Essay Writing Techniques and Strategies

The video tutorial guides fifth-grade students on how to write an informational essay comparing and contrasting first and fifth grades. It covers understanding the writing prompt, generating ideas, organizing the essay, and writing and concluding the essay effectively. The tutorial emphasizes the importance of presenting information clearly and using higher-order thinking to connect ideas to the broader world.

What is the main goal of informational writing as described in the video?

• To express personal opinions

• To entertain the reader

• To present and compare information

• To narrate a story

What does the term 'compare' mean in the context of the writing prompt?

• To find differences

• To find similarities

• To write a story

• To express feelings

What should students do with a blank sheet of paper during brainstorming?

• Draw a picture

• Divide it into two sections for compare and contrast

• Write a story

• List their favorite subjects

How many ideas should students write down for each section during brainstorming?

• At least five

• At least three

• At least ten

• At least two

What is the purpose of organizing ideas before writing the essay?

• To avoid writing the essay

• To select the best ideas for the essay

• To ensure all ideas are included

• To make the essay longer

What should the first paragraph of the essay begin with?

• A detailed example

• A broad general statement

• A question

• A personal story

What is the purpose of the broad general statement in the introduction?

• To serve as a handshake with the reader

• To summarize the essay

• To confuse the reader

• To introduce the specific topic

What should each big idea paragraph include?

• Only a topic sentence

• Details, explanations, and examples

• A list of questions

• A summary of the essay

What is the purpose of the closing paragraph?

• To introduce new ideas

• To provide a detailed example

• To signal the end and summarize the essay

• To ask questions

How can older writers signal the end of the essay?

• By introducing a new topic

• By asking a question

• By writing a personal story

• By restating the thesis with synonyms