Activities

1. Identify the purpose of an introduction in informative/explanatory writing.
   
   
2. Identify a writer’s purpose for writing an informative/explanatory text.
   
   
3. Identify the intended audience for informative/explanatory writing.

4. Identify the topic presented by a writer in a specific piece of informative/explanatory writing.
   
   
5. Explain a strategy used by a writer to organize ideas, concepts, and information in a specific example of informative/explanatory writing.

6. Construct an original introduction for a piece of informative/explanatory writing that introduces and previews a topic for an intended audience.
   
   
7. Evaluate a written informative/explanatory text to determine if a topic is effectively introduced.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Student identifies the purpose of an introduction in informative/explanatory writing. The introduction allows a reader to clearly identify the topic and to establish an understanding of how the topic will be developed by the writer.
   
   
2. Student identifies a writer’s purpose for writing an informative/explanatory text. The purpose of informative/explanatory writing is to explain or provide information about a particular subject or topic to an intended audience.
   
   
3. Student identifies the intended audience for informative/explanatory writing. Intended audiences for informative/explanatory writing include individuals or groups a writer intends to inform about a topic through the use of facts, supporting details, and other deliberately selected evidence.
   
   
4. Student identifies the topic presented by a writer in a specific piece of informative/explanatory writing. Citing direct text evidence from a specific informative/explanatory text, the student states the topic of the text. The topic correctly identifies what the writer is explaining to the reader of the text.
   
   
5. Student explains a strategy used by a writer to organize ideas, concepts, and information in a specific example of informative/explanatory writing. Strategies include, but are not limited to:

• Definition: The meaning of the topic is developed through an extended definition
• Classification: The main topic is divided into smaller subtopics or classifications
• Cause/Effect: The topic is developed by considering the reasons (causes) for it and the result (effects) of it
• Compare/Contrast: Similarities and differences between two or more aspects of the topic are presented

6. Student constructs an original introduction for a piece of informative/explanatory writing that introduces and previews a topic for an intended audience. The introduction constructed displays evidence of thoughtful choices made by the student to compellingly introduce the topic. These choices include the use of concise language for clarity.
   
   
7. Student evaluates a written informative/explanatory text to determine if a topic is effectively introduced. Using direct evidence from an introduction to an informative/explanatory text, the student evaluates how well the topic, ideas, information, and concepts are introduced and previewed for the intended audience.