essay outline example elementary school

How to write a perfect essay

Need to write an essay? Does the assignment feel as big as climbing Mount Everest? Fear not. You’re up to the challenge! The following step-by step tips from the Nat Geo Kids Almanac will help you with this monumental task.

Sometimes the subject matter of your essay is assigned to you, sometimes it’s not. Either way, you have to decide what you want to say. Start by brainstorming some ideas, writing down any thoughts you have about the subject. Then read over everything you’ve come up with and consider which idea you think is the strongest. Ask yourself what you want to write about the most. Keep in mind the goal of your essay. Can you achieve the goal of the assignment with this topic? If so, you’re good to go.

WRITE A TOPIC SENTENCE

This is the main idea of your essay, a statement of your thoughts on the subject. Again, consider the goal of your essay. Think of the topic sentence as an introduction that tells your reader what the rest of your essay will be about.

OUTLINE YOUR IDEAS

Once you have a good topic sentence, you then need to support that main idea with more detailed information, facts, thoughts, and examples. These supporting points answer one question about your topic sentence—“Why?” This is where research and perhaps more brainstorming come in. Then organize these points in the way you think makes the most sense, probably in order of importance. Now you have an outline for your essay.

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, WRITE!

Follow your outline, using each of your supporting points as the topic sentence of its own paragraph. Use descriptive words to get your ideas across to the reader. Go into detail, using specific information to tell your story or make your point. Stay on track, making sure that everything you include is somehow related to the main idea of your essay. Use transitions to make your writing flow.

Finish your essay with a conclusion that summarizes your entire essay and 5 restates your main idea.

PROOFREAD AND REVISE

Check for errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar. Look for ways to make your writing clear, understandable, and interesting. Use descriptive verbs, adjectives, or adverbs when possible. It also helps to have someone else read your work to point out things you might have missed. Then make the necessary corrections and changes in a second draft. Repeat this revision process once more to make your final draft as good as you can.

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Writing a 5-Paragraph Essay Outline: A Beginner’s Guide

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Beloved by teachers, dreaded by students of all ages, the five-paragraph essay is an enduring part of every English class. You’ll usually get your first one of these assigned to you in upper elementary school, but get ready because that probably won’t be your last. One of the key components to writing a five-paragraph essay is developing a solid outline.

What Is a 5-Paragraph Essay?

On its face, the five-paragraph essay is a pretty straightforward form. It’s exactly what it says on the tin: an essay made up of five paragraphs. Those five paragraphs consist of an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. Even with that paragraph breakdown, you can still generally think of it as three main parts of an essay (intro, body, conclusion).

How To Write a Basic 5-Paragraph Essay Outline

Your process should always start with an outline. Even if you have limited time , creating a very basic outline will benefit your writing. Aside from the immediate sense of accomplishment that comes with getting some words on paper, an outline essentially gives you the skeleton for your essay. If you have a good outline, the actual writing of the essay will mostly involve filling in the muscles and organs of that skeleton.

Introduction: Get the Reader Interested and State Your Thesis

Your introduction serves two main purposes: grabbing the reader’s attention and stating your thesis. In your outline, you’ll mostly focus on the latter. Your thesis statement is the thing that will drive the rest of your essay, so spend some time thinking about it.

Once you have an idea for your thesis statement, write it out in one simple sentence. You can change the wording (or even the thesis in its entirety) later on, but get that main idea out of your head and onto the paper.

Outside of the thesis, write down any general ideas that immediately come to mind. If you can’t think of anything beyond the thesis in the outlining phase, don’t worry about it.

I. (Intro) Thesis Statement: In the pantheon of all cuisine, burgers are the best food in the world. a. Brief history of the burger b. Origin of the word burger

Body Paragraphs: Build Your Argument and Support Your Thesis

Your body paragraphs will build out and support your essay’s thesis. The foundation of each body paragraph is a topic sentence . Think of each topic sentence as its own small thesis sentence, while the rest of the sentences in the body paragraph build on the topic sentence.

In your outline, write out that topic sentence in its simplest form.
Under the topic sentence, list out your supporting information, evidence, or other ideas that expound on the topic sentence.
Repeat that for each of the three body paragraphs.

You can, of course, reorganize your actual essay later, and deciding whether to lead with your strongest or weakest argument is a completely personal choice.

II. (Body Paragraph 1) Topic Sentence: The burger is a highly versatile food that can suit nearly anyone’s diet or tastes. a. Vegetarian/vegan options for patty b. Bread variations for the buns c. Nearly endless options for toppings

Conclusion: Restate Your Thesis and Think Outside of Your Essay

Conclusions are hard for a lot of people to figure out, but try not to overthink it. The easiest way to start is to restate your initial thesis using context from your body paragraphs. Write that in your outline as a single sentence.

From there, think about how the thesis and the contents of the essay might affect an actual person. That might even include a call to action for the reader. Jot those ideas down under your concluding sentence.

V. (Conclusion) Concluding Sentence: In conclusion, the burger is the best form of sustenance for nearly everyone thanks to its versatility, accessibility, and cultural importance. a. The next time you bite into a burger, consider the history and necessity it represents. b. Something about burgers and creativity

5-Paragraph Essay Outline Template

The more you practice outlining essays of any type , the easier the outlining and writing processes will become. Use a simple essay outline template to create a few outlines, then the process will become habitual.

essay outline organizer template using sections and tips listed in the article

5 Paragraph Essay Outline printable 2022

Tips for writing your 5-paragraph essay outline.

Beyond that basic structure, there’s not much to the five-paragraph essay. You just kind of have to do it, but that can be easier said than done.

Stay Loose With Your Outline

You (probably) aren’t getting graded on your outline, so try to stay as loose as you want with it. Don’t worry about punctuation, spelling, full sentences, or even full thoughts. Don’t be afraid to get a little goofy with it either. It’s often normal to omit articles ( the and a/an ) in outline points. All of that will come when you actually write your essay.

The same applies to any writing flourishes. Your outline is a bare room in a home. All the metaphors, transitions , and creative parts of the writing are the furniture and decor that you’ll eventually put in that room.

Avoid Plagiarism by Noting Citations in Your Outline

One of the biggest problems in essays is plagiarism, intentional or otherwise. To avoid even accidental plagiarism , cite your sources directly in the outline. This doesn’t have to be the exact MLA format for citations . For example, if your argument came from a book, you can write down the book title and author name next to that argument in the outline.

Change Your Thesis if You Want To

The thesis in your outline is not set in stone. You’re allowed to change your thesis at any point in your writing process. Maybe you discover a different angle to approach the essay, or maybe you just realize there isn’t enough information to support your thesis. Maybe you just find your thesis boring. Whatever the case, it’s okay to change, modify, or reword your thesis if you feel like it will help your essay.

Write More Than One Essay Draft

One of the most beautiful things about the five-paragraph essay is: You aren’t graded based on how many drafts you write. Your first draft doesn’t have to be your final draft. Write two, three, seven drafts (if you have the time and energy). That means that you can always change and improve your essay until it’s exactly what you want it to be.

Essay for Primary School: Simple Guide for Kids [with Samples]

The age of primary school students ranges from 5 to 11 years. At this stage of education, children start developing their writing skills. They make their first steps to analyzing and proving their points of view. Besides, they study how to write an essay for elementary school.

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Correctly preparing all types of homework, from creative to persuasive writing, is something they should learn how to do. Surely, they need assistance in completing the first tasks. Right now, we will present to you the essentials of a good essay for primary school:

A captivating topic;
A precise and clear thesis statement;
Several introductory sentences;
Several supporting sentences;
A strong concluding part.

