9-10 Informational/Explanatory Writing Sample Unit
In this unit, students will read Chanda’s Secrets by Allan Stratton and focus on
informational/explanatory writing. Although the mentor text is not overly
complex, the novel content and the supplemental readings add rigor. While
reading, students will determine themes and analyze how author’s choices convey
information appropriately. Students will practice writing
informational/explanatory writing while citing textual evidence to support
analysis. Students will also have the opportunity to gather research and
evaluate sources. Because many of the
topics touched on in this novel may be unfamiliar to students, many
opportunities for collaborative discussions can arise. These can also lead to
potential research topics for the informational/explanatory essay.