Research & Informational Writing

After completing this kit, you will be able to distinguish informational writing from narrative and argumentative writing, identify the key features of effective informational texts, analyze mentor texts to understand how authors organize and develop information, and begin planning your own informational writing.

What’s Covered

What Kind of Writing Is This? — Info box explaining the three main types of writing: informational/explanatory (teaches or explains), narrative (tells a story), argumentative (takes a position and tries to persuade). Read three short passages (~100 words each):. Problems 1-3: Identify the type of writing for each passage and explain your answer in one sentence

Features of Informational Writing — Read a mentor text (~300 words) about how the human digestive system works — a clear, well-structured informational piece with a heading, topic sentences, transitions, and domain-specific vocabulary. Info box: key features of informational writing (clear focus/topic, organized structure, factual support, formal language, transitions, domain-specific vocabulary, objective tone). Problems 1-2: Find and underline the thesis/focus statement and the concluding sentence in the mentor text

Identifying Strong vs. Weak Informational Writing — Read two short passages (~150 words each) on the same topic (the life cycle of stars):. Problems 1-3: Identify three specific weaknesses in Version B and explain what makes each one a problem. Problems 4-6: For each weakness identified, rewrite the problematic sentence or section to make it stronger

Analyzing Organization — Read a mentor text (~400 words) about the causes and effects of deforestation — uses a clear cause/effect structure with headings. Info box: Common organizational strategies for informational writing. Problems 1-2: Identify which organizational strategy the deforestation passage uses. Cite two specific clues that reveal the structure.

Planning Your Own Informational Piece — Problem 1: Choose a topic from the provided list OR propose your own (teacher approval required for student-choice topics). List: How roller coasters work / The water cycle / How the human eye processes light / What causes earthquakes / How recycling works. Problem 2: Write a focus statement for your chosen topic — one sentence that tells readers exactly what your piece will explain. Problem 3: Identify which organizational strategy would work best for your topic and explain why in 2-3 sentences

Standards Alignment

This 5-worksheet pack aligns to these Common Core standards:

• W.6.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content
• W.6.2a: Introduce a topic; organize ideas using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, cause/effect
• W.6.2b: Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information