If now you are looking for some hints for writing primary school essays, you have come to the right place. Especially considering the fact that children may approach the task in a variety of ways depending on how they prefer to study (which is easy to find out by taking a learning style quiz for kids). Below, our team has prepared tips and tricks for kids to nail their primary-level academic papers.

💡 How to Write an Essay for Primary School

An essay is one of the first written assignments you may get. So, we advise you to pay special attention to what your teacher says. Before assigning such a task, they give you explanations for preparing a primary school essay.

Usually, elementary school essays are meant to fire up kids’ imagination and expose their writing skills. No matter what the purpose is, you should approach the task with care.

What should an essay for primary school include?

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A captivating topic ; Selecting a topic is the first thing you will do after you get your assignment. Carefully examine the task’s details and think about something appropriate for your elementary level. Brainstorming your ideas is an excellent place to start.
A precise and clear thesis statement; Make sure your thesis statement is accurate and brief. Without a clear thesis, your essay will not have a central idea and will be hard to develop. A precise statement tells the reader what your writing is about. Besides, it exposes how good your grip on the central idea is.
Several introductory sentences; A great introductory paragraph can help you grab your readers’ attention. You can start by including a quote, telling an anecdote, or asking a question. In the introduction, the author also identifies the purpose of the essay and the topic. The paragraph ends with a thesis statement and prepares the reader for the supporting sentences.
Several supporting sentences; This part of your essay will include the position you presented in the thesis statement. It will either offer an idea or defend it. It can be done in several ways: you can include reasons, examples, and supporting points.
A strong concluding part. The conclusion wraps up the essay, but it emphasizes all the principal points you have argued throughout your essay. It is the last chance to sway your reader by explaining why the topic is relevant to them. Ending your essay with a strong concluding part shows that the thesis statement has been defended.

Essays for primary schools do not require research or analytical data. All you need is to present your ideas on the specified or chosen topic. Mind the proverb, “the written word remains” while writing your first elementary level essay.

The thing is:

The essay structure explained above will work for assignment kids will face in elementary school, middle school, high school, and up to college level. Teaching kids to write a traditional five-paragraph essay is essential for their academic success. It helps explain to them how to argue their ideas in a coherent and structured manner.

If you need more help with writing essays or with essay proofreading , you are welcome at our site.

✨ Topics for Primary School Essays

See the primary school essay topics that are manageable for an elementary level. It should be interesting for a kid but also informative and engaging for the readers.

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These topics will get an A+ for your next school assignment:

Our world in 50 years;
My first day at school ;
Future profession;
My summer holidays ;
My family ;
My journey through primary school ;
When I grow up… etc.…

You can find a good topic but have no idea how to write a good paper on it. These five essay prompts can be helpful if you need some inspiration.

What is your favorite day of the week, and why? Think about a day of the week you enjoy the most. Why do you like it? Most of us wait for weekends to rest and spend time outside and with our families and friends . If that’s your case, describe how your usual Sunday looks and explain why you enjoy it.
What do you like the most about winter ? This is another great topic to consider, especially for creative writing. Everyone can pick at least several things they enjoy about winter. Whether it’s the snow, the winter sports, the holidays, or the winter break, write about something you like. It’s a fun and engaging topic for everyone.
Who’s your hero ? All of us have a person they admire. It can be your father, your friend, or a celebrity. Think about the qualities or their actions that make them so special. You can try to tell a little bit about their biography and explain how they influenced you.
What’s a good friend? You probably have a best friend. In this essay, you can try to explain what qualities do you personally appreciate in them. If you haven’t found a best friend yet, you can try to think about what kind of people you enjoy interacting with.
Your biggest dream . People are born with the ability to dream. What is your biggest dream? Is it to learn how to drive a boat or visit savanna and see the big five? This essay lets your imagination and your creativity run wild.
The car I dream about .
Explain what friendship means to you.
Describe your parents .
How do you understand happiness ?
Write how you help your classmates with autism to feel included.
The most important event of my childhood.
Discuss why physical activity is important for children and what types of activity you like best.
Do you like to take part in competitive sports ?
Explain why you like or don’t like figure skating .
A person who inspires me: my mother .
What dog would you like to have?
Describe your visit to Disneyland or any other theme park.
My travel to Dresden .
What challenges did you face in primary school ?
Do you believe in online- friendship ?
What do you do when you feel stressed ?
Tell about your puppy and how you take care of it.
The reasons my teacher is the brightest figure in my life.
Describe the kindergarten you went to and explain why you liked or didn’t like it.
How did you deal with bullies in the kindergarten .
How I won the fight by losing it .
Write about your favorite primary school teacher.
Why everyone should have a pet .
Explain how you interact with other kids at school.
Tell about the most exciting event in your life.
Explore how eating healthy food can help you to do better at school.
Describe your first visit to a museum .
The difference of being a child in the past and today .
Write about your trip to Yellowstone National Park and what you liked the most about it.
What makes a good parent ?
How does your dream home look like?
Do you remember what difficulties you faced while learning to write?
Tell about your favorite holiday .
What do you like about Christmas ?
How I learned to ride a bicycle.
Describe the lessons you have in primary school and which of them is your favorite.
Write about your physical education teacher .
Discuss the pre-school education facility you’ve visited.

Sometimes such prompts can help you better than primary school essay writing samples. First of all, it gives you a direction by leaving you with the questions that only you can answer. Second, it shows you a variety of topics and themes available. Nevertheless, we still encourage you to look at some simple essays for primary school for better results.

All in all:

Essays are the most common academic paper that might seem easy to a writer. Our free tips will help you to get through any kind of paper. Still, if you are stuck on essay writing, you can always ask us for help!

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Graphic Organizers, Grades 4-8

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how to write an essay outline - examples and formats

About this Interactive

Related resources.

Expository writing is an increasingly important skill for elementary, middle, and high school students to master. This interactive graphic organizer helps students develop an outline that includes an introductory statement, main ideas they want to discuss or describe, supporting details, and a conclusion that summarizes the main ideas. The tool offers multiple ways to navigate information including a graphic in the upper right-hand corner that allows students to move around the map without having to work in a linear fashion. The finished map can be saved, e-mailed, or printed.

Student Interactives
Strategy Guides
Lesson Plans
Calendar Activities

The Persuasion Map is an interactive graphic organizer that enables students to map out their arguments for a persuasive essay or debate.

This Strategy Guide describes the processes involved in composing and producing audio files that are published online as podcasts.

This strategy guide explains the writing process and offers practical methods for applying it in your classroom to help students become proficient writers.

This strategy guide clarifies the difference between persuasion and argumentation, stressing the connection between close reading of text to gather evidence and formation of a strong argumentative claim about text.

Students will identify how Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of nonviolent conflict-resolution is reinterpreted in modern texts. Homework is differentiated to prompt discussion on how nonviolence is portrayed through characterization and conflict. Students will be formally assessed on a thesis essay that addresses the Six Kingian Principles of Nonviolence.

Students develop their reading, writing, research, and technology skills using graphic novels. As a final activity, students create their own graphic novels using comic software.

Students are encouraged to understand a book that the teacher reads aloud to create a new ending for it using the writing process.

While drafting a literary analysis essay (or another type of argument) of their own, students work in pairs to investigate advice for writing conclusions and to analyze conclusions of sample essays. They then draft two conclusions for their essay, select one, and reflect on what they have learned through the process.

