Informative Essay Prompt and Source Material
Informative Essay Formula
I – Introduction Paragraph: The writer must introduce, develop, and explain the overall subject for the reader.
Example Introduction
With intense pressure, freezing temperatures, and oftentimes pitch darkness, the ocean depths are extremely inhospitable. Over millions of years, deep-sea creatures have evolved to live under such unfavorable conditions, developing biological systems specifically designed for their environment. With these adaptations, deep-sea creatures are often considered rather alien in nature, and these organisms do indeed have unique characteristics not seen anywhere else on Earth. Marine biologists and other researchers have just recently, with modern submersible technology, discovered how deep-sea creatures use their odd adaptations to live several miles beneath the ocean’s surface. Overall, deep-sea creatures are truly unique organisms with specially adapted systems to help them survive under harsh conditions.
Example Body
There are many predators in the sea, but not all of them are big enough to be seen. The Osedax worm, also commonly referred to as the zombie worm, is a predator to whales' skeletons. These worms attach themselves to the bones of whales and eat all of the stored nutrients inside. This was a puzzling discovery for scientists since worms lack a mouth and gut, and have no possible way of digging into the skeletons to even retrieve the nutrients. In the science article, Zombie Worms Drill Whale Bones with Acid, zoological manager Martha Ennis discusses how the Osedax worm has learned to adapt to life on the ocean floor with whale skeletons. "The worms have developed a chemical strategy, they attach to a whale bone with special root-like structures and the skin cells of these structures begin to produce an acid, resulting in the bone to dissolve and then the worms can extract the nutrients they need," said Ennis. Without adaptation, these worms would have never been able to survive since they would have no ways of getting the nutrients they need. Having the ability to secrete an acid from skin cells, has greatly impacted how these worms are able to survive. This is just an example of how one creature was able to live in the sea.
Informative Essay Formula
I – Introduction Paragraph: The writer must introduce, develop, and explain the overall subject for the reader.
- Opening statement with theme included (a general statement about the subject connected to a theme the reader will accept in a compound sentence).
- Background information answering the - who, what, when, where in two sentences (show your reader you understand the subject).
- Source material or theme continuation (this sentence needs to lead the reader forward from the previous sentences to your guiding idea).
- Guiding idea – a direct answer to the prompt often in a more thoughtful statement.
- Opening statement with theme and main point statement (your entire paragraph must support the main point).
- Background information about the main point the - who, what, when, where in two sentences (show your reader you understand the subject).
- Source and source material introduction.
- Source material paraphrase (this sentence “sets up” your quoted information).
- Source material quote with attribution to source.
- Elaboration about the evidence illustrating what it means and why it’s important.
- Example tying main point to source material (illustrate the main point).
- Connect main point to guiding idea.
- Tie main points to guiding idea and tie to theme with two or more sentences.
- Opening statement with theme and main point statement (your entire paragraph must support the main point).
- Background information about the main point the - who, what, when, where in two sentences (show your reader you understand the subject).
- Source and source material introduction.
- Source material paraphrase (this sentence “sets up” your quoted information).
- Source material quote with attribution to source.
- Elaboration about the evidence illustrating what it means and why it’s important.
- Example tying main point to source material (illustrate the main point).
- Connect main point to guiding idea.
Example Introduction
With intense pressure, freezing temperatures, and oftentimes pitch darkness, the ocean depths are extremely inhospitable. Over millions of years, deep-sea creatures have evolved to live under such unfavorable conditions, developing biological systems specifically designed for their environment. With these adaptations, deep-sea creatures are often considered rather alien in nature, and these organisms do indeed have unique characteristics not seen anywhere else on Earth. Marine biologists and other researchers have just recently, with modern submersible technology, discovered how deep-sea creatures use their odd adaptations to live several miles beneath the ocean’s surface. Overall, deep-sea creatures are truly unique organisms with specially adapted systems to help them survive under harsh conditions.
Example Body
There are many predators in the sea, but not all of them are big enough to be seen. The Osedax worm, also commonly referred to as the zombie worm, is a predator to whales' skeletons. These worms attach themselves to the bones of whales and eat all of the stored nutrients inside. This was a puzzling discovery for scientists since worms lack a mouth and gut, and have no possible way of digging into the skeletons to even retrieve the nutrients. In the science article, Zombie Worms Drill Whale Bones with Acid, zoological manager Martha Ennis discusses how the Osedax worm has learned to adapt to life on the ocean floor with whale skeletons. "The worms have developed a chemical strategy, they attach to a whale bone with special root-like structures and the skin cells of these structures begin to produce an acid, resulting in the bone to dissolve and then the worms can extract the nutrients they need," said Ennis. Without adaptation, these worms would have never been able to survive since they would have no ways of getting the nutrients they need. Having the ability to secrete an acid from skin cells, has greatly impacted how these worms are able to survive. This is just an example of how one creature was able to live in the sea.
