informative essay graphic organizer google doc

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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.

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Graphic Organizers

In this section you will find graphic organizers that you can use with most grade levels and departments., note: to type on these documents you will have to "file" "make a copy", which will add it to your google drive..

Crtl Alt Achieve from Eric Curtis ~ check out his website!

Eric has created 30 free google drawings graphic organizers. read his post below:.

"Several years ago when I started making webinars, my first one was on creating Graphic Organizers with Google Drawings . This was before I had started the this blog, so I never really shared all of that information in an official blog post. Until now..."

"Graphic organizers are a great tool to share information, explain a concept, or illustrate a relationship using elements including images, shapes, text, colors, and connecting lines. They can be used in education with any age group or subject area."

"There are many excellent tools for creating graphic organizers. Some are installable programs, while others are online. Some are free, while other cost money. Educators and students should be encouraged to try out many different tools to determine what works best for them and for specific situations."

"However, one great choice for graphic organizers is Google Drawings . See below for directions on how to create graphic organizers with Google Drawings (including a help guide and a recorded webinar ) as well as 30 free sample graphic organizers that you can copy, use, and modify as needed."

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Writing an Essay: A Graphic Organizer

Use this graphic organizer to plan your analytical/persuasive essay. 

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EL Education Curriculum

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• ELA 2019 G8:M3:U2:L3

Write an Informative Essay: Plan Introduction and Body Paragraphs

In this lesson, daily learning targets, ongoing assessment.

• Technology and Multimedia

Supporting English Language Learners

Materials from previous lessons, new materials, closing & assessments, you are here:.

• ELA 2019 Grade 8
• ELA 2019 G8:M3
• ELA 2019 G8:M3:U2

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Focus Standards:  These are the standards the instruction addresses.

• RL.8.1, RL.8.2, W.8.2a, W.8.2b, W.8.4, W.8.5, L.8.1a

Supporting Standards:  These are the standards that are incidental—no direct instruction in this lesson, but practice of these standards occurs as a result of addressing the focus standards.

• RL.8.10, W.8.10
• I can identify the purpose of each part of the introduction of a model literary analysis and use this understanding to plan the introduction of my own literary analysis. ( W.8.2 )
• I can identify the structure and purpose of each part of a Proof Paragraph and use this understanding to plan the Proof Paragraphs of my own literary analysis. ( W.8.2 )
• Opening A: Entrance Ticket
• Work Times B and C: Informative Writing Plan graphic organizer ( W.8.2 )
• Work Time C: Analyze a Model: Proof Paragraphs 1a and 1b ( W.8.2 )
• Closing and Assessment A: Informative Writing Checklist ( W.8.2 )
• Entrance Ticket: Unit 2, Lesson 3
• Literary Analysis Informative Essay directions
• Proof Paragraphs 1a and 1b handout
• Informative Writing Plan graphic organizer
• Ensure there is a copy of Entrance Ticket: Unit 2, Lesson 3 at each student's workspace.
• Strategically pair students for the peer critique in Closing and Assessment A with at least one strong reader per pair.
• Review the Informative Writing Plan graphic organizer (example for teacher reference) to become familiar with an example of the planning students will be doing today and in the next lesson.  
• Post the learning targets and applicable anchor charts (see Materials list).

Tech and Multimedia

• Work Times A and B: Convert Informative Writing Plan graphic organizers and invite students to complete them in an online format—for example,  http://eled.org/0158 .
• Continue to use the technology tools recommended throughout previous modules to create anchor charts to share with families; to record students as they participate in discussions and protocols to review with students later and to share with families; and for students to listen to and annotate text, record ideas on note-catchers, and word-process writing.

Supports guided in part by CA ELD Standards 8.I.B.6 and 8.I.B.8.

Important Points in the Lesson Itself

• To support ELLs, this lesson includes time spent analyzing a model informative essay that compares a familiar text, Summer of the Mariposas , with a poem before then writing an essay that focuses on analyzing the similarities and differences in theme and structure in Maus I and "Often a Minute" and the way in which these contribute to meaning. The lesson also includes time for peer feedback and collaborative discussion to help students improve their writing while also practicing oral skills.
• ELLs may find it challenging to understand portions of the model essay. While Summer of the Mariposas will be quite familiar to students, the poem that this text is compared to in the model is not something students will have a deep understanding of. Encourage students to focus on the structure of the essay and the way in which the author crafts points about similarities and differences. Remind students that for their own essays, they will be working with texts that they know well.
• Homework: Language, Structure, and Theme (example for teacher reference) (from Module 3, Unit 2, Lesson 2, Homework A)
• Characteristics of a Literary Analysis Essay anchor chart (one for display; from Module 3, Unit 2, Lesson 1, Work Time A)
• Model Literary Analysis Essay: Relationship of Structure to Meaning (example for teacher reference) (from Module 3, Unit 2, Lesson 1, Work Time A)
• Informative Writing checklist (for teacher reference) (from Module 3, Unit 2, Lesson 1, Work Time B)
• Homework: Language, Structure, and Theme (one per student; from Module 3, Unit 2, Lesson 2, Homework A)
• Model Literary Analysis Essay: Relationship of Structure to Meaning (one per student; from Module 3, Unit 2, Lesson 1, Work Time A)
• Informative Writing checklist (one per student; from Module 3, Unit 2, Lesson 1, Work Time B)
• Entrance Ticket: Unit 2, Lesson 3 (answer for teacher reference)
• Literary Analysis Informative Essay: Sample Student Response (example for teacher reference)
• Informative Writing Plan graphic organizer (example for teacher reference)  
• Analyze a Model: Proof Paragraphs 1a and 1b (example for teacher reference)
• Homework: Structure and Meaning: "The Owl" (answers for teacher reference) (see Homework Resources)
• Entrance Ticket: Unit 2, Lesson 3 (one per student)  
• Literary Analysis Informative Essay directions (one per student and one for display)
• Informative Writing Plan graphic organizer (one per student and one for display)
• Analyze a Model: Proof Paragraphs 1a and 1b (one per student and one for display)
• Homework: Structure and Meaning: "The Owl" (one per student; see Homework Resources)