Students analyze rhetorical strategies in online editorials, building knowledge of strategies and awareness of local and national issues. This lesson teaches students connections between subject, writer, and audience and how rhetorical strategies are used in everyday writing.

It's not easy surviving fourth grade (or third or fifth)! In this lesson, students brainstorm survival tips for future fourth graders and incorporate those tips into an essay.

Students explore the nature and structure of expository texts that focus on cause and effect and apply what they learned using graphic organizers and writing paragraphs to outline cause-and-effect relationships.

Students prepare an already published scholarly article for presentation, with an emphasis on identification of the author's thesis and argument structure.

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How to Make an Outline for Your School Essay

One way teachers help students learn to write research papers is by teaching them to create an outline of the essay before they start writing it. Some teachers require an outline submitted prior to approving the topic. It helps both the students and teachers find out if they’re on the right track before going further in the research process.

Although your teacher will tell you what editorial style to use for your essay, such as MLA, APA or Chicago, there are no specific formatting rules in these styles to create an outline. The outline is not part of the finished product, so there is no need to have a certain style for it.

Your teacher may explain how they want the essay outline formatted. In that case, follow those instructions. Even if your teacher doesn’t require an outline, it’s a good idea to create one for yourself.

Organizing Principles

Use one of these organizing principles when you create your outline:

Formatting an Essay Outline

Even though you don’t have to format your outline in a particular editorial style for publication, there are still basic rules to follow. First of all, there are two types of outlines you can create:

Topic Outline
Sentence Outline

The outline is for you to organize your thoughts on the research and writing process. Writing a paper or essay is a step-by-step procedure and the outline keeps you on track. Unless you have a specific instructions for your assignment, create the outline so that it works for you.

If you feel you can stay on track using short phrases, use the topic outline . But, if you think you’ll need longer sentences, use the sentence outline.

Creating the Essay Outline

Students Making an Outline for a School Essay

The basic format of an outline is using Roman numerals for the main points, then using capital letters, numbers, lower-case letters and so forth for subtopics.

I. Introduction

1. argument

B. Purpose Statement

II. Literature Review

A. Existing research

The subtopics lay out the specifics of the larger topics. Create the outline in the same manner as you will your research paper. For example, Section I will cover your introduction, including your thesis and/or statement of purpose . The final section is your conclusion.

An Invaluable Research Tool

Even though the outline of the paper isn’t published as part of the APA format, MLA citation or Chicago style research paper, it’s an excellent way to develop your essay or research paper. Follow your teacher’s instructions and then use this helpful tool to get you through the research and writing process.

Creating a School Project in APA Style

How to Write a Bibliography for a School Project

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Understanding primary and secondary sources, types of bibliography styles, how to cite the bible.

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Student Writing Samples and Analysis for Elementary, Middle School, and High School: Complete Collection

How do you bring objectivity to teaching writing? Authentic student writing samples from state writing assessments are an excellent tool that helps teachers bring objectivity to teaching writing. Of course, it sure helps if the writing samples are accompanied by objective analysis, scoring, and commentary. You will find all of that and more on this page!

Many teachers evaluate their students’ writing progress by examining what they can get their students to produce as an end result. They look at what they can get their students to produce in a lesson, and they place great importance on what they can get their students to produce to place on a bulletin board. Certainly, I care about those things, too. But I primarily measure my students’ writing progress by examining and monitoring their independent writing. It’s not about what I can get them to do—it’s about what they do when left to their own devices.

We have three types of independent student writing:

1. daily writing across the curriculum 2. state and district writing assessments 3. independent writing assignments

My purpose here is not to discuss independent student writing, but instead to explain why the following collection of objective, authentic student writing samples are so valuable and helpful. Usually, when we see samples of student writing (other than our own students’ writing), they are polished examples, and we have no idea of what went into creating them. How much time? How many drafts? Who guided the piece of writing? How much guiding? What forms of guidance?

In contrast, we all know exactly how these state writing assessment samples were created; we all know the exact writing situation in which these pieces of writing were created; we all know that no teacher had any influence on any of these pieces of writing once the assignment was given. This writing is what students produced when given plenty of time and left to their own devices.

An Awesome Collection of Released Student-Writing Samples with Analysis and Commentary

I have always linked to valuable collections of resources that I have come across that can help teachers teach writing and achieve success on writing assessments. Here are two of the best:

1. Released Writing Prompts for State Testing

2. State Writing Assessment Tools and Resources : This page contains links to all of these valuable resources from many state writing assessments: 1) released writing prompts, 2) scoring rubrics, 3) anchor papers, scoring commentary, student writing samples, 4) teacher guides and/or test directions, 5) and more!

Below you will find another collection of valuable resources—a collection of released student writing samples. Since creating Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay , I’ve interacted with teachers from all over the country—and even the world. A kind teacher up in Oregon who is using Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay sent me these links. She is thrilled that the number of her students scoring high on the Oregon State Writing Assessment has doubled since she began using the program.

This collection of released student writing samples has five great qualities:

1. It includes writing samples for grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10.

2. It includes scoring analysis for every single essay in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10.

3. It includes writing samples for four important genres: 1) expository, 2) narrative: personal, 3) narrative: imaginative, and 4) persuasive (starts in grade 5).

4. It includes writing samples for five scoring levels: 1) low, 2) medium-low, 3) medium, 4) medium-high, and 5) high.

5. In total, the collection contains about 325 pages of released student writing samples and scoring analysis!

Here’s the Collection!

Please Note: I used to link to the scoring guide and rubrics, but the files seem to have been moved. Truthfully, they are not necessary at all. Furthermore, you will find links to many excellent Six-Trait rubrics here , including the original Six Traits rubric from Oregon (where it all began).

This collection scores papers using the Six Traits of Writing: 1) Ideas and Content, 2) Organization, 3) Voice, 4) Word Choice, 5) Sentence Fluency, and 6) Conventions. Since the rise of the Common Core, Oregon has used a couple of different scoring models that use different traits, including a few genre-specific traits. However, this collection of student writing samples remains one of the best available.

• Grade 3 Student Writing Samples and Scoring Analysis

• Grade 4 Student Writing Samples and Scoring Analysis

• Grade 5 Student Writing Samples and Scoring Analysis

• Grade 6 Student Writing Samples and Scoring Analysis

• Grade 7 Student Writing Samples and Scoring Analysis

• Grade 8 Student Writing Samples and Scoring Analysis

• Grade 9 There aren’t any.

• Grade 10 Student Writing Samples and Scoring Analysis

Common Core Update: 686 Pages of K-12 Common Core Student Writing Samples

Are you interested in 686 pages of K-12 Common Core student writing samples? If you are, be sure to download this awesome collection! To be honest, I was surprised when I clicked on the link and discovered this wonderful bounty.

• In Common: Effective Writing for All Students Collection of All Student Work Samples, K-12

Are You Interested in Paragraphs?

Now that you have your student writing samples, I pose this question to you: Do you want to understand how the best writers and the lowest scoring writers created their paragraphs on those writing samples? If you do, be sure to read the following two resources. The above collection of student writing samples played a role in both of these:

1. Paragraph Length: How the Best Student Writers Create Paragraphs on State Writing Assessments 2. The Ten Stages of Paragraph and Multi-Paragraph Mastery eBook

How to Use These Student Writing Samples to Teach Writing

“Habit #2: Start with the end in mind.” Stephen R. Covey – The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Primary Purpose: The primary purpose of these student writing samples is to help teachers become experts in analyzing student writing. Furthermore, these student writing samples help teachers figure out how to begin with the end in mind. Teachers must begin with the end in mind if they want their students’ writing to end up where they want it to be.

