1. Writing Informative and Explanatory Texts
Getting your point across!

2. Standard and EQ:
ELAGSE9-10W2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. EQ: How do I clearly and accurately convey complex ideas, concepts, and information in an informative/explanatory text?

3. By the end of this lesson, students will know:
informative/explanatory texts examine and convey complex ideas clearly and accurately about specific content
clarity and accuracy of informative/explanatory text is determined through effective selection, organization, and analysis of content in support of the writer's purpose

4. By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
select an informative/explanatory topic that can be reasonably explained or clarified within the text
effectively organize complex ideas that communicate the author's purpose
develop the topic by selecting and synthesizing relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, and quotations appropriate to the audience's knowledge of the topic
use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify relationship among ideas
use precise language for the purpose
provide a concluding statement or section that supports the information or explanation

5. Key Words in Informative/Explanatory Prompts
Key words: explain, discuss, show, clarify, inform, describe, talk about, tell/write why, explain how, compare/contrast, show the causes/effects of

6. Informative vs. Explanatory
Designed to convey facts and data through chronological order, compare/contrast, definition, or cause and effect
May include a person’s views on something such as an experience or an activity or explains how to do something without providing argument or criticism
Both types are expository

7. Your expository essay needs. . .
Introduction paragraph (HOOK & THESIS)
Body paragraphs (SUPPORTING IDEAS & DETAILS)
Concluding paragraph (RESTATE SUPPORTING IDEAS)=
4-5 PARAGRAPHS
REMEMBER= 3-4 different TRANSITION WORDS

9. Introductions (Opening paragraph)
Grab the reader’s attention by:
Asking a question ????
Onomatopoeia (Bang!)
Using some key words from the writing prompt.
Include a thesis statement

10. How do I write a comparison and contrast essay?
Let’s think about it in relation to comparing and contrasting a book and a movie…

11. Compare and Contrast Essays

12. Compare and Contrast Essay
Organize your essay using one of the following methods:
Point by Point Method
Block Method or Whole-to-Whole
Similarities and Differences

13. Let’s think about it in relation to comparing and contrasting a book and a movie…

14. Point by Point Method
In this structure, you explain one point of comparison before moving to the next point. For instance, you would write about the characters in the book and movie in one section; then you would write about the setting in the book and movie in the next section.

15. Point #1 (Characters in book and movie)
Point by Point Method
Introduction
Point #1 (Characters in book and movie)
Point #2 (Setting in book and movie)
Conclusion

16. Block Method or Whole-to Whole
In this structure, you say everything about one item then everything about the other. For instance, say everything about the characters, setting, and plot for the book then everything about the characters, setting, and plot for the movie. Whole-to-Whole comparison and contrast uses a separate section or paragraph for each item you're discussing.

17. Block Method or Whole-to Whole
Introduction
Book (Characters, Setting)
Movie (Characters, Setting)
Conclusion

18. Similarities-to-Differences Strategy
In this structure, you explain all the similarities about the items being compared and then you explain all the differences. For instance, you might explain that the characters and plot were similar in both the book and movie in the one section. In the next section, you could explain that the settings were different. The book took place during the summer while the movie took place during the winter.

19. Similarities-to-Differences Strategy
Introduction
Similarities
Differences
Conclusion

20. Transitional Words and Phrases to Compare/Contrast
although
but
even though
however
on the other hand
unlike
yet
also
and
another
in the same way
likewise
moreover
similarly
too