Informative/Explanatory Writing Overview Barbara Goggans, Ph.D GCSD

What is Informative/Explanatory Writing? Informative/Explanatory Writing is nonfiction writing that provides information (facts) to the reader about a particular topic by using a variety of strategies such as sequencing steps, comparing and contrasting, categorizing, reporting, defining, describing, explaining why, or expressing an opinion.

Types of Informative/Explanatory Writing

Purpose of Informative/Explanatory Writing When we write informative/explanatory pieces on a topic, we have to think about our PURPOSE and the READER’S NEEDS.

Topic: Horses The reader may need to know… How to groom a horse How to ride a horse How horses develop from birth to adult The types of horses The uses of horses How horses are different from mules

Informative/Explanatory writing provides information such as: Types: What are the types of poetry? Behavior: How do penguins find food? Components: What are the parts of a motor?

Informative/Explanatory writing provides information such as: Why things happen: Why do countries go to war? Function: What is an x-ray used for? How things work: How does the legislative branch of the government function?

Informative/explanatory writing is the type of writing students are most often required to produce during their school years. LANGUAGE ARTS: Write a report about the literature of the Holocaust Write a report about a poet and what influenced his poetry How is Halloween celebrated in countries throughout the world? FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Write a report comparing American culture and French culture Explain the pronunciation rules in the Spanish language SCIENCE: Write about the changing phases of the moon Write about the different types of clouds Define the parts of a cell HISTORY: Write about the events that led up to the Louisiana Purchase Write an essay about the causes and effects of the settlement at Jamestown Write a report about the different leaders or battles of the Civil War

Informative/Explanatory Writing Strategies Definition: What is Courage? Classification: What types of people were put in concentration camps by Hitler during WWII? Comparison/Contrast: How does the nonfiction account of the sinking of the Titanic compare to the movie version? Cause/Effect: What happens to our bodies when we consume lots of fast food?

Informative/Explanatory Writing (like all good writing) should have… STRUCTURE A good lead (introduction) that interests the reader and lets him know the subtopics/how the text will unfold Transition words (for instance, in addition, therefore, such as, because of , as a result, in contrast to, unlike, despite, on the other hand) A conclusion that offers a final insight or implication for the reader to consider Organization

Informative/Explanatory Writing (like all good writing) should have… DEVELOPMENT Elaboration and evidence-- a variety of information and specific details Trusted sources and a bibliography Carefully chosen words, exact phrases, clear explanation, engaging language, and a consistent tone Command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation and spelling

So…let’s WRITE!!