Basic Informational Writing
Compose informative or explanatory texts that introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section
What a learner can do afterwards
- Write an informative text that introduces a topic clearly and groups related information together
- Use facts, definitions, and concrete details to develop and explain points about the topic
- Provide a concluding statement or section that wraps up the information presented
1 · Read
Informational writing teaches your reader something true, like how to care for a pet. You pick a topic, then explain it with facts and definitions grouped by idea, so the reader can follow each part.
Mia is writing about volcanoes. She starts by saying what a volcano is. Then she explains how lava forms and erupts, using facts and definitions. She ends by saying why volcanoes matter to scientists.
Group similar facts together. Put all the facts about what something looks like in one part, and all the facts about how it works in another, instead of mixing them up.
A concluding statement reminds the reader what they just learned. It does not add new facts. It wraps up the piece.
Introduce your topic, explain it with facts and definitions, and end with a conclusion that sums it up.
The rewritten readings were written for this dataset.
More to read
Plan five paragraphs
You can explain a topic in five paragraphs. One opens your writing, three explain your points, and one finishes it.
In the opening paragraph, name your topic. An interesting opening sentence can help readers want to read more. Tell them your main idea in a clear sentence.
Give each of the three middle paragraphs a point to explain. Add true facts and helpful details. You might already know these facts or find them while learning about your topic. Keep related facts together.
Use the final paragraph to remind readers of your main idea and bring your writing to an end. Save new facts for the middle.
For a short practice, choose something you like, such as a favorite animal. Begin with a sentence naming your topic. Add three sentences giving facts. Finish with a sentence that brings those ideas together.
Help readers follow each new idea
Readers can follow your writing when you show how your ideas fit together.
Before writing, list the points you want to explain. Then choose an order that makes sense.
Help readers notice a new point with a word such as first, next, also, or finally. These words guide them through your writing.
Keep related facts together. Two sentences about a frog's food belong in one paragraph. Switching between unrelated ideas makes your writing harder to follow.
As you finish explaining a point, lead into the next one. You could write, "We know where frogs live. Next, we will learn about their food."
Share facts in a report
A report helps someone learn facts about a topic.
Choose something you can find facts about. You could write about an animal, a machine, or a place.
Use books to learn more, or get help from a grown-up. Note the facts that matter for your topic. Leave out those that do not belong.
Group related facts. Each group gives you a part of your report to write.
Introduce the topic, then explain each group of facts. Use your own words and sentences that readers can understand.
To finish, bring your ideas together. Tell readers what you most want them to remember.
Use facts to support an idea
Facts and details can help readers understand why they should believe an idea. We call this support evidence.
Choose the idea you want to explain. For example, bees help flowers make seeds.
Give facts that support it. Bees move pollen, a yellow dust, between flowers. Flowers need pollen to make seeds. These facts help explain how bees help.
Check whether each fact belongs with your idea. Save an unrelated fact for somewhere else, or leave it out.
Try writing about your favorite animal. Write a sentence sharing an idea about it. Add two sentences, each giving a true fact that supports your idea.
2 · Watch
En anglaisTake it off screen
Where it sits
Learn first
Optional connections
This opens up
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.