Furthermore, teachers can use these student writing samples in the classroom to teach students about creating, analyzing, and evaluating writing. Here are ten ideas to get you started:

1. Choose and print out a few essays and commentary that you want to focus on.

2. Examine the essays and commentary. What are your students doing correctly? What are your students not doing correctly? What do your students need to learn? Read the commentary and make a list of skills that you want to teach your students. Plan out how you are going to teach those skills.

3. Use a Six-Trait rubric go over a number of essays with your students. (You will find links to many different Six-Trait rubrics here .) Teach your students what scorers are looking for. What makes for a high scoring essay and what makes for a low scoring essay? What went right with the high-scoring essays? What went wrong with the low-scoring essays?

4. Create or find a few student-friendly rubrics . Have students score at least a few essays using these rubrics. Make sure your students understand the rubrics, and if you have the time, you may want to have your students help create a simple rubric.

5. Compare and contrast the genres. This activity is a great way to show students different types of writing and different styles. Play the game, “Name the Genre.” What are the qualities and characteristics of the writing genre that you see in the sample essays? How can you tell it is a particular type of writing? (Note: “Name the Genre” is also an effective strategy to use with writing prompts, and in particular, with released writing prompts .)

6. Have students compare and contrast essays that have different scores. Have students compare and contrast essays with the same scores but from different grades levels.

7. Use the low scores to show your students how good their writing is. Use the high scores to show your students where they need to improve.

8. Have students edit or build upon one of the sample essays. Take one of the low scoring essays and have your students transform it into a high scoring essay. You can do this with each genre of writing. Help your students see the similarities and the differences across different types of writing.

9. Demonstrate how neatness matters. Some of the sample essays are messy. Even a few high scoring ones are messy. Discuss how difficult it can be for scorers to fairly assess messy writing. Note: Students will often see messy writing on a decent paper and think that the paper is a low scoring paper. Explain that while rubrics do help prevent this rush to judgment, they do not eliminate it. This exercise also helps illustrate how important rubrics are, and how students must, in one sense, write for the rubric.

10. Show your students how all of the important writing skills that you have been teaching them are found in the high-scoring papers and are missing from the low-scoring papers.

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helping students be successful writing a compare and contrast essay in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade

Scaffolding a Compare and Contrast Essay With Frames and Templates

Writing can be hard and frustrating for upper elementary students; writing a compare and contrast essay can be even harder and more frustrating.

Often, this skill gets pushed to the back burner. It is a lot easier to practice comparing and contrasting with things that take less time - like by using a Venn Diagram.

However, teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students to compare and contrast topics within their writing is an important skill. Scaffolding student writing through sentence or paragraph frames and essay templates can minimize the frustration of students, save valuable time, and help your students become better writers. Providing structure helps focus yoru students.

Below, find ideas for scaffolding so that your 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students can be successful with comparing and contrasting in their writing - and eventually writing a compare and contrast essay!

Start Small - With Compare and Contrast Sentence Starters or Frames

Students don't have to write an entire essay every time you want them to practice comparing and contrasting within their writing - they can practice this skill by simply writing a sentence that compares or contrasts two things.

Providing students with sentence starters is a great way to ease them into using compare and contrast language in their writing. This is especially beneficial for your ELL and low language students, but ALL of your students will benefit from this strategy.

Example Sentence Starters

1. __________ and __________ are different because __________.

2. __________ and __________ are alike because __________.

3. The most important difference between __________ and __________ is __________.

4. An important similarity between __________ and __________ is __________.

5. While __________ and __________ are alike because __________, they have different __________.

Using a Paragraph Template or Frame

After students have been successful at writing sentences that compare and contrast, expand to short paragraphs. Provide scaffolding similar to the sentence frames to help your 3rd grade, 4th grade, or 5th grade students be successful.

Using scaffolding like this will not only help them with comparing and contrasting language, but will improve their overall writing as well.

(You might find some of these other writing tips and ideas helpful.)

Example Paragraph Frames

1. __________ and __________ have many differences. The most important difference is _________________________. Another difference is _________________________. Finally, _________________________.

2. __________ and __________ are similar in many ways. For example, ____________________. Furthermore, they both ____________________. A final similarity is ____________________.

3. __________ and __________ are similar in some ways, but different in others. For example, they both ____________________. Despite this similarity, they are different because ____________________. This difference is important because ____________________.

comparing and contrasting scaffolded essay template / outline for upper elementary

Compare and Contrast Essay Template / Structure / Outline

Writing an essay can be overwhelming. Teachers often try to support students by modeling good essay writing - which is an essential step. But having students go straight from having a compare and contrast essay modeled for them to writing their own independently can be a huge jump for some. They are going straight from "I do" to "You do."

A scaffolded essay outline makes a good "we do" for upper elementary students. Provide students with a scaffolded template that clearly lays out the structure of a good compare and contrast essay. This helps students stay on topic and reminds them what a good compare and contrast essay should look like.

Eventually, you will take this scaffolding away. Or, you can use the scaffolding to differentiate. Provide more scaffolding for students that needed, while students have a good grasp might only have topic students scaffolded for them - or maybe even no scaffolding at all.

no prep scaffolded compare and contrast essay to help your 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students be successful writers

If you know your students would benefit from this type of scaffolding, but don’t have the time to create it yourself, check out my Compare and Contrast Writing Resource.

It walks students through the writing process with scaffolding each step of the way. This resource also provides a model essay so that you can model expectations for your students. Plus, it can be used over and over again with different topics.

You might also like these other ideas for scaffolding your instruction, or these compare and contrast activities and ideas.

Want a Compare and Contrast Freebie?

Download these reading passages with a compare and contrast activity for free and use it to today!

I will try the strategy, seems easy to follow

How to create a Flawless Essay Outline

Let’s face it, you cannot write a perfect essay without an outline. Now, it is common for students to stare at white pages for long without writing anything. It is also common for them start writing an essay only to realize that they have either run out of ideas or taken the wrong approach. Often, such events lead to frustrations, procrastination, and sometimes panic. This is where the essay outline or essay plan comes in.

Outlining or planning an essay is an important skill that will assure you success in every essay, whether short or long. Although loathed by many students, essay outlining process should be fun because it gets you 30% of the essay done, depending on the depth of your outline or essay plan. If you are after improving your essay grades and want to write papers that score B+ northwards to A+, you do not have any shortcut other than creating an outline to organize your research and thoughts before writing.

Luckily, in this guide, we take you through understanding the academic essay outlining including the definition of an essay outline, steps to create one, examples and templates of essay outlines, and a checklist to countercheck if you have aced your outline.

And now that your reading appetite is on, lets begin the essay outlining process, won’t we?

What is an essay outline?

An essay outline is simply a plan detailing how you are going to write an essay. it entails the structure and organization of the main parts (introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion) of the essay and the main points to write in each paragraph, making it easier when researching and writing an essay. It is basically a step-by-step guide to help you write your essay or call it a short plan for an academic essay.

Before writing an essay, it is recommended that you write a detailed essay outline if you want a well-structured and coherent essay.

Some professors will also ask you to submit an essay outline before starting to work on the first draft of your academic essays. Mainly, they do this to check if what you want to write is on the right track.

