informational text
A good Informational text is one that demonstrates the author is an expert in a particular field. The author creates an organized and well thought-out piece that helps enlighten the reader understand better the content. For instance if the student is writing an autobiography and they are a gamer who spend countless hours playing Minecraft, it might be a good idea to reveal what is so appealing about playing the game and what it says about who you are. If my grandmother was very influential in my life and helped me enormously become the man I am, then it would make sense for me to include a chapter about the woman. If I am an expert at Knott's Berry Farm, I might create chapters on only rollercoasters, or chapters on the various seasonal events at Knott's. I might create chapters based on live performances, or chapters on available food options. I might create chapters on the museums available throughout Knotts or just focus on Knott's Scary Farm.
Sometimes the student will be asked to read a couple of articles on a topic, like "avocados" for instance that will be overarching. These articles may discuss how to grow your own avocado tree, the care and lifespan of a tree, making guacamole, why the avocado is a fruit, and so on... and then the student will be asked to write an informational text on the cause and effect of growing your avocado pit in a glass bottle.
The most important thing about writing informational text is that you are passionate about what you are choosing to write about, and that your voice comes through on the page. You follow a logical sequence that introduces the topic, it's followed by several chapters on the topic, and that it concludes with your reasoning on why you chose to write about your particular topic.
Sometimes the student will be asked to read a couple of articles on a topic, like "avocados" for instance that will be overarching. These articles may discuss how to grow your own avocado tree, the care and lifespan of a tree, making guacamole, why the avocado is a fruit, and so on... and then the student will be asked to write an informational text on the cause and effect of growing your avocado pit in a glass bottle.
The most important thing about writing informational text is that you are passionate about what you are choosing to write about, and that your voice comes through on the page. You follow a logical sequence that introduces the topic, it's followed by several chapters on the topic, and that it concludes with your reasoning on why you chose to write about your particular topic.
Informational Writing Checklist
The Informational Writing Checklist (5th Grade) below can help the writer
make sure that he/she are writing an informational essay.
make sure that he/she are writing an informational essay.
Thesis Statement or Main Idea
The thesis of an essay is its main idea, claim, or central proposition. We need to have a thesis statement or main idea in every academic essay we write. A thesis statement clearly identifies the topic being discussed, includes the points discussed in the paper, and is written for a specific audience. Your thesis statement belongs at the end of your first paragraph, also known as your introduction.
Examples:
I am going to write about how the Food and Drug Administration allows a certain amount of fly larva, rat hairs, and bug parts in some of our favorite foods.
I am going to write about the inventions and innovations Cousteau created to help others learn about the sea.
I am going to write about how Annemarie displays bravery in Number the Stars.
I am going to write about how Charley Quinn learned to be a man from an unlikely character.
I am going to write about how the Food and Drug Administration allows a certain amount of fly larva, rat hairs, and bug parts in some of our favorite foods.
I am going to write about the inventions and innovations Cousteau created to help others learn about the sea.
I am going to write about how Annemarie displays bravery in Number the Stars.
I am going to write about how Charley Quinn learned to be a man from an unlikely character.
Rubric for Writing Informational Text
Compare and Contrast Essay
The Brooklyn Flea and The Grand Bazaar in Turkey
The Brooklyn Flea and The Grand Bazaar in Turkey
THE COMPARE CONTRAST ESSAY IN 1 PARAGRAPH
Both the Brooklyn Flea Market and the Grand Bazaar in Turkey have similarities but I think they are much more different than they are similar. Both markets have many vendors where a variety of goods is sold. People, both natives and visitors, look forward to going because of the options of goods offered and the variety of food. The flea markets open up on the weekends in familiar open spaces, but the Grand Bazaar is open everyday in the same well known location. The iconic Grand Bazaar is a much more permanent, essential and cultural business as it was originally built by a sultan hundred's of years ago. It houses elaborate domed ceilings, two houses of worship, Turkish baths, fountains, and hundreds of restaurants. The Grand Bazaar has over 5000 vendors compared to the much smaller flea market of around 150. Haggling is a necessary piece of the shopping experience but one of the most significant differences is the high end jewelry exchange located in the center of the bazaar. Vendors at a local flea market probably aren't carrying thousands of dollars in valuable gems and materials.
"Jacques Cousteau" Articles
The Writing Prompt: In the first paragraph, the author says that Cousteau "dedicated his life to helping people learn about the sea." Use other facts from the text to explain why this is true."
