Writing Informative Texts with Clear Ideas
Writing Informative Texts with Clear Ideas Objective: Students will learn to write informative/explanatory texts that introduce a topic clearly, develop the topic with facts and definitions, and organize information logically.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the purpose of informative writing.
- Identify the topic and main ideas in a sample text.
- Plan and write an informative paragraph using facts and definitions.
- Organize information in a logical order.
Materials Needed
- Notebook or writing paper
- Pencil and eraser
- Example informative text (short article or paragraph)
- Graphic organizer template for planning writing
Key Vocabulary
- Informative Text
- A type of writing that gives facts and information about a topic to help the reader learn something new.
- Topic Sentence
- A sentence that tells the main idea of a paragraph or section.
- Details
- Facts or information that explain or support the main idea.
Detailed Activities
Introduction to Informative Writing
- Read a short example of an informative text aloud together.
- Discuss what the text is about and identify the topic sentence and supporting details.
- Explain the goal of informative writing: to teach or explain something clearly.
Planning Your Informative Paragraph
- Choose a simple topic the student knows about (e.g., a favorite animal or hobby).
- Use the graphic organizer to write the topic sentence and list three facts or details about the topic.
- Discuss how to put these facts in a clear, logical order.
Writing and Revising
- Write a first draft of the informative paragraph using the plan.
- Read the paragraph together and check if it has a clear topic sentence and facts.
- Make any needed changes to improve clarity or organization.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- Encourage your child to think about what they want to teach their reader about the chosen topic.
- Help them organize their thoughts before writing by using the graphic organizer.
- Praise efforts and focus on clear ideas rather than perfect spelling or grammar at this stage.
Assessment Questions
- What is the main topic of your paragraph?
- Can you tell me three facts you included to explain your topic?
- How did you decide the order to write your facts?
Extension Ideas
- Have your child write a second paragraph adding more facts or examples about the topic.
- Create an illustrated poster or booklet using the informative text they wrote.
- Research a new topic together and write an informative paragraph about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Help them choose a topic they are familiar with or provide simple facts they can include. You can also look up easy information together.
Use the graphic organizer to break down the writing into smaller steps, focusing on one fact at a time.
At this stage, focus on ideas and organization. You can help with spelling and grammar after the draft is complete.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students may confuse informative writing with storytelling and include personal opinions.
- They might write facts without organizing them logically, making the text confusing.
- Sometimes students focus on too few details or irrelevant information.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Provide sentence starters for the topic sentence and facts.
- Work one-on-one to fill out the graphic organizer together before writing.
- Allow oral storytelling of facts before attempting to write.
For Advanced Students:
- Challenge them to include definitions or examples in their writing.
- Encourage writing multiple paragraphs with subtopics.
- Have them research a new topic and include citations.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend 10 minutes on reading and discussing the example text.
- Allow 15 minutes for planning and organizing facts.
- Use 20 minutes for writing the paragraph and revising with support.
Standards
- 7.W.2 — Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
Printable Worksheet
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