Consider stories you have read or heard about people who face challenges, such as starting a new business, or conquering fears to climb a mountain. While the goals may differ, the qualities that help people overcome challenges and obstacles are often the same. Write an essay explaining the qualities most important to overcoming obstacles and achieving a goal. Use information from nonfiction readings or from personal experience to come up with your thesis, and then to develop it. For an example of a well-written Informational text you can use as a Mentor Text, review “Women in Aviation.”

A successful Informational Essay:

provides an introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and clearly states the topic.
includes a clear controlling idea or thesis statement.
develops the topic using facts, definitions, examples, and quotations.
organizes information in a logical way and uses transitions to connect ideas.
ends by summarizing ideas or drawing an overall conclusion.
uses appropriate word choice and sentence variety.