Writing Informative Texts: How-To Paragraphs
Writing Informative Texts: How-To Paragraphs Objective: Students will learn to write a clear and organized informative paragraph that explains a process or how to do something, focusing on including key details and using linking words.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the purpose of informative writing and how it is different from other types of writing.
- Plan and organize ideas before writing using a graphic organizer.
- Write an informative paragraph that explains how to do a simple task with clear steps.
- Use linking words to help the paragraph flow smoothly.
Materials Needed
- Notebook or lined paper
- Pencil and eraser
- Example paragraph on how to make a sandwich
- Graphic organizer for planning a how-to paragraph
Key Vocabulary
- Informative Writing
- Writing that explains a topic or tells how to do something clearly and with details.
- Paragraph
- A group of sentences that talk about one main idea.
- Linking Words
- Words like first, next, then, and finally that help connect ideas in writing.
Detailed Activities
Introduction to How-To Paragraphs
- Read an example paragraph about making a sandwich aloud together.
- Discuss the main steps and how linking words help the reader understand the order.
- Identify the topic sentence and supporting details in the example.
Planning Your Own How-To Paragraph
- Choose a simple task the student knows well (e.g., brushing teeth, planting a seed).
- Use the graphic organizer to list the steps in order.
- Think about what materials or tools are needed and important details for each step.
Writing and Sharing the Paragraph
- Write a first draft of the how-to paragraph using the plan and linking words.
- Read the paragraph aloud to check if the steps make sense and are clear.
- Make any needed revisions for clarity and organization.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- This lesson helps your child practice organizing their thoughts in writing and using clear, step-by-step instructions.
- Encourage your child to talk through the steps out loud before writing to help organize ideas.
- You can support by brainstorming simple tasks together and helping with spelling or punctuation as needed.
Assessment Questions
- What is the main idea of your paragraph?
- Can you tell me the first, next, and last steps in your how-to paragraph?
- Which linking words did you use to connect your steps?
Extension Ideas
- Create an illustrated version of the how-to paragraph by drawing pictures for each step.
- Write a how-to paragraph about a different task or hobby to practice organizing information.
- Turn the paragraph into a short presentation or video explaining the steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Help them think about daily tasks they do, like making a snack or getting ready for school. Start with something familiar and simple.
Encourage them to sound out words and write their best try. You can help by gently correcting or writing the correct spelling after they finish.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students may confuse informative writing with storytelling and include opinions or unrelated details.
- They might not use linking words to show the order of steps clearly.
- Some students may write very short paragraphs without enough supporting details.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Provide a partially completed graphic organizer to help them plan.
- Allow oral explanations before writing to build confidence.
- Use sentence starters such as ‘First, I…’ to guide writing.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage adding more detailed explanations or reasons why steps are important.
- Challenge them to write a paragraph with more complex linking words like ‘after that’ or ‘subsequently.’
- Have them write an additional paragraph comparing two similar how-to topics.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend about 10 minutes reading and discussing the example paragraph.
- Allow 15 minutes for planning and organizing ideas using the graphic organizer.
- Use the remaining 20 minutes for writing, revising, and sharing the paragraph.
Standards
- 8.W.2 — Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
Printable Worksheet
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