To plan your ELA PSSA informative/explanatory or argumentative essay, think inside the boxes!
Sample informative / explanatory prompt: Think about a change you would like
to see in the future. It could be a change in your school, your community, or any
other place. Consider what this change might be and why you would like it to
happen.
Write an essay for your teacher that describes a change you would like to see in the
future and explains why. Be sure to use details and examples to support your ideas.
Sample argumentative prompt: Your school is considering a change in the
way class presidents are chosen. Write an argumentative essay for your
teacher stating your claim about whether a small committee of students or all
the students in the class should be allowed to choose the class president. Be
sure to use reasons and evidence to develop your argument.
INFORMATIVE / EXPLANATORY ESSAY: ELEMENTS
ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY: ELEMENTS
PARAGRAPH #1: INTRODUCTION
PARAGRAPH # 1: INTRODUCTION
Hook: Engage the reader
Bridge sentences: Connect hook to thesis
Hook: Engage the reader
Bridge sentences: Connect hook to thesis
Thesis statement: Using key words from the prompt,
craft a clear thesis/focus statement, which
includes a “preview” of three
ideas/reasons to
be developed
Thesis statement/claim: Using key words from the prompt,
craft a clear claim/thesis, which
includes a “preview” of three
ideas/reasons to
be developed
BODY PARAGRAPHS # 2, 3, AND 4
BODY PARAGRAPHS #2, 3, AND 4
Idea/reason #1
Idea/reason #2
Reason #1
Idea/reason #3
TOPIC SENTENCE
Support and elaboration:
Details
Explanation
Examples
Anecdotes
Facts
Use precise language and
varied sentence structure,
all connected by transitions
Relational transition to idea
#2 included in the
TOPIC SENTENCE
Support and elaboration:
Details
Explanation
Examples
Anecdotes
Facts
Use precise language and
varied sentence structure,
all connected by transitions
Relational transition to idea #3
Included in the
TOPIC SENTENCE
Support and elaboration:
Details
Explanation
Examples
Anecdotes
Facts
Use precise language and
varied sentence structure,
all connected by transitions
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
THAT CONNECTS TO
THESIS
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
THAT CONNECTS TO
THESIS
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
THAT CONNECTS TO
THESIS
Reason #2
TOPIC SENTENCE
Relational transition to reason
#1 included in the
TOPIC SENTENCE
Support and elaboration:
Details
Explanation
Examples
Facts
Anecdotes
Use precise language and varied
sentence structure, all connected
by transitions.
Support and elaboration:
Details
Explanation
Examples
Facts
Anecdotes
Use precise language and varied
sentence structure, all connected
by transitions.
COUNTERCLAIM
COUNTERCLAIM
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
THAT CONNECTS TO
THESIS
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
THAT CONNECTS TO
THESIS
PARAGRAPH #5: CONCLUSION
PARAGRAPH # 5: CONCLUSION
Restatement of thesis
Restatement of thesis/claim
Insight
Full circle/ connection to the larger world
Grade 8
Insight
Full circle/connection to the larger world
Call to action or response
Reason #3
(strongest reason)
Relational transition to reason
#1 included in the
TOPIC SENTENCE
Support and elaboration:
Details
Explanation
Examples
Facts
Anecdotes
Use precise language and varied
sentence structure, all connected
by transitions.
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
THAT CONNECTS TO
THESIS