7.11.B
The Standard
compose informational texts, including multi-paragraph essays that convey information about a topic, using a clear controlling idea or thesis statement and genre characteristics and craft
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading · Composition: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students write multi-paragraph informational pieces that explain a focused topic. They use a clear thesis, organize related ideas, and develop points with facts, examples, explanations, and suitable genre features.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student writes a focused thesis, organizes related information into purposeful paragraphs, and supports each main point with relevant facts and explanations. The essay uses transitions, precise language, and an ending that reinforces the main idea.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may write a broad thesis that names the topic but does not state a focused idea. They may list facts without grouping related details, explaining evidence, or using transitions between paragraphs.
How to Assess It
- Give students three facts about school start times. Ask them to write a focused thesis and outline three paragraphs, with one main point and supporting fact for each.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups fact cards about sleep, then have them sort the cards into paragraph groups and label each group with a main idea.
Ask students to compare two thesis statements about school uniforms and explain in writing which one gives the essay clearer direction.
Play Paragraph Builder by giving teams mixed thesis, topic sentence, evidence, explanation, and transition cards to arrange into a logical essay.
Have students create a visitor guide explaining three useful features of the school, using interviews, observations, and a clear thesis.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
- 3.12.B
compose informational texts, including brief compositions that convey information about a topic, using a clear central idea and genre characteristics and craft;
- 6.11.B
compose informational texts, including multi-paragraph essays that convey information about a topic, using a clear controlling idea or thesis statement and genr...
- 8.11.B
compose informational texts, including multi-paragraph essays that convey information about a topic, using a clear controlling idea or thesis statement and genr...
- 5.12.B
compose informational texts, including brief compositions that convey information about a topic, using a clear central idea and genre characteristics and craft;
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