In this post, we are going to show you how exactly to write an excellent essay outline for your own use or as a class requirement. The moment you are done reading this, you should be able to plan your essays nicely and get maximum points if asked for an outline.

Although you can skip the process and write an essay without outlining, you will probably face challenges along the way. But before we delve deeper, lets explore why we need an essay outline anyway.

Why you should always outline your essays

While it is possible to write an essay without using an outline, it is much easier to write one using an outline. Below are the three main benefits of writing essay outlines.

The outlines make it easy to write essays. There are very few people who can write logical and coherent essays without using an outline. Most people struggle to write good essays without using an outline. Creating an outline is basically creating a writing plan to guide you throughout your essay. A good outline will make it very easy for you to write your essay.
The essay outlines help with organization. When you get concepts, arguments, and key points from research, you can find it difficult to include all of them in a logical manner in your essay if you don’t create an outline. Creating an outline will allow you to arrange your research and key points so that everything is in the right place. It will make your work more logical and coherent.
An essay outline enhances the flow of points. Essay outlines usually have an alphanumeric structure. This structure is designed to ensure main arguments and supporting arguments are well-arranged. In other words, it is designed to ensure points flow nicely throughout essays. So, if you have points and you want them to explain them nicely and coherently, you should certainly create an outline.

You may now be aware of what distinguishes the successful students from those who fail. The former spend time planning and then writing while the latter probably dive in and get lost along the process of writing. If you are more into getting help with your outline , you can skip reading this and get your outline written within a few hours.

Essay Plan vs. Essay Outline

There is no significant difference between an essay plan and an essay outline. An essay plan is simply a crude version of an essay outline. Many people create a rough plan to write their essays. However, only a few people take their time to create thorough and detailed essay outlines.

You will rarely be asked to create an essay plan because essay plans are very simple and straightforward. However, as an undergraduate, you will certainly be asked about to create an essay outline now and then. You will be asked to include all the key elements of an essay outline in your outline.

If you are asked to choose between creating an essay plan and an essay outline, you should choose to create an essay outline. Essay outlines are much more detailed. In other words, they are much more beneficial for writing essays than essay plans.

Essay Outline Template- The standard/General Essay Outline

The typical essay outline will include three parts–introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction basically tells the reader what they are about to read, the body presents the information, and then the conclusion wraps up everything.

Below is an essay outline example or template that you can use to create an outline for a five-paragraph essay.

Introduction paragraph
The first sentence is known as a hook and it should be attention-grabbing (use an interesting fact or data)
The sentences that follow should introduce the topic to the reader plus other important information
The last sentence in this paragraph should include your thesis statement/main argument
First body paragraph
The first sentence should be a topic sentence with the strongest argument supporting your main argument
The sentences that follow should contain your reasoning for why this argument supports main argument (use data, evidence, and examples generously)
The last two sentences should a neat summary of this paragraph plus the transitioning sentence
Second body paragraph
The first sentence should be a topic sentence with the second strongest argument supporting your main argument
Third body paragraph
The first sentence should be a topic sentence with the third strongest argument supporting your main argument
The conclusion should start with a neat summary of the essay
The sentences that follow should focus on the significance of the topic
The last sentence should be a powerful closing statement

Steps to Create an Essay Outline

In this section, you will learn how exactly to outline your essay. By outlining your essay using the steps below, you should be able to write a quality, logical, and coherent essay on any topic.

Step 1: Read and re-read the essay requirements

You cannot create a fantastic outline if you do not fully understand the essay question and the requirements. So read and re-read the question and make sure you understand it. Make sure what you are about to research is exactly what your teacher or professor wants to see.

You should particularly look at the key terms in the essay instructions to make sure you understand what is expected of you. When you are sure you have understood the essay instructions, you should rewrite the essay question as a simple research topic.

Step 2: Do a thorough research

After completing Step 1 above, you should start researching the topic you want to write about. You should begin by doing a general Google search to find out general information about the topic. You should note all the important things you discover when reviewing general information about the topic.

You should then proceed to research the topic on scholarly and reliable resources such as your college’s library database, scholarly publications, books, news publications, and so on. This research will most likely give you all the information you need to write your essay.

After skimming all the important resources, you found relating to your topic, you should have an idea of the resources that will really help you to write your essay. Narrow down the resources based on relevance.

Step 3: Organize your arguments

It is at this point that you begin writing the plan for your essay outline. Of course, all quality essays are based on a thesis statement or major argument. So come up with a thesis or main argument based on the resources you have identified. Your thesis is what you will be supporting when you are writing the essay so make sure it is relevant and it is exactly what is needed in the essay prompt.

Remember, an essay is basically an article so it must flow. Your ideas must tell a story that is logical and goes from introduction to conclusion. So, after noting down a relevant central argument, you should find about three supporting arguments in your resources. Not them down as supporting arguments. Make sure you also note where you get them from plus all the explanations, data, and elaborations on each argument that you can get. You must cite these later when you are done writing your essay.

Next, number the supporting arguments in terms of strength or logic.

Step 4: Write an outline

It is at this stage that you commence writing your essay outline. Simply use the template above to write your essay outline. Your outline will have three sections – introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction is one paragraph , the body is three paragraphs, and the conclusion is one paragraph.

The introduction part of your essay outline should include the hook, background information, and the thesis. Each body paragraph in your outline should simply include the topic sentence/main supporting argument, the main supporting information or evidence, the summary sentence, and the transitioning sentence. Lastly, the conclusion part of your outline should include a short summary of your essay and your closing statement.

After writing the conclusion part of your outline, you should proofread your outline to make sure it is logical and coherent. Your work is done.

Writing your essay outline following the four steps above will help you to come up with an excellent outline that will make it very easy for you to write your essay.

Examples of Essay Outline

Let’s explore the essay outlines for different types of essays using examples to clarify everything you need to know about essay outlines.

Sample Persuasive Essay Outline

Topic: Football is the best sport for children under 18

Introduction
Did you know that football or soccer is the most popular sport in the world? (Hook sentence)
Football is the ideal sport for children because of its many benefits. (Thesis)
Body Paragraph 1
Football provides similar benefits to other youth sports (topic sentence/strongest supporting argument)
It is exercising the entire body (supporting evidence)
It promotes teamwork and cooperation (supporting evidence)
Summary and transition sentence
Body Paragraph 2
Football provides extra benefits not provided by most other youth sports (topic sentence)
It makes children to become more social and extroverted (supporting evidence)
It helps children to form friendships with many children their age (supporting evidence)
It teaches responsibility as different players are responsible for different parts of the field (supporting evidence)
Essay summary sentence
Football provides many benefits to children under 18 including total exercise … (Closing sentence)

Sample Expository Essay Outline

Here is a sample outline for an explanatory or expository essay .

Topic: Why the U.S. defense budget should be reduced

The U.S. Department of Defense, also known as the Pentagon, spends more money every year than the ten next countries combined. (Hook sentence)
The Pentagon outspent the next 10 military powers combined in 2021 alone. This should be reduced because virtually the same level of defense can be achieved with a reduced budget and the money spent on defense can be better spent on social welfare programs. (Thesis statement)
The Pentagon spends over $500 billion more than the next military power (topic sentence/strongest supporting argument – fully expand this argument)
The U.S. is already significantly outspending the second most powerful military (supporting evidence)
The U.S. can reduce military spending without jeopardizing its security (supporting evidence)
The U.S. has a mutual defense agreement with the largest military alliance in the world (topic sentence – fully expand this argument)
United States NATO allies such as France and the United Kingdom can help protect the country even if it reduces its budget (supporting evidence)
There is nothing comparable to the current NATO military budget and might (supporting evidence)
Body Paragraph 3
The U.S. has many social problems that can be addressed by cutting the military budget ( topic sentence – fully expand this argument)
Homelessness can be virtually eliminated if only half the Pentagon budget is dedicated to social housing (supporting evidence)
Social welfare programs can be made more meaningful through redirecting defense budget to them (supporting evidence)
Cutting the defense budget is not going to make the United States any weaker because the country far outspends its peers. The money can, however, help to eliminate homelessness and to address poverty in the country. (Closing sentence.

