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Explanation Writing Features

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Explanation Writing Features

Read the mini-explanation, then investigate how its features help readers understand a process. Answer every task. When you plan, choose a process you can explain accurately.

How does a puddle disappear?

A puddle may seem to vanish, but its water changes into an invisible gas called water vapour. This process is evaporation. First, energy from the Sun warms the water. As the water particles gain energy, they move faster and spread out. Some particles escape from the surface into the air as water vapour. Because warm water particles have more energy, evaporation usually happens faster on a warm, sunny day than on a cool day. The water vapour rises and may later cool to form clouds.

1.What is the main purpose of the mini-explanation? Choose one.

To entertain readers with an imaginary puddle
To explain how water from a puddle enters the air
To persuade readers to avoid rainy days
To describe the colours of a puddle

2.Find the technical vocabulary. Select the two words that name scientific ideas or substances in this explanation.

evaporation
invisible
water vapour
sunny

3.Which phrase from the mini-explanation signals that the steps are being put in order?

4.In “Because warm water particles have more energy, evaporation usually happens faster”, what relationship does “Because” show?

A cause and its result
A contrast between two ideas
A sequence of events
A question and its answer

5.Complete the sentence with the connective “First”: , heat from the Sun warms the puddle.

6.Complete the sentence with the connective “therefore”: The water particles gain energy; , they move faster.

7.Complete the sentence with the connective “because”: the particles gain energy, some escape into the air.

8.The mini-explanation says water vapour “may later cool to form clouds.” Why is “may” a careful word choice here?

9.Put these events in the order they happen in the explanation. Write the letters in order: A. Water vapour rises. B. The Sun warms the water. C. Some particles escape into the air. D. Particles gain energy and move faster.

10.Rewrite this note as one clear explanation sentence, including a causal connective: “sun warms water / particles gain energy / water evaporates”.

Build an explanation of your own

Choose a familiar process, such as how a seed sprouts, how a bicycle brake works or how a shadow forms. Plan and draft so a reader can follow what happens and why.

11.Choose a process and write its name. Add three precise technical words you could use to explain it.

12.Write a clear opening sentence that names your process and tells the reader what your explanation will explain.

13.Draft a short explanation of your chosen process. Include at least two events in a logical order, two technical words and one connective that shows cause or result (for example, because, so or therefore).