Standard: 4.W.2 – Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
Grade level: Grade 4
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Writing
Teacher Overview
This standard focuses on teaching students to write informative and explanatory texts that clearly convey ideas and information. It is important because it builds foundational writing skills that are essential for academic success and effective communication. Students should be comfortable with basic sentence and paragraph construction and should have experience gathering and organizing information from various sources.
Mastering this standard will prepare students for more complex writing tasks, such as research papers and persuasive essays, and will enhance their ability to write detailed and descriptive narratives.
Common Misconception 1
Some students might think that informative writing does not need to be engaging. This is incorrect because engaging writing helps to maintain the reader’s interest and makes the information more memorable.
Intervention 1
Introduce techniques such as using engaging hooks, interesting facts, and varied sentence structures to make writing more compelling. Provide examples of engaging informative texts.
Common Misconception 2
Students might believe that listing facts without explanation is sufficient. This is incorrect because it does not provide the reader with a clear understanding of the topic.
Intervention 2
Encourage students to elaborate on facts by explaining their significance and providing examples or details that clarify the information. Use graphic organizers to help students structure their explanations.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have basic sentence construction skills, an understanding of paragraph structure, and the ability to gather and organize information from various sources.
Subsequent Knowledge
After mastering this standard, students will be able to write more complex research papers, engage in persuasive writing, and develop skills for writing narratives that include clear, detailed descriptions.
Instructional Activities
- Create an informative poster about a historical figure.
- Write a ‘how-to’ guide for a simple task.
- Draft an article for the school newspaper.
- Write a summary of a book or movie.
- Conduct a mini-research project and write a report.