Sample Argumentative Essay Outline

Topic: The impact of social media on education

Social media has revolutionized the world in the last ten years (Hook sentence)
Social media has improved connectivity and communication (Background information)
Social media has made it very difficult to educate young children (Thesis statement)
Social media sites distract students in the classroom (Topic sentence)
Evidence supporting this argument
Social media sites prevent children for studying adequately (Topic sentence)
Social media can have a positive impact on education (Topic sentence)
Summary of the essay
The ills of social media on education
The positive side of social media on education
Research can help with the adoption of positive social media rules and habits to make sure social media contributes overwhelmingly positive to education. (Closing sentence)

Research Essay Sample Outline (For Elementary School)

Topic: The invention of electricity

Background information
When was electricity invented?
The uses of electricity
The supply of electricity around the world
Who invented electricity?
How electricity was invented
The contributions of Benjamin Franklin (Conducted first experiments to produce electricity)
The contributions of Nikola Tesla (Helped to pioneer research on supply of electricity)
The contributions of Thomas Edison (Helped to pioneer modern electric supply)
How the invention of electricity revolutionized the world
Electricity ushered in industrialization and modernization
Electricity changed urban transport with the invention of trams

Classification Essay Sample Outline

Topic: Movie genres in the USA

Since the invention of film, movies have become a core part of American culture (Hook)
Over the many decades of cinematography, many genres of movies have emerged. The main classifications are comedy, action movies, and science fiction movies (Thesis statement)
First Category (Body paragraph 1)
Teen comedy movies
Black comedy movies
Romantic comedy movies
Second Category ( Body paragraph 2)
Thriller movies
Adventure movies
Third Category ( Body paragraph 3)
Anti-utopias
Summary of key points
As long as the world continues existing, there is a likelihood that even more movie genres will emerge in the future. (Closing statement)

Essay outline formats

When you are asked by your professor for an essay outline, you must write your essay outline in one of the two accepted formats – decimal or alphanumeric. The most popular format is the alphanumeric formula. Here is an example of an alphanumeric format outline.

Alphanumeric format essay outline

Example sentence
a) Example sentence
b) Example sentence

Now you know how to write an outline in an alphanumeric format, it is time to discover how to write an outline in decimal format. In our opinion, it is much easier to write a decimal format outline than an alphanumeric format outline. Here is an example of a decimal format outline.

Decimal format essay outline

1.0. Example sentence.

2.0. Example sentence.

3.0. Example sentence.

4.0. Example sentence

4.1. Example sentence

4.2. Example sentence

4.3. Example sentence

4.4. Example sentence

4.4.1. Example sentence

4.4.2. Example sentence

4.4.3. Example sentence

4.4.4. Example sentence

5.0. Example sentence

6.0. Example sentence

Checklist for a good essay outline

How do you know if you have written a good essay outline? Well, it is pretty easy actually. Just use the checklist below.

If your answer to all the questions below is yes, you are good to go. If your answer to any of the questions is no, then you need to tweak your outline to make sure the answer is yes.

Is my essay outline easy to understand?
Is my essay outline properly organized?
Do all my supporting arguments relate to my central argument or thesis?
Do I have supporting evidence under every supporting argument?
Does every explanation under every supporting argument make sense?

While this checklist is useful, you don’t have to use it every time. You just need to make it a habit to write at least one essay outline every week. Practicing will make you perfect. And once you perfect the art of writing essay outlines, your essays will almost always be logical, coherent, and easy to understand. This will definitely ensure you get an above average total every time you submit an essay assignment.

Final Remarks

All types of essays are much easier to write using an essay outline. So, knowing how to write an essay outline is a valuable skill particularly for undergraduate students. In this essay outline guide, you discovered how to write general essay outlines. You also learned how to write essay outlines for different types of essays.

The knowledge you have gained in this blog post should make it easy for you to write essays. If you need any help writing an essay outline or an essay, you should order one from us right now. We have essay tutors who are ready to confidentially assist you with any essay outline writing project or essay writing project. Get the help you need right now!

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Childhood Lessons — My Experience in Elementary School

My Experience in Elementary School

Categories: Childhood Lessons Elementary School

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Published: Mar 20, 2024

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Research Project Template For Elementary Students

Hey teachers! Are you searching for one easy resource that keeps on giving, all year long? My Research Project Template for Elementary Students is perfect for you!

We all know that research skills are super important for students to have, but some of you may be wondering how best to fit research into a younger student’s curriculum. Typically when you think of research, you think of long hours in a college library and tons of citations. Well, it’s easier than you might think!

Seriously, you can do a simple research problem on pretty much anything. I’m talking bugs, states, countries, plants… you name it. And since younger kids are naturally super curious, they always get excited to embark on the quest to find out more about the things they like — and learning about completely new things, too!

Worksheet with "all about" so students can fill in for research

It’s key for students to start to get some research experience while they are in elementary school because this will build their ability to question the world around them while they are young. It also helps them develop note taking skills and write out their ideas and observations, both of which are essential parts of good communication and good classroom habits. They will take these skills with them for the rest of their lives, so it’s never too early to start!

Here’s the good news: research projects for elementary students don’t have to get fancy at all. In fact, my Research Project Template is both incredibly simple for you to prep, and comprehensive on the students’ side of things. Plus, you can use it again and again all year round because it’s totally editable. Yay for reusable resources!

Blank Research Project Template For Elementary Students

How does this Research Project Template for Elementary Students work?

It doesn’t get much easier for you and your students than this research project flip flap! All you have to do is print it for your students and you’re ready to roll. As easy as the prep is for you, students still get the opportunity to cut, color, and write about any research topic they’re assigned or that sparks their curiosity.

The research project template is a Powerpoint file, and complete instructions are included for you. This way, you can easily edit the text to suit your classroom’s needs!

Blank Research Project Template For Elementary Students on kid's desk

Students will pick a topic that interests them, or you can assign a topic based on any unit your class is currently studying. Then, according to the topic, students will record their observations and more, including…

● 3 Interesting Facts

● Vocabulary word with pictures

● Illustrate what you learned

● Create a poem

● Can, Have, Are activity

The combination of writing, observations, and illustrations make this a comprehensive activity that covers ELA skills, STEM skills, and creative expression. And since it is customizable in the Powerpoint document, you can choose which sections to use and leave some out if they don’t best suit your lesson.

"create a poem" worksheet to go along with research project template for kids

How can I use this Research Project Template in the classroom?

My favorite part about this research project template for elementary students is that you can reuse it in the classroom all school year long! Since it is a generic template and completely editable, it can easily fit with any kind of research project or activity you have in mind, from geography, to science, to art, and more.

Students can even pick their own topic they would like to research and complete their own mini project themselves! This option is great for centers. Flip flaps are amazing for centers because once students observe how to complete the flip flap once or twice, they can easily do it on their own in groups. You can assign a topic for the group to research or let students go their own way and work independently.

