Writing Tip Sheet
Informational Writing - Formal Tone
Informational Opening: 1)- Quote 2)- Simile 3)- Startling Fact 4)- Definition 5)- Thought provoking question
6)- If/Then Statement
Informational Writing Features: Definition, Facts, Examples, Direct Quote, Simile, Metaphor
Informational Writing Closing Starters: In essence, Above all, Truly, Certainly, Of course, All things considered, In a
word, Overall, In short, Surely, Unquestionably, Given, In brief, Without a doubt, Clearly
Persuasive Writing - Formal Tone
Persuasive Opening has two parts:
A)- Introduces the Argument, 1)- Quote 2)- If/Then Statement 3)- Startling fact 4)- Simile 5)- Thought provoking
question
B)- Thesis - Strongly states the position that you are going to argue.(Don’t use I/me)
Persuasive Writing Features: Definition, Facts, Examples, Statistics, Direct Quote, Simile
Persuasive Writing Transition Words: Definitely, Of Course, It is a fact that, Without a doubt, Absolutely, surely,
Clearly, Undoubtedly, Undeniable, Unquestionably, Positively, Naturally, Obviously, Indisputable
Persuasive Writing Closing starters: In essence, Above all, Truly, Certainly, Of course, All things considered, In a
word, Overall, In short, Surely, Unquestionably, Given, In brief, Without a doubt, Clearly
Persuasive Writing Conclusion:
1)- Reword the thesis statement 2)- Summarize the main point 3)- End with: Suggest a course of
option/Recommendation for future
Narrative Writing - Informal Tone
Narrative Writing Features: Vivid description of characters or setting, Dialogue, Character Reflection
Narrative Opening: 1)- Introduces the character/setting
2)- Gives a hint about the plot
Narrative Opening Features: 1)- Descriptive writing about: What the character looks like, what the character is thinking,
setting
2)- 2 Sentences who tell who, what, when, where, and why 3)- Dialogue 4)- Begin at the end of the story
Narrative writing closing Starters: Always I’ll remember, From this, I…, Never will I forget…,Now, I know…, I have
learned…, I trust…, I will cherish…, I felt…, I realize…, I hope…, I believe…, Now, I understand…, As I reflect
Narrative writing Closing Features: Describe what a character is thinking, Describe the setting in a manner that
symbolizes the ending message of the story, Describe a character’s culminating action, Describe how a character has
grown or changed because of the story
Formal Tone:
Don’t: Use first person pronouns like I/Me, Address the audience as you, Use Contractions: It’s, Use slang: things, stuff,
etc.
Do: Use third person pronouns like one/they, Write out both words of contraction: It is, Spell out Acronyms,
When writing formally: Think of it as you are talking to your parent, priest or principal. Informally: Think of it as if talking
to your friends.
High Level Transitions: In order to, To clarify, In other words, As a rule, Generally speaking, Essentially, To rephrase,
For example, Particularly, To Demonstrate, As an illustration, Specifically, To be specific, In this situation, Indeed,
Undoubtedly, Without a doubt, Unquestionably, Therefore, Above all, In essence, Contrarily, In a like manner, Whereas,
Alternatively, Furthermore, Especially, Evidently, Considering, By all means
Subtle Transitions: Both, And, Also, Next, First, Once, While, After, For, By, At, Neither, Either, But, Yet, Since,
Direct Quote Notes:
According to source ____, “
Quote.”
Quote,”according to source______.