Informative/Explanatory Writing Overview

Barbara Goggans, Ph.DGCSD

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.

What is Informative/Explanatory Writing?

Types 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.

Purpose of Informative/Explanatory Writing

Topic: HorsesThe 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.

SCIENCE: Write about the changing phases of the moonWrite about the different types of cloudsDefine the parts of a cellHISTORY:Write about the events that led up to the Louisiana PurchaseWrite an essay about the causes and effects of the settlement at JamestownWrite a report about the different leaders or battles of the Civil War

LANGUAGE ARTS:Write a report about the literature of the HolocaustWrite a report about a poet and what influenced his poetryHow is Halloween celebrated in countries throughout the world?

FOREIGN LANGUAGE:Write a report comparing American culture and French cultureExplain the pronunciation rules in the Spanish language

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 Strategies

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…STRUCTURE

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

Informative/Explanatory Writing (like all good writing) should

have…DEVELOPMENT

So…let’s WRITE!!