1. Informative / Explanatory Writing Lit and Comp 2

2. What is Informative / Explanatory Writing? There are 3 Writing Domains in the Common Core Standards: Narrative Informative / Explanatory Argumentative An Informative/Explanatory essay teaches or informs your reader about a subject. This type of essay can explain how something works, how to perform a task, the steps in a procedure, or why something is the way it is. Ultimately, the reader should have a better understanding of the subject after reading your paper.

3. Purpose / Audience It is important to be aware of your purpose and audience when writing because these will greatly affect your tone and general composition of your essay Audience – May vary from assignment to assignment, but generally you want to assume an academic audience Purpose – All Informative / Explanatory writing aims to explain, inform, teach, or clarify a subject to the reader

4. Structure Introduction – Should hook the reader and give background information on the subject Thesis – State the subject and make a claim about that subject. The thesis should clearly outline the main points of the paper Body – Multiple paragraphs, each looking at a specific aspect of the topic. For example, if my thesis states that Pizza Hut is better than Domino’s for reasons A, B, and C, then I should have one paragraph exploring reason A, one exploring B, and one exploring C. Each body paragraph should provide specific evidence to support your claims Conclusion – Summarizes the claims and re-states the issue in a new light or with a broader perspective – DO NOT SIMPLY REPEAT ALL OF YOUR POINTS!

5. Thesis Construction A simple way to construct a clear and detailed thesis is S.O.S: Subject Opinion Support Prompt: Write an essay in which you explain why Disneyland is so popular Thesis: Disneyland is a very popular theme park in Southern California because of its thrilling rides, entertaining shows, and top-notch customer service

6. Your turn! With your partner, practice writing a sample thesis for the hypothetical subject…. Explain Antigone’s reasoning for wanting to bury her brother

7. Your tasks Identify and understand the topic – “Do I know exactly what the assignment is and what I am expected to do?” Develop a thesis – “What statement can I craft that clearly expresses the central focus of my paper?” Select and analyze relevant content – “Which textual information would more effectively support my thesis?” Convey ideas clearly and precisely – “Can the reader follow my connections between the text and my thesis? Are my supporting points clear?” Determine the best organizational structure – “Which organizational structure would be the most effective for developing my thesis?”

8. As an Informative / Explanatory Writer, you should… Understand the task and develop a clear and precise thesis which identifies the central purpose Critically read the text and make thoughtful decisions when selecting textual evidence to support the thesis Examine the effectiveness of connections between selected textual information and the thesis Organize the information in a structure that ensures the reader can effectively follow your development of ideas

9. Sample Essay In this on-demand assignment, students were asked to explain the effects of the Great Depression on people who lived through it. This writer provides some context about the severity of the Great Depression in the introduction and then states his main points (the Great Depression taught people to be resourceful as well as inspired unity), which serves to preview what follows.

10. Introduction

11. Body paragraph #1

12. Body paragraph #2

13. Body paragraph #3

14. Conclusion