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.