1. Writing to Inform, Explain, Describe Helper Sheet
Writing to Inform Tips/Essentials
Write to task and audience
Engages the reader
Is ordered/structured
Detailed/developed points
Gives facts
Precise/Didactic Language
Tells the reader (commands, instructional language)
Opinions are balanced/fair
Unbiased facts, not one sided
Varies sentence type and beginnings for purpose
SPAG
Writing to Inform, Explain, Describe Helper Sheet
Writing to Explain Tips/Essentials
Write to task and audience
Engages the reader
Is ordered/structured
Gives reason
Detailed, developed points—select objective/factual information rather than opinion
Sensory details
Information must be useful and accessible to its audience—must be lively, balanced, truthful and trustworthy
Varies sentence type and beginnings for purpose
SPAG
Writing to Describe Tips/Essentials
Write to audience and task
Engages the reader
Provide snapshot—don’t go into storytelling
Senses—vivid imaginative imagery
Precise vocabulary used to describe
Is ordered/structured. Good structure (human video)– either from the inside to outside, from then to now, from general to more specific
Same tense—it is better to write in the past tense
Describes with purpose
Outlines thoughts and feelings, and why
Uses literary devices (e.g.. Metaphor, simile, personification) that are appropriate to topic/audience—must create atmosphere
It’s best to be the observe/not be involved in the description
Varies sentence type and beginnings for purpose
Detailed/developed points
SPAG

2. Writing to Inform, Explain, Describe
Text Types that you May Have to Write
Snap shot
Article
Letter
Speech
Explanation
Recommendation
Argument
Ways to Engage/Narrative Hook
Varied sentence Types/Beginning
Flare (mostly describe)—rhetorical question, command, imagery, statement, shocking fact/statistic, rhetorical technique, etc.
And more—it must ‘captures the attention of the reader’ AND be specific to audience and purpose