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19 Writing Explanations

Page
143
from
All Write

Writing Explanations Opening Page

Start-Up Activity

Read and discuss page 143. Ask your students why accuracy is crucial when writing explanations. Also ask if they have ever tried to assemble something using unclear directions or have gotten lost trying to follow vague directions. Then have students think of something they know how to do or make and envision how they would explain the process. Ask a volunteer to share the steps in his or her explanation. Record and display the steps, and discuss them as a class. 

Think About It

“I see only one rule: to be clear.”

—Stendhal

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.2

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.5

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.4

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.5

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

LAFS.6.W.1.2

LAFS.7.W.1.2

LAFS.8.W.1.2

LAFS.6.W.2.4

LAFS.6.W.2.5

LAFS.7.W.2.4

LAFS.7.W.2.5

LAFS.8.W.2.4

LAFS.8.W.2.5

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

110.22.b.10

110.22.b.11.B

110.23.b.10

110.23.b.11.B

110.24.b.10

110.24.b.11.B

110.22.b.10.A

110.22.b.10.B

110.22.b.10.C

110.22.b.10.D

110.23.b.10.A

110.23.b.10.C

110.23.b.10.D

110.24.b.10.A

110.24.b.10.C

110.24.b.10.D

TEKS Covered in This Chapter

Page 144 from All Write

Sample Explanation: How to Get Somewhere

The writer of the sample on this page gives navigational directions from her home to her school. Ask for a volunteer to read the sample aloud. Then discuss the text, using the side notes as a guide. Point out that sentences in the model contain understood subjects, such as, “First, cross the street.” Sentences such as these are called command students. The understood subject is "you." 

Have your students practice writing command sentences by completing the related minilesson. 

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.6.W.1.2
TEKS Standard:
110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11.B
NE ELA Standard:
LA 6.2.1.b, LA 6.2.2, LA 6.2.2.a

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8
Mode:
Explanatory Writing
Form:
How-ToExplanatory Essay
English Language Arts:
WritingReading

Page 145 from All Write

Sample Explanation: How to Make Something

The sample on this page explains how to make tabouli, a special type of salad. Ask for a volunteer to read the sample aloud. Then discuss the text, using the side notes as a guide. Ask students if they can think of a special or favorite food that they could explain how to make.

State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.6.W.1.2
TEKS Standard:
110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11.B
NE ELA Standard:
LA 6.2.1.b, LA 6.2.2, LA 6.2.2.a

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8
Mode:
Explanatory Writing
Form:
How-ToExplanatory Essay
Theme:
Food
English Language Arts:
WritingReading

Page 146 from All Write

Sample Explanation: How Something Works

The sample on this page explains how a French press coffeemaker works. Ask for a volunteer to read the sample aloud. Then discuss the text, using the side notes as a guide. Ask students if they can explain how a different topic works.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.6.W.1.2
TEKS Standard:
110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11.B
NE ELA Standard:
LA 6.2.1.b, LA 6.2.2, LA 6.2.2.a

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8
Mode:
Explanatory Writing
Form:
How-ToProcessExplanatory Essay
English Language Arts:
ReadingWriting

Page 147 from All Write

Writing Guidelines: Explanation

The next two pages provide guidelines and tips for writing explanations. Review with students the basic steps in the explanation-writing process. Point out how the samples from the previous three pages demonstrate the skills provided in the guidelines.

Note: English Language Learners will benefit from communicating their explanations orally before they write them out.

Downloads:
Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.6.W.1.2
TEKS Standard:
110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11.B
NE ELA Standard:
LA 6.2.1.b, LA 6.2.2, LA 6.2.2.a

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8
Form:
How-ToProcessExplanatory Essay
English Language Arts:
Writing ProcessPrewritingWritingRevisingEditing

Page 148 from All Write

Tips for Developing Topics

The tips on this page provide additional advice for the three types of explanations featured in this chapter. Review these tips with students. Consider sharing other writing samples from cookbooks, textbooks, and manuals to point out other features that students might consider using in their explanation writing.

Related Minilesson:
State Standard Reference:
LAFS Standard:
LAFS.6.W.1.2
TEKS Standard:
110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11.B
NE ELA Standard:
LA 6.2.1.b, LA 6.2.2, LA 6.2.2.a

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:
Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8
Mode:
Explanatory Writing
Form:
Explanatory EssayHow-ToProcess
English Language Arts:
Writing Process