Curriculum › English Language Arts ›Grade 5

Grade 5 English Language Arts · Level 5, Writing, Speaking & Synthesis

Build Clear Informative Writing

Introduce and focus a topic, group information logically, develop it with facts/definitions/details/quotations, link ideas, use precise vocabulary, and conclude.

How the lesson starts: Build Clear Informative Writing

1. Octavia's first line

   Octavia the octopus edits the Reef Gazette. Readers asked her how lighthouses work. Her article needs a sharp first line that tells readers exactly what it's about.

2. Open with the topic

   A good opening names the topic and starts explaining it. The ocean is huge is too broad. A postcard story wanders off. A goodbye line belongs at the end. The winner names lighthouses and starts explaining.

3. Let's test openings

   Topic: how volcanoes erupt. Volcanoes are cool? It names the topic but explains nothing. My uncle hiked a mountain? Wanders off. The end? That's a goodbye. Melted rock pushes up until a volcano erupts? Names the topic and explains. Winner!