They can keep their research projects in their folders all year long if it’s important stuff to know, or they can bring them home and proudly show them off to their families. If you’d like, you could even have a research day where students present their findings to their classmates at the end of the day!

Download the No-Prep Research Template:

Click here to download a copy for your students.

This Research Project Template for younger students is totally worth returning to all year round! It’s super simple to prep, easy to edit, and can be used for any topic that you or your students want to cover. They will be able to practice their questioning, observational, note taking, and written communication skills, while everything stays low prep on your end. Have fun researching with your class, and enjoy!

What kinds of research do you like to do in your class? Do you plan on using this research project template? I’d love to hear from you all!

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How do I use student models in my classroom?

When you need an example written by a student, check out our vast collection of free student models. Scroll through the list, or search for a mode of writing such as “explanatory” or “persuasive.”

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Explanatory writing.

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My Favorite Pet Explanatory Paragraph
Sweet Spring Explanatory Paragraph

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Leaf Person Story

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Deer Don’t Need to Flee to Stay Trouble-Free! Report
Height-Challenged German Shepherd Report
Friendship Definition
What Really Matters News Feature
Cheating in America Problem-Solution
Hang Up and Drive Editorial
Musical Arts Editorial
Summer: 15 Days or 2 1/2 Months? Editorial
A Cowboy's Journal Fictionalized Journal Entry
Giving Life Personal Narrative
The Great Paw Paw Personal Narrative
The Racist Warehouse Personal Narrative
Limadastrin Poem
The Best Little Girl in the World Book Review
How the Stars Came to Be Story
Linden’s Library Story
My Backyard Poem
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Short Essay for Elementary

Short essay generator for elementary.

Elementary students are already taught how to make essays in preparation for their high school lives. They are trained how to construct a good essay that might be good enough to be samples used for essay competitions and other related activities. If one of your assignments involve writing short essays , you might feel the ease. It seems like an easy task, right? The truth behind that is it can be harder than you think. Essays allow you to express you own thoughts and what you feel about a particular situation. It is best for a student to be trained as early as possible because knowing how to talk about something, may it be orally or written, is really essential. It helps you to become a good communicator.

4+ Short Essay for Elementary Examples

1. short elementary winner essay.

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2. Student Short Elementary Essay

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3. Short Elementary Parent Essay

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4. Short Elementary School Essay

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5. Formal Short Elementary Essay

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What is a Short Essay?

A short essay is just a typical type of essay that aims to give detailed descriptions of a particular object, even or phenomena, or issue. You can do this by making a comparison or presentation of anything that associates to the object that you opt to describe. Writing short essays could be challenging at times since it is hard to share your thoughts about an issue especially if you are no longer familiar with it.

There are no specific steps in writing short essays. Aside from it is considered as a literary genre, it also requires talent and artistic expertise. Its writing could be simplified as follows:

Choice of subject – this is an essay that could simply address a topic in a way that it can generate more interest to the readers. The topic should be narrow as possible.

Documentation – this means documenting ourselves reading and looking for different reliable sources that would give us a complete thought of the topic.

Preparation – before you start writing, know first the outline of your essay . This will serve as your essay skeleton that tells you what your next move is.

Writing – express your ideas clearly and logically. Make sure that you are stating what you really intend to say.

Short Essay Format

All of the short essay writings consist of the following:

Introduction – this includes the thesis statement and your strategy on how you are going to catch the attention of your target readers.

Body of Paragraph – this is where you are going to share your thoughts about your chosen subject, event and the like. Think of some ways where your readers can engage themselves. This can be in a form of providing an image into the texts.

Conclusion – your conclusion should be approximately fifty (50) words that summarizes all your main points or ideas. Do not present new ideas.

Short Essay Example

This is a Georgetown Short Essay about Favorite Class

“ At St. Albans, especially in our later years, we are given the freedom to choose from a vast array of classes. Using this freedom, I have selected classes which have personal significance to me, regardless of difficulty or appearance on my transcript. However, from these classes, one holds an extraordinary amount of value to me. This course is A.P. Omnibus History, a combination of American and European history. There are several reasons for my great interest in this class. First, I am fascinated by the cyclical nature of the past. I see these recurring political, economic, and social trends as a means of looking forward into the future, while allowing us to avoid the mistakes of the past. Second, history teaches many lessons about the nature of human behavior, both past and present, providing insight into the actions, desires, and aspirations of those around me. Finally, it lays a solid foundation for several disciplines, including political science, economics, and international relations, three fields of great interest to me. ”

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How long is a short essay.

A short essay would vary. It can have 250 words, 500 words or 800 words maximum depending on what is being required. Mostly, it will only consist of 500 words.

What are the three forms of structure in a short essay?

The three forms of structure are the deductive, inductive and framed. Deductive means exposing the thesis and then develops an argument. Inductive means exploring an argument and then recomposing the topic for conclusion. Framed means you start by presenting your thesis, discuss your argument and then elaborates your thesis again.

What qualifies as a short length essay?

A short length essay means that it is only written in short. The guidelines were all just the same except for the length.

When writing an essay, you have to put yourself in your readers’ shoes. It is still important to do research as it will still be useful to gather some facts. Always make you essay authentic as possible and don’t forget to cite your sources . This will add credibility to your work.

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Creating an Effective Outline for High School Essays

Writing a high school essay can sometimes feel like navigating through a maze of ideas and information. That’s where outlining comes in. An outline serves as a roadmap, guiding you through the writing process and ensuring that your ideas flow cohesively. In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of creating an outline, provide step-by-step guidance, offer tips for effective outlining, and provide outline examples for different types of essays. Let’s dive in!

Introduction

Before we delve into the specifics of outlining, let’s understand why it matters in the first place. Outlining plays a crucial role in organizing your thoughts and ideas, providing structure to your essay, and helping you present your arguments or narrative in a logical and coherent manner.

Why Outlining Matters

Clear Organization and Structure: An outline helps you organize your thoughts and ensure that your essay flows logically. It acts as a framework for your writing, allowing you to present your ideas in a clear and organized manner.
Saves Time and Improves Efficiency: By creating an outline, you can plan your essay in advance, saving you time in the long run. It helps you identify any gaps or areas that require further research, making the writing process more efficient.
Helps Generate and Organize Ideas: Outlining allows you to brainstorm and gather ideas before diving into the actual writing. It provides a visual representation of your thoughts, helping you connect ideas and identify the most effective way to present them.

Steps to Create an Outline

Understand the Assignment: Familiarize yourself with the essay prompt or assignment guidelines. Identify the main topic, purpose, and any specific requirements.
Brainstorm and Gather Ideas: Jot down your ideas, arguments, or key points related to the topic. Do some research if needed to gather supporting evidence or examples.
Organize Ideas into Main Points and Subpoints: Group related ideas together and identify the main points and subpoints that will form the structure of your essay.
Arrange the Outline in a Logical Order: Organize your main points and subpoints in a logical order that flows smoothly. Ensure that each point supports your thesis statement or overall argument.

Tips for Effective Outlining

Use Concise and Clear Phrases or Keywords: Keep your outline brief and focused. Use concise phrases or keywords to capture the essence of your main points and subpoints.
Consider the Target Audience and Purpose of the Writing: Tailor your outline to suit the specific needs and expectations of your target audience. Consider the purpose of your essay, whether it’s to inform, persuade, or entertain.
Be Flexible – Outlines Can Change as You Write: Remember that your outline is a flexible tool that can change as you delve deeper into your writing. Don’t be afraid to modify or adjust your outline as needed.

