Tool S4-8a - Twelve Steps to Writing an Essay or Report

Sep 22, 2026

Guide for Grades 6–8 writing in Informative/Explanatory and Argument formats, focusing on organizing paragraphs and essays with informal outlines and Traffic Light planning. It explains how topic sentences (green), transitions (yellow), and elaboration with examples, evidence, and explanation (red) build key or star ideas, then uses a conclusion to reconnect to the paragraph or essay purpose. Includes a 12-step process from drafting a title to proofreading and sharing, plus tools for making claims, acknowledging opposing views, and structuring argument accordion essays.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Tool S4-1a: Informative/Explanatory Writing: Stating the Facts

Organization and Traffic Light planning (green, yellow, red)

Conclusions and topic reminders

Tool S4-8a: Twelve Steps to Writing an Essay or Report

Tool S5-2a: Argument Writing

Making a claim and organized support

Evidence and countering opposing views

Conclusion that readers remember

Tool S5-2c: Traffic Light Colors for Argument Writing

Tool S5-6b: Argument Accordion Essays and Reports

Name: Tool S4-1a Elements of Informative/Explanatory Writing Organization is the key. Use informal outlines and Traffic Light colors to plan a paragraph, essay, or report. Topic sentences are the heart. Use green to remember that topic sentences tell readers what you are going to explain. In essays, the topic sentence is called a thesis statement. Transitions are the glue for the key/star ideas . Use yellow to remind yourself to slow down and make smooth, clear transitions when you introduce a new key/star idea. Examples, evidence, and explanation are the meat. Use red to remind yourself to stop and explain. Examples, evidence, and explanation support your key/star ideas. Conclusions tie it all together with a ribbon . Use green again. Remember to go back to your topic. A good conclusion reminds readers of the purpose of your paragraph or essay. ©2015 Voyager Sopris Learning, Inc . All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce this page for Step Up to Writing classroom use . Informative/Explanatory Writing: Stating the Facts Step Up to Writing • Grades 6–8 Tool S4-1a Name: Tool S4-8a Twelve Steps to Writing an Essay or Report | Step 1 | Write a draft title. | | --- | --- | | Step 2 | Refine the topic and write a draft of your topic sentence or thesis statement. | | Step 3 | Write a plan sentence using or referring to your key/star ideas in the draft introductory paragraph. | | Step 4 | Block out what you want to cover in each paragraph. | | Step 5 | Create an informal outline based on your plan and how you have blocked out the paper. | | Step 6 | Choose transitions to introduce your key/star ideas. Add these to the informal outline. | | Step 7 | Jot down ideas for your conclusion. | | Step 8 | Write the first draft. | | Step 9 | Revise your first draft to improve content, sentence structure, vocabulary, and organization. | | Step 10 | Edit your paper. Repeat steps 8, 9, and 10 as needed. | | Step 11 | Create a final copy of your essay or report. | | Step 12 | Proofread and prepare to share! | ©2015 Voyager Sopris Learning, Inc . All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce this page for Step Up to Writing classroom use . Informative/Explanatory Writing: Stating the Facts Step Up to Writing • Grades 6–8 Tool S4-8a Name: Tool S5-2a Argument Writing | Topic = | • Your clear, stated claim
“I have something important to say.” | | --- | --- | | T=

C= | • Clearly organized support (with powerful transitions) for your claim
“I have taken a stand on this issue, and I can support my claim with strong and logical reasons. As a result, readers will agree with me or be ready to take action.” | | | • Believable and relevant examples, explanations, and evidence
“This makes sense. My information is accurate and supported by facts. Readers will pay attention.” | | | • Acknowledgment of and respect for opposing views, with facts to counter them
“I have studied my topic and know how others might feel. I can ‘head off’ their opposition with logical evidence.” | | Conclusion = | • A conclusion that people will remember
“I want to give readers one last powerful idea related tomy claim so that they will either agree with me or take action.” | ©2015 Voyager Sopris Learning, Inc . All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce this page for Step Up to Writing classroom use . Argument Writing: Making a Claim Step Up to Writing • Grades 6–8 Tool S5-2a Name: Tool S5-2c Traffic Light Colors for Argument Writing Use the colors of a traffic light to help you write a paragraph. GO! SLOWDOWN! STOP! GO BACK! green yellow red green Go! State your claim. Slow down! Introduce a key/star idea (big idea)—a reason or an opposing claim by using a transition word or phrase. Stop! Elaborate by providing an example, evidence, or explanation to support your reasons or to address an opposing claim. Go back! Remin

FAQs

What do the Traffic Light colors mean when planning a paragraph or essay?

Green is used to remember that topic sentences tell readers what you will explain. Yellow helps you slow down and make smooth transitions when introducing a new key/star idea. Red reminds you to stop and explain with examples, evidence, and explanation that support those ideas.

What are the 12 steps to writing an essay or report in Tool S4-8a?

The steps include writing a draft title, refining the topic and thesis statement, writing a plan sentence, blocking out paragraph content, creating an informal outline, choosing transitions, jotting ideas for the conclusion, writing the first draft, revising, editing, creating a final copy, and proofreading to prepare to share.

How should argument writing be structured according to Tool S5-2a?

Argument writing includes a clear stated claim, organized support with powerful transitions, believable and relevant examples/evidence/explanations, and acknowledgment of opposing views with factual counters. It ends with a conclusion that people will remember, connected to the claim and possible action.

Sep 22, 2026

Upload by Riley West