The explanation book revised advanced Sue Palmer

happens (or how something works). This is sequential and deals Explanation text tells how or why a process happens (or how something works). This is sequential and deals with cause and effect.

“question & answer” articles and leaflets These texts are often ‘explanation texts’… “question & answer” articles and leaflets write-up of science equipment encyclopaedia entry explanation science text book parts of a non-fiction book (e.g. geography, biology) technical manual (e.g. for car or washing machine)

Explanation text needs Purpose to explain a process a title telling what’s to be explained introduction, providing any necessary background to explain a process clear layout (e.g. sections, paragraphs) which helps show the stages in the process to help the reader understand how or why something happens (or why something is as it is) each paragraph starts with a topic sentence A topic sentence sums up what the paragraph is about. maybe labelled picture(s) or diagram(s) to engage the reader’s attention. organisational devices to aid clarity (e.g. bullet points, subheadings) The genre of text can also affect the purpose. closing sentence, to round off the report.

Where should the text sit along these continua? Explanation writing Audience Use what you know about your audience to decide think about the audience for the explanation how much background detail is needed how much do you know about them (age, interests, prior knowledge) appropriate level of formality. Think about your audience when you plan the layout. How can you make it easy for them to read? Where should the text sit along these continua? informal formal personal impersonal The position on each continuum may be different. Impersonal texts are sometimes written informally, and personal texts may be formal.

Planning and organising explanations Simple explanation: More complex explanations e.g. a series of logical steps Reversible effects This happens this this this leading to leading to leading to possibly other causes and effects at each stage. More than one cause Probably... labelled diagram(s) Cycle

Organising explanation text defines the process Intro Intro End When you have made your flowchart skeleton, each blob gives you one paragraph (or section) in your writing. the process in logically sequenced steps neat last line Explanations can be complicated. You may have to draft your flow chart several times. But making the flow chart – and other diagrams – can help you understand the process better. End

Explanation language features present tense verbs (unless historical explanations) because if... then... time connectives to show sequence of events the reason that... causal language so when impersonal language this results in... technical vocabulary, with definitions if necessary. this causes... therefore

Impersonal writing The stick was placed in... This is known as... third person The stick was placed in... passive voice formal connectives, e.g. However, Therefore, Furthermore, Consequently This is known as... The motor is operated by... usually formal vocabulary e.g. placed rather than put known as rather than called. The sides are covered in...

Alternative ‘skeleton’ note-taking frameworks effects c a u s e * cause and effect grid * ‘clockface’ cycle * labelled diagram(s) (often with arrows) * sequence of pictures * cross section

Example of ‘skeletons’ in use Taken from ‘How to teach Writing Across the Curriculum’ by Sue Palmer, with many thanks to David Fulton Publishers

Why do people die if they stop breathing? In order to stay alive, human beings need a constant supply of oxygen (a gas found in the air) to all parts of the body. They also need to rid their bodies of a waste gas called carbon dioxide, which would otherwise poison them. These two gases are carried round the body in the blood. Veins carry blood to the heart and arteries carry blood away from the heart. Both veins and arteries divide into millions of tiny capillary blood vessels. Gases can move between the blood in the capillaries and tiny cells which make up the human body. When a human being breathes in, air goes into the lungs, which are like two spongy bags filled with millions of air sacs. Oxygen from the air passes through the sacs into the capillary blood vessels. The blood then carries the oxygen through a vein to the heart. The heart pumps this oxygen-carrying blood around the whole body through arteries which divide into capillaries to reach the body cells. Oxygen passes from the blood to the cells, and carbon dioxide (the waste gas) passes from the cells into the blood. Veins take this waste-carrying blood back to the heart, which pumps it back to the lungs. There the carbon dioxide passes into the air sacs. When the human being breathes out, the carbon dioxide is pushed back into the air. Breathing in and out is therefore essential because it ensures that life-giving oxygen is constantly replaced and poisonous carbon dioxide expelled. Skeleton

AIR O Air ² Contains oxygen (O ) Breathe in air ² O ² HEART ² CO ² CO capillaries Breathe in air capillaries Artery O Vein ² O ² cells Air sacs HEART BODY AIR LUNGS Artery cells Air sacs Vein ² CO ² CO Breathe out CO ² capillaries capillaries Text

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