Outline Examples for Different Types of Essays

To further illustrate the concept of outlining, let’s explore some outline examples for different types of essays:

Background and Setting
Characters and Descriptions
Plot and Conflict
Climax and Resolution
Thesis Statement
Explanation
Supporting Argument 2
Counterargument and Rebuttal
Definition or Background Information
Main Point 1
Supporting Evidence
Main Point 2
Main Point 3

Outlining is an invaluable tool for high school students, providing structure and organization to their writing. By creating an effective outline, you can save time, improve the coherence of your essay, and present your ideas in a compelling manner. Embrace the practice of outlining and reap the benefits it offers in your high school writing journey. So, the next time you’re faced with an essay assignment, remember to start with an outline. Your writing will thank you!

We encourage you to put these outlining tips into practice and refine your outlining skills. If you’re looking for more support, English tutors can be a great resource to help review your writing and provide feedback. The more you practice, the more proficient you’ll become. Happy outlining!

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37 Outstanding Essay Outline Templates (Argumentative, Narrative
Expository Essay Outline Worksheet
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37 Outstanding Essay Outline Templates (Argumentative, Narrative
37 Outstanding Essay Outline Templates (Argumentative, Narrative
Argumentative Essay Outline Format [12 Best Examples]

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How to Write an Essay Outline + Essay Outline Examples
Provide additional or supplemental supporting details, evidence, and analysis, as in the essay outline example. Topic Sentence: Shortening the school year would also provide many benefits for parents and caregivers. Detail Sentence 1: A shorter school year would mean less stress and running around for parents.
How to write a perfect essay
Use descriptive words to get your ideas across to the reader. Go into detail, using specific information to tell your story or make your point. Stay on track, making sure that everything you include is somehow related to the main idea of your essay. Use transitions to make your writing flow.
How to Write an Essay Outline
Revised on July 23, 2023. An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph, giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold. You'll sometimes be asked to submit an essay outline as a separate ...
PDF The Basic Five Paragraph Essay: Format and Outline Worksheet
There is an Outline worksheet on the back of this page to help you start planning the content, order and organization of your essay. Paragraph 1: Introduction -- If possible, open with an attention-getting device to interest the reader (perhaps a quote or question). Introduce the topic of your essay in general, and present some context for this ...
Writing a 5-Paragraph Essay Outline: A Beginner's Guide
Learn how to make an outline for your essay without the stress right here. Dictionary ... You'll usually get your first one of these assigned to you in upper elementary school, but get ready because that probably won't be your last. ... For example, if your argument came from a book, you can write down the book title and author name next to ...
Essay for Primary School: Simple Guide for Kids [with Samples]
Essay for Primary School: Simple Guide for Kids [with Samples] The age of primary school students ranges from 5 to 11 years. At this stage of education, children start developing their writing skills. They make their first steps to analyzing and proving their points of view.
Outlining a Five-Paragraph Essay
Featured Middle School Resources. WORKBOOKS. ... Share these essay outline examples and formats with your writing students! This PDF features essay outline examples and... Add to Favorites. Add to Folder; creative writing: children's book: activities: classroom tools: language arts and writing:
Essay Map
Grades. 3 - 12. Launch the tool! Expository writing is an increasingly important skill for elementary, middle, and high school students to master. This interactive graphic organizer helps students develop an outline that includes an introductory statement, main ideas they want to discuss or describe, supporting details, and a conclusion that ...
Elementary Writing Homework
Main Ideas. The main ideas of the outline are main portions of your report. Your main ideas may be your topic sentences or your main facts. Use Roman numerals to list each main idea. You should have at least two main ideas in every outline. Here's an example of the main ideas for a report about mammals: I. Lions. II.
How to Make an Outline for Your School Essay
A. Existing research. The subtopics lay out the specifics of the larger topics. Create the outline in the same manner as you will your research paper. For example, Section I will cover your introduction, including your thesis and/or statement of purpose. The final section is your conclusion.
Student Writing Samples and Analysis for Elementary, Middle School, and
Take one of the low scoring essays and have your students transform it into a high scoring essay. You can do this with each genre of writing. Help your students see the similarities and the differences across different types of writing. 9. Demonstrate how neatness matters. Some of the sample essays are messy. Even a few high scoring ones are messy.
Scaffolding a Compare and Contrast Essay With Frames and Templates
It is a lot easier to practice comparing and contrasting with things that take less time - like by using a Venn Diagram. However, teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students to compare and contrast topics within their writing is an important skill. Scaffolding student writing through sentence or paragraph frames and essay templates can minimize ...
Essay Outline: A Guide with template, examples, and a checklist
Step 1: Read and re-read the essay requirements. You cannot create a fantastic outline if you do not fully understand the essay question and the requirements. So read and re-read the question and make sure you understand it. Make sure what you are about to research is exactly what your teacher or professor wants to see.
PDF Opinion/Argument Writing Packet Grades 3-6
6-week sequence for successful teaching and learning of a new writing type (genre). This basic 6-week plan includes modeling, shared and guided writing, revision and editing, and finally sharing, publishing, and a dress rehearsal for on-demand assessment.
My Experience in Elementary School: [Essay Example], 521 words
Published: Mar 20, 2024. Elementary school is a crucial stage in a child's education. It is where young minds are shaped and molded, and where the foundation for future learning is laid. My experience in elementary school has had a profound impact on my academic journey and personal development. In this essay, I will share my experiences and ...
Research Project Template For Elementary Students
The research project template is a Powerpoint file, and complete instructions are included for you. This way, you can easily edit the text to suit your classroom's needs! Students will pick a topic that interests them, or you can assign a topic based on any unit your class is currently studying. Then, according to the topic, students will ...
Student Writing Models
Student Models. When you need an example written by a student, check out our vast collection of free student models. Scroll through the list, or search for a mode of writing such as "explanatory" or "persuasive.".
37 Outstanding Essay Outline Templates (Argumentative, Narrative
Essay Outline Templates. 37 Outstanding Essay Outline Templates (Argumentative, Narrative, Persuasive) Writing an essay can seem like an overwhelming task, and planning beforehand is essential to success. An essay outline will help you to structure and organize your essay so that it flows coherently. Essay outlines work for all kinds of essays ...
Informative Essay Outline
Download Informative Essay Outline Bundle. In school, students in English subjects are required to do essays. These essays may be in a form of a descriptive essay, narrative essay, expository essay, persuasive essay or even an informative essay. These essays follow a certain structure or format to maintain its unity, coherence and organization.
PDF Informative Essay Outline Elementary School
Name: Topic Subtopic Supporting details Subtopic Supporting details Subtopic Supporting details Subtopic Supporting details GO.9.1 OUTLINE Date: Title. Informative Essay Outline Elementary School | PDF Example. Subject.
Short Essay for Elementary
Essays allow you to express you own thoughts and what you feel about a particular situation. It is best for a student to be trained as early as possible because knowing how to talk about something, may it be orally or written, is really essential. It helps you to become a good communicator. 4+ Short Essay for Elementary Examples 1.
Creating an Effective Outline
An outline serves as a roadmap, guiding you through the writing process and ensuring that your ideas flow cohesively. In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of creating an outline, provide step-by-step guidance, offer tips for effective outlining, and provide outline examples for different types of essays. Let's dive in! Introduction