Mentor texts
Treasures, 6th grade
Writing to Inform
Main idea and supporting details
Nonfiction article
Hurricane Andrew was a devastating
natural disaster for South Florida. In terms
of property damage, it is one of the worst
calamities ever to hit the United States.
When Andrew swept ashore with wind gusts
of 175 miles per hour, thousands of people
lost their homes. The storm also nearly
destroyed Miami’s Metrozoo, home to
thousands of wild animals. (Treasures, p.
182)
Main idea and supporting
details…
Hurricane Andrew was a
devastating natural disaster for
South Florida.
In terms of property damage, it is one
of the worst calamities ever to hit the
United States.
When Andrew swept
ashore with wind gusts
of 175 miles per hour,
thousands of people
lost their homes.
The storm also
nearly destroyed
Miami’s Metrozoo,
home to thousands
of wild animals.
Why?
Europe: We Are All in This
Together
As a citizen of Sweden, I believe
our government made a huge mistake
when it decided not to adopt the euro.
As a result…Sweden will not benefit
from the obvious advantages a single
currency brings to the countries of
Europe.
The biggest benefit to having a single
European currency is economic. With the
euro, we would be able to trade with our
European neighbors at better prices. We
could enjoy more tourism, since it would be
much easier for other Europeans to visit
without changing their money. Finally, we
would be able to share the cost savings of
having our currency controlled by the
European Central Bank rather than paying
for a separate system. (Treasures, p. 540).
Main idea and supporting
details…
Why?
The biggest benefit to having a
single European currency is
economic.
With the euro, we
would be able to trade
with our European
neighbors at better
prices.
We could enjoy more
tourism, since it would
be much easier for
other Europeans to visit
without changing their
money.
Finally, we would be
able to share the
cost savings of
having our currency
controlled by the
European Central
Bank rather than
paying for a separate
system.
Portable Music: Taking It
with You
Turn It Down
In July of 1979, life for the music lover
was about to change. Family sing-alongs
would be no more. Never again would
people have to hum their favorite song while
waiting at the doctor’s office. And all the
kids who had ever heard “Turn that music
down!” were about to get what they always
wanted. They were going to be able to turn
it up loud, really loud.
Main idea and supporting
How will it
details…
change?
In July of 1979, life for the
music lover was about to
change.
Family
singalongs
would be
no more.
Never again
would people
have to hum
their favorite
song while
waiting at the
doctor’s office.
And all the kids
who had ever
heard “Turn that
music down!” were
about to get what
they always
wanted.
They were going
to be able to turn
it up loud, really
loud.
The Music In Your Head
Before the birth of the portable tape player,
people were stuck having to listen to whatever
was playing. Everyone knows that feeling, the
frustration of being trapped in a long line as the
worst song you’ve ever heard blasts from a
speaker in the ceiling. Most of us also know the
feeling of being trapped when buckled into a
friend’s car but not allowed to touch the radio.
Before it was portable, music was something
that groups of people shared. Whole rooms
were forced to listen to the same music.
(Treasures, p. 710)
Main idea and supporting
details…
Why?
Before the birth of the portable tape
player, people were stuck having to
listen to whatever was playing.
Everyone knows
that feeling, the
frustration of being
trapped in a long
line as the worst
song you’ve ever
heard blasts from a
speaker in the
ceiling.
Most of us also
know the
feeling of being
trapped when
buckled into a
friend’s car but
not allowed to
touch the
radio.
Before it was
portable, music
was something
that groups of
people shared.
Whole rooms
were forced to
listen to the
same music.
Our turn
Let’s choose an easy topic to
practice supporting our main ideas in
writing to inform…
Such as topics we know
about…
For example, the benefits of
 School rules
 Fields trips
 Homework
 School dances
School dances rock! At a dance,
we get to hang out with our friends.
We also meet new people who are not
in our classes. And, of course, we get
to dance which is a lot of fun.
Main idea and supporting
details…
Why?
School dances rock!
we get to hang
out with our
friends
we get to meet
new people
who are not in
our classes
we get to dance
which is a lot of
fun
Your turn
With a partner, choose a topic that
you know about and write a
paragraph with main idea and
supporting details
On your own…
Revise a paragraph in a transactive
piece in your folder to include
supporting details
Reflection…
How did examining writer’s craft in
these excerpts help you in your
writing?
 How does adding supporting details
help your reader?
 Why is it important in to support your
ideas with details?

References
Adapted from the work of:
Lynne R. Dorfman @ Rose Cappelli in Mentor
Texts
Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study for Primary
Writing
By Jennifer Bernhard
Clark County Schools
Jennifer.bernhard@clark.kyschool.us