Grade 1 Expository Writing: How-to Books
- Understand that they are experts on a wide range of topics and can write books that teach people.
- Understand that clarity and mechanics are important so that a reader can follow the directions of a how-to book.
- Understand that with feedback, writers can revise their how-to books and make their books clear.
- Recognize text features of a how-to book such as diagrams, sequenced steps, labels, etc.
- Write a several how-to books and choose one to extensively revise and publish.
Grade 2 Expository Writing: Expert Books
- Develop expertise on a topic of interest through experience and research to support their background knowledge on a topic
- Think analytically about a topic in order to categorize and organize information
- Be more proficient in providing evidence for their claim and unpacking the relationship between the claim and the evidence
- Gather information from provided sources
- Read informational books with an author’s eye, thinking about all the decisions the author makes
- Learn how to write a nonfiction book
Grade 3 Expository Writing
- Introduce a topic and group related information
- Develop the topic with facts, definitions and details
- Create an organizational structure for sections and use linking words and phrases to help the reader access the structure
- Provide a concluding statement/section
Grade 4 Expository Writing: Informational Books
- Create an informational book about a topic of choice.
- Write with fluency and volume in their notebooks to generate ideas.
- Select a seed idea from the variety of topics in their notebook.
- Write a book blurb to capture the reader’s interest
- Collect research and a variety of information to support their ideas
- Use note-taking strategies to record information
- Draft an informational book in a organized way with topics and
subtopics, sections and subsections, and supportive text features.
- Draw on their experience with Explanatory Writing, Descriptive Writing, Anecdote Writing and Idea-based Writing.
- Create text features to enhance meaning such as: illustrations,
captions, charts, maps, text boxes, diagrams, glossaries, headings and
subheadings.
- Use revision strategies that makes the writing very lively and voice-filled but clear.
- Use and define specific vocabulary to the topic.
- Write an effective lead and conclusion.
- Use editing skills appropriate to grade level.
- Work with a writing partner for revision and editing
Grade 5 Expository Writing: Informative or Explanatory Texts
- Write informative or explanatory texts that demonstrate expertise about a specific topic with engagement and purpose.
- Know that writers learn how to write informative and explanatory
texts by reading and analyzing mentor texts paying attention to
organizational structure.
- Understand that informative and explanatory texts require research and organization.
- Write with fluency and volume in their notebooks to generate ideas.
- Use observational writing to extend their thinking.
- Select a topic, generate questions, hypothesize, and pursue a line
of thinking to deepen their understanding of the chosen topic.
- Gather research to support ideas.
- Use note-taking strategies to record information.
- Create an annotated timeline to synthesize research information.
- Prioritize their information by determining which research is the most important to include.
- Paraphrase key ideas and information collected from various sources of information.
- Create a draft of informative or explanatory writing that includes organizational and text features.
- Use revision and editing strategies to refine their writing.
- Work cooperatively and effectively with a writing partner to revise and edit.