Unit 4 Explanatory Writing (Part 2)

Authors choose the appropriate text structure for their explanatory writing carefully.

The right text structure keeps the content organized SO THAT...

The author achieves his/her writing purpose (to inform, to persuade, or to entertain) AND...

The reader understands the central idea and supporting details of the text.

​Let's review what we remember about text structures!

Multiple Choice

CHOOSE THE CORRECT TEXT STRUCTURE.

All candy has a different process by which it is made. M&Ms are popular chocolate treats made from a mixture of liquid milk chocolate and a hard candy shell. First, the chocolate is

poured into small molds. Then, it is left to cool and harden. A conveyor belt transfers the chocolate to another section of a factory, where the chocolates are coated with the hard candy

shell. Finally, they are coated with color!

• description

• compare and contrast

• cause and effect

• sequence/.chronological order

• problem - solution

Multiple Choice

CHOOSE THE CORRECT TEXT STRUCTURE.

Although it may be tempting, eating too much candy

can have a negative impact on your body and how you

feel. Munching on too much candy can cause cavities

in your teeth from all of the sugar. It is also very high

in “empty” calories, which means the calories provide

you no nutrients, just fat and calories from sugar!

This can cause you to gain too much unhealthy weight.

Too much sugar can also cause you to have a “foggy”

brain, slowing down your memory and making you

tired.

• description

• sequence/chronological order

• cause and effect

• compare and contrast

• problem - solution

Multiple Choice

Text structures contribute to which types of an author’s purpose?

• To inform

• To persuade

• To entertain

• All of the above

• to describe (painting a picture with vivid vocabulary) 

• to express (personal journals, poetry)

• to explore (philosophical essay, literary analysis)

• to document (memoirs, autobiographies, historical accounts)

An author can have more than one purpose in a text!

​Other purposes:

• To Persuade: Take a stance on a topic and share evidence to support their opinion. 
  

• To Inform: Provide factual information to the reader; textbooks, news articles, research papers 
  

  To Entertain: Tell a story using humor or other emotions to evoke emotion in the reader. 

  
  

​Author's Purposes are mainly to

The author’s purpose is the why behind the writing:

• What motivated the author to write about this topic? 

• What does the author want the reader to know? 

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes the primary difference between persuasive and informative writing?

• Persuasive writing includes facts, while informative writing includes opinions

• Persuasive writing aims to change beliefs or behaviors, while informative writing aims to educate

• Informative writing is typically longer than persuasive writing

Multiple Choice

An author writes a detailed analysis of climate change, presenting scientific data and explaining environmental processes without advocating for specific policies. What is the author's primary purpose?

• To persuade readers to take action against climate change

• To inform readers about the scientific aspects of climate change

• To express personal feelings about harmful environmental issues

Multiple Choice

A writer publishes an article that presents multiple viewpoints on a controversial topic, includes statistics, and ends with a strong call to action. This most likely represents what combination of purposes?

• Entertain and inform

• Inform and express

• Inform and persuade

• Persuade and entertain

Open Ended

As citizens, consumers, and community members, why is being able to determine a writer's purpose such a necessary skill to have?

Video Time! Please watch on my screen and be ready to answer some questions afterwards!

"Analyzing an Author's Purpose"
What happens when an author tries to disguise his or her true purpose for writing?

Open Ended

What is (at least) one important question readers should ask themselves when trying to understand an author's purpose in informational text?  NO Googling!

(If you can think of more, that's even better!)

Open Ended

Describe how the example of cake and pie is used to illustrate potential bias in informational texts.  

Poll

How do you feel about the content we covered today? Choose the answer that fits you best at this point.

• I feel confident about the material.

• I have a question about one of the concepts we covered today.

• I have a general question I need answered.

• Other: I will put it in the chat or in a webmail to Ms. Mittler.

Link to the Unit 4 Portfolio Options and Directions HERE

Link to my Teacher Resource s Guide HERE

​Questions?

Unmute yourself to ask or type them in the chat.

Unit tests: If you score less than 80%, complete the Relearning Opportunity to bring your grade up. (Webmail me when completed.)

Discussion in Unit 2: can be resubmitted one time. (Webmail me when completed.)

Unit 4 Portfolio: be sure to watch the video, which explains how to complete the two options (located on the Lesson Intro Page and on my English 4 Resource Guide).

​Reminders:

Thank you for joining me today!
Please stand by for the exit ticket.
(Cameras on for full points.)