Informative Essay Introduction Paragraph

A five-day informative essay unit teaches the hook-arch-thesis structure for introduction paragraphs, moving students from guided notes to independent practice paragraphs and a multiple-choice assessment.
Year levels
Years 6–8
File type
PDF
Preparation
Print ready

Updated Sep 27, 2026

Subject
Strategies, Writing, English
Topic
Informative Essay, Essay Writing
Resource types
Lesson Plans, Worksheets
Preparation
Print ready
Australian Curriculum content descriptions
AC9E7LA04 — understand that the cohesion of texts relies on devices…

From the author

About this resource

This Informative Essay Introduction Paragraph is a week-long set of activities to help students develop a deeper understanding of the introduction paragraph.

Included:

  • - Notes and word bank

  • - Bell work and student pages

  • - Assessment

  • - Answer keys

  • - Digital instructions and quiz link; the Google Slides notes/practice link is currently unavailable

In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

  • Students identify and construct the three parts of an informative essay introduction: hook, arch/transition, and thesis.

  • Students write an original introduction paragraph responding to a nonfiction prompt, applying the hook-arch-thesis structure.

  • Students evaluate multiple-choice answer options to select the strongest hook, arch, and thesis for a given passage.

Teaching tips

  • Follow the built-in five-day pacing: notes on day 1, one guided practice paragraph per day on days 2-4, and the assessment on day 5.

  • Use the three practice passages (Titanic, lightning, photography) in the given order, since each reuses the same hook-arch-thesis routine to build independence gradually.

  • Assign the Google Slides digital version instead of printing when students will submit through a learning management system, using the included share/collect instructions.

Skills covered

  • Introduction paragraph structure — students construct a hook, transition ('arch'), and thesis for an informative essay using the Pixanotes framework.

  • Nonfiction reading response — students read short passages on the Titanic, lightning, and photography and write an introduction paragraph reacting to each prompt.

  • Multiple-choice evaluation of writing — students compare sample hooks, arches, and theses on a technology passage and select the strongest option.

Good to know

Questions teachers ask about this resource

What does the resource mean by an essay's 'arch,' and where does it fit in the introduction?

The arch (also called a bridge) is the transition sentence that connects the hook to the thesis, sitting between the two in the introduction paragraph.

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Australian Curriculum (Version 9.0)

Australian Curriculum content descriptions

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