ELA.5.C.1.5 5.11.b

Structure & Development

Good writing is structured, or organized according to a plan. It is also well developed, with enough connected and relevant ideas. Informational and argumentative texts should have sufficient facts and examples to support the main ideas and/or claims. Stories should have well-developed characters, settings, and a plot structure with well-connected events.

Written works should include an INTRODUCTION, a BODY, and a CONCLUSION.

An INTRODUCTION is the beginning of a piece of writing. It introduces the topic or the story to the reader.

- In informational texts, the introduction usually states the main idea.

- In argumentative texts, the introduction should include your thesis, or argument.

- In stories, the introduction should establish the setting and introduce the characters.

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The BODY of a written work is the middle. It is usually the largest part of the writing.

- In informational and argumentative texts, the body includes the supporting details—the facts and examples that build the topic or support the argument.

- The key ideas and details should all be directly related to the topic. They should be connected by transitions that help the reader follow the flow of ideas.

- In stories, the body of the text is the rising action, the climax, and the falling action. Transitions help guide the reader through the events of the plot.

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A CONCLUSION is the end of a piece of writing. It wraps everything up. It gives a sense of closure and completeness to the piece of writing.

- In informational and argumentative texts, the conclusion may restate the main idea or claim in a different way or summarize the information in the text. It could focus the reader on future activities or action related to the topic or claim.

- In stories, the conclusion is the resolution of the story and the tying up of any unresolved "loose ends."

Gentle Giants of the Sea

Whale sharks are the biggest of all sharks—in fact, the biggest fish in the sea!—but there is no need to fear these docile sharks. Whale sharks can grow up to 40 feet long and 50,000 pounds. They also have thousands of teeth in their mouths, which sounds scary, but it’s not! Those teeth are tiny, and whale sharks don’t use them for eating. Instead, these giant sharks feed on some of the tiniest sea creatures, called zooplankton, by filter feeding. This means that they just open their mouths as they swim near the surface, and the zooplankton is filtered through pads in the sharks’ mouths. There’s no biting required. Therefore, whale sharks are no threat to humans at all. In fact, many people even go swimming with whale sharks in places like Mexico and Africa. The sharks don’t seem bothered by the people at all. They even let them hold onto their fins and hitch a ride! Truly, whale sharks are the gentle giants of the sea.

REMEMBER: Whether you are writing a single paragraph, a multi-paragraph essay, or a story, you should always include a strong INTRODUCTION, a BODY with relevant key ideas, details, and/or events that are connected by transitions to guide the reader, and a CONCLUSION that gives a sense of closure and completeness to the writing.

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Go to the next page to practice working with structure and development.

Structure and Development

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS): 5.11.b

develop drafts into a focused, structured, and coherent piece of writing by:

(i) organizing with purposeful structure, including an introduction, transitions, and a conclusion; and

(ii) developing an engaging idea reflecting depth of thought with specific facts and details;

Florida - Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking: ELA.5.C.1.5

Improve writing by planning, revising, and editing, with guidance and support from adults and feedback from peers.