Informative/ Explanatory Writing

Informative/ Explanatory Writing Murray Hill Middle School Donyall D. Dickey, Principal

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant information. Informative – a piece that is designed to convey facts or data Legend Introduce a topic, organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. Establish and maintain a formal style. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented.

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant information. Explanatory – Includes a person’s views on something, an experience, an activity or how to do something Legend Introduce a topic, organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. Establish and maintain a formal style. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented.

Write informative/explanatorytexts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant information. Informative – a piece that is designed to convey facts or data Explanatory – includes a person’s views on something, an experience, an activity or how to do something (without providing argument or criticism) Group Activity Choose type Choose existing activity per grade level pair (i.e. Frog, Declaration of Independence, Romeo and Juliet) Compose a grade level – content specific writing prompt. What needs to be front loaded for students before they are asked to write (a-f)? Legend Introduce a topic, organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. Establish and maintain a formal style. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented. ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________

Social Studies You have been asked to conduct research on the American Revolution. As part of your research, you need to locate sources on the internet. Explain how you can distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources on the internet.

English You’ve just studied Shakespearian plays. Your English teacher has just announced you will be going to a local Shakespearian museum. Explain to the reader your favorite exhibit.

Applied Academics Using what you learned in class, explain to reader how you produced a door stop from raw materials.

Science You just studied parts of the cell. Using facts from the textbook, class notes, etc., provide information about the function of each part of the cell to a 3rd grade class at Gorman Crossing.

Reading A new family has moved into Howard County and needs to choose a middle school for their children. The parents are concerned as one of their children currently reads below grade level. Using facts and data from the Maryland State Report Card, inform this family about Murray Hill’s performance over the past four years.

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant information. Introduce (a) and develop (b) a topic Legend Introduce a topic, organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. Establish and maintain a formal style. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented.

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant information. Introduce (a) and develop (b) a topic Formal style (e) Legend Introduce a topic, organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. Establish and maintain a formal style. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented.

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant information. Introduce (a) and develop (b) a topic Formal style (e) By selecting definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information and examples (b) Legend Introduce a topic, organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. Establish and maintain a formal style. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented. Use precise language and domain specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic (d) Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts (c)

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant information. Definition, Classification, Comparison/Contrast, Cause/Effect (a) Description * Problem/Solution * Chronological * Introduce (a) and develop (b) a topic Formal style (e) By selecting definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information and examples (b) Include: Formatting (headings) Graphics (charts, tables) Multimedia when useful to aid comprehension (a) Legend Introduce a topic, organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. Establish and maintain a formal style. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented. Use precise language and domain specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic (d) Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts (c)

Write informative/explanatorytexts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant information. Definition, Classification, Comparison/Contrast, Cause/Effect (a) Description * Problem/Solution * Chronological * Introduce (a) and develop (b) a topic Formal style (e) Choices along the way throughout text composition* By selecting definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information and examples (b) Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented (f) Include: Formatting (headings) Graphics (charts, tables) Multimedia when useful to aid comprehension (a) Legend Introduce a topic, organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. Establish and maintain a formal style. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented. Use precise language and domain specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic (d) Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts (c)

Write informative/explanatorytexts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant information. Definition, Classification, Comparison/Contrast, Cause/Effect (a) Description * Problem/Solution * Chronological * Introduce (a) and develop (b) a topic Formal style (e) Choices along the way throughout text composition* By selecting definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information and examples (b) Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented (f) Include: Formatting (headings) Graphics (charts, tables) Multimedia when useful to aid comprehension (a) Legend Introduce a topic, organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. Establish and maintain a formal style. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented. Use precise language and domain specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic (d) Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts (c) What needs to be front loaded for students before they are asked to write (a-f)?

Write informative/explanatorytexts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant information. Definition, Classification, Comparison/Contrast, Cause/Effect (a) Description * Problem/Solution * Chronological * Formal style (e) Introduce (a) and develop (b) a topic May need to consider avoiding “I” Be conscious of word choice (use “child” instead of “kid”) Vary sentence length Avoid vague words (some, a few) Avoid contractions Ensure topic completely addresses prompt Topic should be concise and focused Ensure topic is developed throughout writing __________________ Include: Formatting (headings) Graphics (charts, tables) Multimedia when useful to aid comprehension (a) By selecting definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information and examples (b) Choices along the way throughout text composition* Writer’s workshop/conferences Continually re-focus students to topic Edit or revise details or examples that do not support topic ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented (f) Use precise language and domain specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic (d) Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts (c) ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ At last Next Conversely Furthermore However For example Otherwise Therefore In conclusion First, Second…

INFORMATIVE/EXPLANTORY WRITING RUBRIC GRADE 6

Informative/ Explanatory Writing