Define a Trait That Can Help or Hurt

Pair a skill sheet with an essay topic so students apply the skill right away. Use the rubric for self or peer scoring before the final draft.

Define stubbornness, pride or caution and explain the turning point where a strength becomes a weakness. The directions on the page read: Choose one trait. Use notes in Step 2 and full sentences in Steps 1 and 3.

Yes, both. We made it for 8th grade informative writing, and it works the same at home or at school. At home, a student can work through it alone and then go over it with you, which shows quickly what is solid and what needs another look. In class it works as independent practice, homework or a warm-up, and you can print one copy or a full set.

Write a thesis, then plan each main idea with supporting facts and end with a conclusion that restates the thesis. Outline an Informational Article on Bridges has students number each fact they use from a fact bank.

An expert voice is confident and objective. It states facts directly, with precise words and no slang, guesses or I think. Build an Expert Voice in Informational Writing rewrites weak sentences about honeybees.

The inverted pyramid puts the most important facts first, in a lead that answers who, what, when, where and why. Less important details come later. Inverted Pyramid News Story Template works from notes on a school weather station.

4 of the 12 do: the expert voice, bridge outline, PEEL paragraph and news story sheets. The essay topics and planners ask for original writing, and the informative writing rubric can score it.