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PlayOwl

English · Grade 6

Explanatory Writing

Learners study an original model essay that explains the main families of clouds, then write their own explanatory essay. They choose organizational strategies (definition, classification, comparison and cause and effect), develop ideas with facts, examples, quotations and a table, connect ideas with transitions and precise vocabulary, keep a formal style and write a conclusion that does more than repeat.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 105 minutes
  • Explanatory writing check: 9 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, highlight a text, match pairs, sort into groups and write a short answer
See plans Included with Family, Teacher and School plans. Open in PlayOwl

What learners will discover

  • Introduce a topic and organize ideas using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison and contrast, and cause and effect.
  • Develop a topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations and examples, using formatting and graphics when useful.
  • Use transitions to clarify relationships among ideas, and use precise, domain-specific vocabulary.
  • Establish and maintain a formal style and write a concluding section that follows from the explanation.
  • Draft an explanatory essay that uses at least two organizational strategies.

Lessons

  1. Organize by how ideas relate 5 steps2 practiceabout 26 min
  2. Develop each section 5 steps3 practiceabout 26 min
  3. Transitions and precise vocabulary 5 steps3 practiceabout 25 min
  4. Formal style, conclusion and draft 4 steps3 practiceabout 28 min
  5. Explanatory writing check 9 questions at the end

Keep exploring

Games to practice with

More 6th grade reading

Guide for grown-ups