Each unit in the 6-8 Language Arts Curriculum has two standards-based assessments built in, one mid-unit assessment and one end of unit assessment. The module concludes with a performance task at the end of Unit 3 to synthesize students' understanding of what they accomplished through supported, standards-based writing.

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10 Free Graphic Organizer Templates for Any Subject

Different lessons require different types of content to help students learn. Here are 10 free graphic organizer templates to use for any subject.

Most students are returning to the classroom in Fall 2021, but everyone’s learning methods have had to change over the past two years. It’s important to adapt as an educator with new techniques , digital materials, and fresh content to keep students engaged .

For any subject, graphic organizers provide effective ways to introduce, teach, develop, and test new material. But different lessons require different types of content to help students learn best. I’m going to give you 10 free graphic organizer templates to use for any subject – just use the Make It button to customize, label, and download your graphic organizer.

• Venn Diagram
• Plot Pyramid
• Brainstorm Chart
• Concept Map
• 5-Paragraph Essay Outline
• 4 Square Writing Chart

1. Flowchart

The Flowchart is one of the most versatile and recognizable forms of graphic organizer out there, ideal for project planning and science experiments. A goes to B goes to C goes to D . With this version, you can copy and paste sections of the chart to make it as long or as short as you need, label each section with specific details, and add a title and other information for your assignment.

2. Timeline

The Timeline is similar to the flowchart , with events spaced out along a single path . In a Timeline, however, the intervals between the events is important to the graphic organizer as a whole. Using this template, you can drag events from one point of the Timeline to another, and add text labels for years and events.

3. Venn Diagram

One of the most widely-used graphic organizers, the Venn Diagram provides a simple way for students to compare and contrast 2 or more distinct ideas. With this template, you can copy and recolor the Venn Diagram circles to compare any number of items with each other.

4. Plot Pyramid

This graphic organizer is most commonly used in elementary and middle school English, language arts, and literature classes. It’s used to identify and map the various stages of a plot arc , from exposition to conclusion. Use this template to title the Plot Pyramid and add any other relevant information you need.

5. Brainstorm Chart

The Brainstorm Chart is a far more freeform type of graphic organizer than most others on this list, and can be arranged almost any way you like. All it requires is a central idea or “problem” to solve, along with an array of other ideas and concepts that are connected to it, and supporting details for these connected points. The freeform nature of the Brainstorm Chart allows students to think creatively and originally on any subject.

6. Concept Map

The Concept Map is similar in form to the Brainstorm Chart, but with slightly more limitations on how it’s used. It’s used to illustrate the relationships that exist between various related concepts , filling in different sections of the organizer to show how the different parts are connected. The Concept Map is perfect for introducing students to a new set of related vocabulary terms in any subject.

7. 5-Paragraph Essay Outline

While some of your students may not remember the 5-paragraph essay too fondly years later, it’s an important step in developing their persuasive writing . This classic 5-paragraph planner is perfect for helping students construct their arguments, counter-arguments, supporting data, and conclusions before they put pen to paper.

8. 4 Square Writing Chart

The 4 Square Writing Chart is similar to the 5-paragraph essay outline, it gives space for looser organizational styles and more creative types of writing structure . The central area contains the main idea or argument, and the surrounding squares are filled with supporting arguments, sections of a narrative essay, personal experiences, or several sides to the same story.

9. Story Map

The Story Map is used for a similar purpose to the Plot Pyramid, but with a broader approach to narrative plot arcs. In the Story Map, students not only recount the plot progression of a story, but detail the setting , characters , and central problems and outcomes . There are dozens of ways to organize your own Story Map, so I recommend you use this template to include whatever areas are most important for your students to identify and analyze.

10. KWL Chart

KWL Charts ask students to write on three different things before and after completing a lesson, activity, or reading: what they Know already about the topic, what they Want to learn from the lesson, and, afterward, what they Learned from the experience. It creates more of a big-picture exercise than most of the graphic organizers on this list, allowing students to identify what they gain from their lessons.

I hope these graphic organizer templates help you engage students effectively in every subject you teach. For more tips and tutorials on creating great digital content in 2021, check out the Kapwing YouTube channel or read through some related articles on education materials:

• 10 Back to School Frames for Fall 2021 • The 4 Best Ways to Learn Video Editing Online • How to Add Subtitles to a Lecture Video • How to Make a Frayer Model Online

5 Free Zoom Virtual Backgrounds for Teachers in 2020

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Expository Essay Graphic Organizer

Informative Essay Graphic Organizer (PDF)

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Help students plan informative essays that include three reasons with evidence with this printable PDF graphic organizer.

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