Class #10
Informational and Assessment writing

Reminders
• Literary analysis is due today, upload it
on blackboard by midnight March 26th .
• Also on blackboard is an assignment for
memoir. It is due April 2nd. It is available
for uploading at any time before 4pm on
April 2nd.

Informational Writing
Includes expository and descriptive writing
• Expository - to
inform, explain, clarify, define, or
instruct; no response from reader;
strong on organization and ideas
Characteristics: focus, logical
support, details, explanations, exampl
es, coherence

Informational Writing
Includes expository and descriptive writing
• Descriptive - a vivid portrayal of a
person, place, or thing; strong on voice
and word choice
Characteristics: sensory rich
language, vivid details, strong use of
figurative language

Informational Writing
Essays
Letters
Critiques
Newsletters
Magazine articles
Newspaper articles

Informational Writing
Academic writing/Assessments
Short constructed responses – in response to a
reading passage
• The Hamburger Paragraph model
Topic statement or answer sentence
Strong details or arguments to
support topic statement or answer
Restating topic statement or answer
again in a different way

Informational Writing
Academic writing/Assessments
• Picture and Poetry prompts – writing in
response to a picture or poem, not a
description but a reaction
Extended Hamburger
B|N|A
Before the picture
Now in the picture
After the picture

Informational Writing
Fat Is Not a Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen
I am thinking of a fairy
tale, CinderElephant, SleepingTubby, SnowWeight, where
the princess is not anorexic, wasp-waisted, flinging herself
down the stairs.
I am thinking of a fairy tale, Hansel and
Great, Repoundsel, Bounty and the Beast, where the
beauty has a pillowed breast, and fingers plump as
sausage.
I am thinking of a fairy tale that is not yet written, for a
teller not yet born, for a listener not yet conceived, for a
world not yet won, where everything round is good: the
sun, wheels, cookies, and the princess.
It was a perfect lift-off.

Informational Writing
Academic writing/Assessments
• Three to Five paragraph essay
• Opening - captures reader; focus and main
thesis
• Middle - provides supportive and intriguing
details of thesis
• Conclusion - summarizes piece, leaves the
reader with a juicy tidbit

Informational Writing
Academic Writing - Essay types
 Picture prompt  Problem/solution
 
Process Persuasive
 
Comparative Illustrative
 
Definition Explorative
 
Cause/effect Experience
 Argumentation  Reflection

Informational Writing
Teaching informational writing
• Prewriting strategies
• Focus on main ideas/thesis statements
• Providing solid details – finding key points
• Down and dirty writing techniques
• Working on leads and conclusions
• Quick editing techniques
• Timing (for assessments)

Informational Writing
On the wiki page labeled, “Essay Types – Assessment
Writing”, you will find 5 essay prompts. For each
topic, decide which type of essay would best reflect the
purpose of the prompt. Briefly explain your choice and
why.
Once you have reviewed each prompt, pick one of them
and construct an essay. Make sure to do some
prewriting as well. If you really want a
challenge, complete your prewriting and drafting in 25
minutes (since this is what we expect our students to
do)! You will upload your draft on Blackboard and turn
in your prewriting during our next class.

Partner Biography
revisited
• First interview should be • Cartoons
completed
• Graphic organizers
• Set up time for next follow
up interview (face to face) • Cube analysis
• Ideas for multi-genre • Poems
project:
• Timeline/lifeline • Quotations
• Me box or bag
• Maps
• Me book
• Poster
• Articles/Essays/Stories
• Open Mind portrait
• Photos with captions

Writing Portfolios
Why?
• To show growth in writing
• To allow for self-reflection and assessment
• To represent the best work as a writer
• To demonstrate learning

Writing Portfolios
What?
• Table of contents
• Writer’s Reflection
• A sampleof feedback, revisions, drafts, editing
• Representative sampling of writing

Writing Portfolio
The choice is yours: by next class decide whether
you would like to do the wiki project (writing
unit) as described on the syllabus or construct
your own personal writing portfolio. We may
allow for either choice. But as a class, we will
together decide on the requirements of the
portfolio.

For next class
• Picture and poetry prompt responses
• Upload draft of essay prompt (bring in
prewriting)
• Face to Face second follow-up interview
completed
• Decision about portfolio or wiki project
• Memoir