace.
• Prepare Organize the Model: Introduction strips (one strip per pair) for Work Time A.
• Strategically pair students for work in Opening A with at least one strong reader per pair.
• Cut apart the introduction paragraph strips, and organize them using envelopes or paperclips so that each pair will have one set.
• Review the Informative Writing checklist to become familiar what will be required of students over the remainder of the unit.
• Post the learning targets and applicable anchor charts (see Materials list).

Tech and Multimedia

• Continue to use the technology tools recommended throughout previous modules to create anchor charts to share with families; to record students as they participate in discussions and protocols to review with students later and to share with families; and for students to listen to and annotate text, record ideas on note-catchers, and word-process writing.

Supports guided in part by CA ELD Standards 7.I.A.1, 7.I.C.10, and 7.II.C.6.

Important Points in the Lesson Itself

• To support ELLs, this lesson includes use of manipulatives to understand the key structures of an essay introduction. Also, the collaboration of writing a peer essay supports students.
• ELLs may find it challenging to generate language for writing their introduction. Encourage students to use oral processing and their home language to assist them in articulating their ideas.
• context (A)

(A): Academic Vocabulary

(DS): Domain-Specific Vocabulary

• Close Readers Do These Things anchor chart (one for display; from Module 1, Unit 1, Lesson 4, Opening A)
• Academic word wall (one for display; from Module 1, Unit 1, Lesson 1, Opening A)
• Criteria of an Effective Informative Essay anchor chart (one for display; from Module 1, Unit 2, Lesson 7, Work Time B)
• Domain-specific word wall (one for display; from Module 1, Unit 1, Lesson 1, Work Time B)
• Model Informative Essay: "Computer Programs and Animal Behavior" (for teacher reference) (from Module 2, Unit 2, Lesson 8, Work Time A)
• Informative Writing Plan graphic organizer (example for teacher reference) (from Module 2, Unit 2, Lesson 8, Closing and Assessment A)
• Vocabulary log (one per student; from Module 1, Unit 1, Lesson 2, Opening A)
• Model Informative Essay: “Computer Programs and Animal Behavior” (one per student and one for display; from Module 2, Unit 2, Lesson 8, Work Time A)
• Painted Essay® template (one per student and one for display; from Module 1, Unit 2, Lesson 7, Closing and Assessment A)
• Colored pencils (red, yellow, blue, light green, dark green; one of each per student)
• Informative Writing Plan graphic organizer (one per student; from Module 2, Unit 2, Lesson 8, Closing and Assessment A)
• Informative Writing Plan graphic organizer ▲
• Directions for Pair Informative Essay (one per student; from Module 2, Unit 2, Lesson 8, Work Time A)
• Patient Zero by Marilee Peters (text; one per student; from Module 2, Unit 1, Lesson 1, Work Time C)
• Homework: Read “Crime-Solving Strategies” (one per student; from Module 2, Unit 2, Lessons 6–7, Homework B)
• Independent reading journal (one per student; begun in Module 1, Unit 1, Lesson 6, Work Time B)
• Entrance Ticket: Unit 2, Lesson 9 (for teacher reference)
• Organize the Model: Introduction strips (for teacher reference)
• Language Dive Guide: Model Informative Essay, Paragraph 1 (answers for teacher reference)
• Writing implement (red)
• Language Dive: Model Informative Essay, Paragraph 1 note-catcher (for teacher reference)
• Informative Writing checklist (example for teacher reference)
• Entrance Ticket: Unit 2, Lesson 9 (one per student)
• Organize the Model: Introduction strips (one strip per pair)
• Colored pencils (red, green; one of each per student)
• Language Dive: Model Informative Essay, Paragraph 1 note-catcher (one per student)
• Language Dive: Model Informative Essay, Paragraph 1 sentence chunk strips (one per pair of students)
• Informative Writing checklist (one per student and one to display)
• Lined paper (one per student)
• Online or print dictionaries (including ELL and home language dictionaries)

Each unit in the 6-8 Language Arts Curriculum has two standards-based assessments built in, one mid-unit assessment and one end of unit assessment. The module concludes with a performance task at the end of Unit 3 to synthesize students' understanding of what they accomplished through supported, standards-based writing.

