Writing to Inform: Step 2

Writing to Inform: Unpack Your Assignment

By Savannah Arnhart

Identify Task, Purpose, & Audience

-Before you begin writing, read your assignment carefully to identify your task, purpose, & audience.
-The purpose of an informational essay is to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
-As you read your assignment, look for your topic and the ideas you need to explain.
-Sometimes your assignment will also provide clues about how you can organize your information.

SRead Sing-Ki's assignment. Then read the points in his Think Aloud, which tell how he identified his task, purpose, and audience

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Modeled Instruction
Sung-Ki Yu, who wrote "Turn On the Power" on pages 34-35, was given the assignment below. He Read it carefully and marked up some important details.

Now its your turn to write an informational essay. Read Your Assignment carefully. Then complete the activities, using the Hints for help.

Guided Practice

Draw

Draw a box around 2 phrases the describe your audience.

Hint: Where will your writing be published? How much does your audience know about the topic?

Open Ended

What is important for you to know about your audience? Why is it important?

Draw

Draw a dashed line under the phrase that tells your purpose for writing.

Hint: Is your writing meant to inform, entertain, or give an opinion?

Draw

Circle the type of writing you will do. Then underline the 3 ideas you will develop in your writing.

Hint: What do you need to explain or tell about each power source?