This lesson plan is a final step towards supporting students to practice writing an informative/explanatory paragraph conveying complex ideas and presenting information clearly and accurately. Second-grade students can usually write a...

This reference provides a summary of eight steps to follow when planning to write an essay.

A close reading of "The Yellow Wall-paper" employing the analysis of such literary concepts as setting, narrative style, symbol, and characterization. Students will write an essay discussing what the story suggests about middle-class...

This unit index contains links with to guide students through the process of planning a multi-paragraph argumentative essay. Students will learn how to interpret the essay question, develop a writing plan, thesis, writing the argument,...

Contains plans for two lessons that ask students to write autobiographies using aspects of their lives for each letter of the alphabet. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the...

This helpful resource details the process of writing, including how to plan, write, and revise. Content also includes the different types or genres of writing, and exercises in grammar and mechanics.

An explanation about using an appropriate tone for the intended audience of an essay.

This page provides several tips for using formal tone in an essay. The tips are arranged into 'Do' and 'Do not use' categories.

An excellent tip sheet for creating and perfecting a thesis statement. Also includes information about statement of purpose and examples.

As part of a revision and writing section of BBC Bitesize, this site provides an example of a discursive essay and includes five questions and answers related to the essay.

Using what they learn about how heroes are depicted in art, literature, and music, students create their own definition of a hero, and then write an essay based on a hero they wish to research.

A lesson where students explore the positive and negative impacts of human activities on the environment today and in the distant past, and examine how attitudes towards the environment might be shaped by one's experiences growing up....

An explanation and examples of interpretive claims and evaluative claims in a thesis statement. Click on list on the right for more information about elements of the essay.

A screencast lesson defining a conclusion and discussing how to write an effective conclusion. Students learn the traditional conclusion format as well as other formats that may better fit a writer's topic and purpose. Includes a section...

A learning module that begins with the historical text "Excerpts from Thomas Jefferson's Writings on American Indians" accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a...

This project is a portfolio of an 8th grader who projects herself 20 years into the future including her future occupation and life. To prepare students interview someone who works in a field similar to their projected one. The project...

An explanation of a thesis statement and how it is used in an essay.

This site is an example of a well-written expository essay from the University of Victoria. Gives excellent tips for students, such as organization, paragraph development, and support. W.9-10.2a Intro/org/graphics

An explanation of how to write a paper that reports statistical information and analysis.

This site includes links to several contradictions of Thomas Jefferson, including an essay by a prominent historian about the beliefs Jefferson espoused and his contradictory action in his life.

This features a brief biography of Ralph Waldo Emerson, an optimistic Transcendentalist author who's personal life was filled with tragedy. See "Ralph Waldo Emerson Activities" for related materials.

Students will write an essay on the causes of the Watergate affair using background information, a chronology of events, and nineteen primary source documents.

This site explores the writing of an analytical essay in terms of a review of literature. The site provides guidelines for students to follow when writing the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. It also offers links to useful...

Contains plans for two 50-minute lessons that teach about the comparison/contrast organizational pattern. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to PDF handouts and sites used in the lessons as...