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Resources for new york state educators preparing adult students for high school equivalency and beyond, use writing frames to support writing informational texts.

Sometimes the most difficult struggle for our students is actually putting pen to paper and generating text.  They are unsure of how to start and how to develop their ideas and sometimes their frustration causes them to quit before they start. Writing frames are an evidence-based approach to writing instruction that will help your students get started in developing academic text by providing them with sentence starters so that they can learn the language of genre writing and transcribe their ideas more easily.  Writing frames are a scaffold that should be used consistently and removed after students begin to demonstrate proficiency for each text type.

Check out the frames for Problem/Solution, Cause/Effect, Compare/Contrast.  I recommend creating worksheets for students using these frames or writing them on the board and having students copy them into their notebooks.

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One thought on “ Use Writing Frames to Support Writing Informational Texts ”

These are great. I’ve gone so far as to use a fill-in-the-blank format with my HSE students to use as a “frame” to learn the format of a five paragraph argumentative essay, using sentence starters much like the ones in this resource. It really helps those who struggle when they are first learning this type of essay and have no idea where to begin. Plus it’s a visual reference to help memorize the format. This gave me some new ones to use, so thanks for sharing!

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Reduce your stress with these argumentative and informational writing graphic organizers, sentence starters, and outline reference sheets that your middle school students can refer to when they are writing a text-based essay in class! Printable and Digital , each sheet gives structure for various parts of the essay. Students can use each of these sheets to create a writing portfolio or writing toolkit!

What's Included:

✅ Writing Process Infographic

✅ Essay Outlines for both Informative and Argumentative Essays with Separate Counterclaim Paragraphs

✅ Essay Skeletons for both Informative & Argumentative

✅ Essay Outlines with Sentence Starters

✅ List of Evidence Sentence Starters

✅ List of Commentary Sentence Starters

✅ List of Counterclaim Sentence Starters

✅ List of Call to Action Sentence Starters

✅ List of Transitions for First, Second, Third, Conclusion & Internal Transitions

✅ Digital versions using Google Slides

✅ The Informative toolkit also contains Thesis starters and Conclusion starters

You'll see I use a special mnemonic to help students remember the structure of an essay:

➡️ Introduction: HAT (just like you put a hat on the top of your head, you put a hat on the top of your essay)

➡️ Body: ACEIT (Ace it)

➡️ Counterclaim: FAUCET (To 'turn it up')

➡️ Conclusion: ATT (what’s the last thing you make sure you have before you leave the house ?– your phone – your AT&T! – ok, not everyone has AT&T but the students get the idea!)

Your students will love having the extra help of these reference sheets and you will love the results of using them!

TEACHERS LIKE YOU SAID:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ashley S. said "This resource is great for students to still feel independent around their general education peers without feeling continuously prompted by their teachers. Worth the price if working with students who have difficulties in writing. "

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Elizabeth G. said "De-mystifies the process for my struggling middle schoolers. Thank you!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Steelers Fan said "This is perfect for the students to keep in their notebooks to refer back to. Thank you."

Supports Common Core Standards:

CCRA.W.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence. CCRA.W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. CCRA.W.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. CCRA.W.5 Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.

_________________________________________________________

Looking for a way to teach the STRUCTURE of text-based writing? You will love these:

Informative Essay Unit: Paper-based interactive guided notes that will help you teach the writing process and structure of an informative essay with a text set based on Mount Rushmore and Pipestone National Monument.

Argumentative Essay Unit : Paper-based interactive guided notes that will help you teach the writing process and structure of an argumentative essay with a text set based on the lost city of Atlantis.

DIGITAL Informative Essay Unit : NO PREP, DIGITAL lessons with TEN days of step-by-step VIDEO lessons, guided notes, texts, organizers, and more!

DIGITAL Argumentative Essay Unit : NO PREP, DIGITAL lessons with TEN days of step-by-step VIDEO lessons, guided notes, texts, organizers, and more!

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