Reading an Informational Paragraph and Essay
Before you write your essay, you'll want to see how others did so. This lesson shows you an informational paragraph and an informational essay, explaining each part. As you read them, think about how the writers put ideas together and how you could describe the results of a classroom poll in your own essay.
Reading an Informational Paragraph
An informational paragraph has three main parts. The topic sentence names the topic. The body sentences explain the topic. The ending sentence gives a final idea about the topic. This paragraph explains the results of the poll about students’ favorite seasons.
Sample Paragraph
Listen to “Summer Wins”
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Summer Wins
Topic Sentence Most third graders at Parkview Elementary picked summer as the best season. There are 32 third graders at Parkview, and 20 of them picked summer. Most of these students liked it because of the warm weather and no school. Body Sentences Winter came next with eight third graders voting for it. Playing in the snow and Christmas were the main reasons. Three students picked fall because of Halloween and fall colors. Only one third grader picked spring because of the flowers. Ending Sentence The seasons are all fun, but every third grader has a favorite.
Respond to the paragraph.
Answer the following questions about the paragraph.
- What is the topic of the paragraph?
- What season was listed first? Why?
- How does the ending sentence remind the reader about the topic?
Reading an Informational Essay
An informational essay gives important facts about a topic. The beginning paragraph hooks the reader and names the topic. The middle paragraphs explain the important information about the topic. The ending paragraph reminds the reader about the topic and gives a final idea. This informational essay explains the results of the poll question about students’ favorite seasons.
Sample Essay
Listen to “Summer Is the Best!”
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Summer Is the Best!
Beginning Paragraph Having different seasons is fun. Kids can do different things in each one like swimming in the summer and sledding in the winter. When third graders at Parkview Elementary picked their best season, summer was the big winner.
Thirty-two third graders in the school answered two questions: What is the best season? Why? Ms. Williams’ third-grade class collected and posted the results.
Middle Paragraphs Twenty third graders picked summer. That is more than half of the students! Ten of these students like the warm weather. Five students like it because there is no school. Four students like it for bike riding, and one student likes it because she gets to stay with her grandma.
Winter came in second, because eight third graders like it the best. Five students like it because they can play in the snow. Two like winter because of Christmas, and one student likes it because of snow days. Snow days mean no school!
Three third graders think fall is the best season. Two students picked it because of Halloween, and one student likes fall because of the colors. Only one third grader picked spring. She likes it for the flowers.
Ending Paragraph Every third grader has one favorite season, and it is summer for many of them. They probably like something about the other seasons, too. Each one is so different.
Teaching Tip
Point out how the essay provides more information about the topic when compared to the paragraph. Also explain how each middle paragraph develops a main supporting point.
Respond to the essay.
Answer these questions about the essay.
- How does the essay begin?
- What sentence in the beginning tells the topic of the essay?
- What information is given in the second paragraph?
- How are the middle paragraphs organized?
- What final idea is stated about this topic?
Teaching Tip
Tell students that their answers to these questions can serve as a basic guide for their own essays.