HOW DID COUSTEAU
HELP OTHERS LEARN ABOUT THE SEA? Brainstorming for Evidence: From "Jacques Cousteau,"Texts with Prompts: Par.4: aqualung Par.5: underwater camera and documentaries Par.6: the Calypso research ship Par.7: "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau" Par.8: environmental activist Par.9: books, film, and the Cousteau Society From Sharon Fabian's article on EdHelper.com People could see what it was like to dive, see schools of fish, whales, sharks, sunken treasure and coral reefs. "Aqua Lung" from Cousteau.org "This new equipment reduced fatigue and consequently air consumption allowing the divers to move about more quickly and for a longer time." |
HOW-TO ADDRESS
THE INFORMATIVE WRITING PROMPT IN A 3-PARAGRAPH FORMAT Include in the introduction paragraph #1: hook information on the topic the prompt an anecdote on the topic thesis statement What goes in the body paragraph #2? 1) be sure to include information gathered from all 3 articles if possible: A) "Jacques Cousteau" from the article, Texts with Prompts B) "Aqua Lung" C) Sharon Fabian's ideas from EdHelper Wrapping it up in the Conclusion Paragraph #3: 1) Readdress the thesis statement in a different way 2). Leave the reader with an epiphany (or an Aha) from your new learning. |
Chris Miller January 25, 2024
Writing: Informative 3-Paragraph Essay
Informative Writing Prompt
on Jacques Cousteau
Prompt: In the first paragraph, the author says that Cousteau “dedicated his life to helping people learn about the sea.” Use other facts from the text to explain why this is true.
“The Underwater World of Jacques Cousteau” was some of the best television a boy could ever watch. There was SCUBA, water craft, airplanes, choppers, spear guns, and wild sea creatures. Sometimes my GI Joes became frogmen and underwater explorers of the Cousteau Society searching for giant Manta Rays and Bull Sharks. Cousteau was an old skinny oceanographer in speedos from the 1970’s, and being a pioneer in this field he helped teach all of us about the sea and to give us an understanding and appreciation for the ocean that maybe wasn’t there. I am going to write about how Cousteau helped others learn more about the sea through his innovations like the aqualung.
Cousteau didn’t necessarily invent the aqualung, but he made drastic improvements with it, which according to Cousteau.org, “reduced fatigue and… air consumption.” This allowed others to SCUBA comfortably and for extended periods of time. Cousteau basically took the danger out of diving and with that allowed others the opportunity to try their own adventures underwater. The aqualung is huge innovation but so is the underwater camera. Yes that is his invention, according to the “Jacques Coustaeu” article from Texts with Prompts. This article also stated that besides the aqualung and underwater camera, Cousteau also had a TV show called “The Underwater World of Jacques Cousteau.” He worked with the National Geographic Society, where he produced many documentaries, he wrote books, he created a floating research lab and named it Calypso, and an environmental conservationist. He defined what it was to be a conservator of the sea. Eventually Cousteau founded the Cousteau Society which is a world-wide organization dedicated to teaching others about the sea and our role in conservation. I think in the Sharon Fabian article she sums it up best when she says that because of Cousteau many people were able to observe groups of fish together underwater along with big sea creatures never before observed. People could see what old shipwrecks looked like and they could see how beautiful and vibrant the coral reefs can be. Cousteau helped open our eyes.
Cousteau’s work helped us have an appreciation and love for the sea. We learned a lot about the sea and its inhabitants because Cousteau‘s passion for the sea was so great. He dedicated his adult life to helping others learn through innovations like the aqualung, underwater camera, and his numerous productions in film, but one often overlooked innovation is also in becoming an environmentalist. He pointed his finger at those out to destroy the ocean and its creatures as in the decimation of whale populations. Here Cousteau stands out as a monumental figure that changed the world for many generations to come.
Mr. Miller's Informational Text Example #1
I CONSIDERED MYSELF AN EXPERT IN RECREATING COLLEGE MASCOTS, AS I BELIEVE THIS STYLE OF ART WAS MY OWN TYPE OF CREATION. BEING AN EXPERT AT RECREATING THE MASCOTS, I THOUGHT OF THIS EXAMPLE AS A HOW TO FOR SOMEONE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS
The Autobiography
You have been tasked to write an autobiography, which means you will be writing about yourself. There are many ways you can accomplish this goal...
1) You can follow the traditional method of: "I was born on May 17, 2012... and determine your chapters maybe based on
typical milestones like playing volleyball for the first time, my brothers and sisters, etc.
2) You can do chapters on the people in your life, the athletics you play, the games you play, the best times, the worst
times, the things you love, your pets, etc. In this type of autobiography you are sharing with the reader those things
which help define who you are.
Whichever option you choose, we want you to be passionate and express that passion for what you are writing about. Make sure that you include an introduction page that will explain what your autobiography is about or its focus (Are you doing option 1 or 2) . Write your chapters (3-5 chapter topics). Conclude your autobiography. Be sure to proofread your essay for capitalization, end punctuation, and spelling. The rubric above is a good example of how this assignment will be graded.
1) You can follow the traditional method of: "I was born on May 17, 2012... and determine your chapters maybe based on
typical milestones like playing volleyball for the first time, my brothers and sisters, etc.
2) You can do chapters on the people in your life, the athletics you play, the games you play, the best times, the worst
times, the things you love, your pets, etc. In this type of autobiography you are sharing with the reader those things
which help define who you are.
Whichever option you choose, we want you to be passionate and express that passion for what you are writing about. Make sure that you include an introduction page that will explain what your autobiography is about or its focus (Are you doing option 1 or 2) . Write your chapters (3-5 chapter topics). Conclude your autobiography. Be sure to proofread your essay for capitalization, end punctuation, and spelling. The rubric above is a good example of how this assignment will be graded.