STRUCTURING YOUR WRITING TIME EFFECTIVELY

Using your writing time effectively is really crucial.  When writing an explanation you will need to spend a
significant period of time (Approximately 20 percent) researching your topic to ensure you know what you
are talking about.
Next take an equal amount ( 20 percent) of time to structure your writing using a graphic organizer or mind
map which can be found below.
If you follow this model you really only need to spend around 40 percent of your time writing.   Your ideas
and structure will already be formed.
This will leave you with around 20 percent editing and revising your essay for meaning, spelling and
grammar and structure.
The use of graphic organizers, planning tools and writing checklists will greatly assist the planning and
editing time.
 Research your topic
 Plan and organise your ideas
 write your Explanation
 Edit your writing for submission

THE LANGUAGE FEATURES OF AN EXPLANATION TEXT ARE...

 The use of technical terms such as evaporation, degradation if writing about the water cycle.
 Action verbs and present tense such as runs, develops and becomes
 Cause and effect terms such as because of.., due to.., therefore, and as a result
 

POINTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE WRITING

 What is it about? What are you explaining? Are you explaining how or why something happens or
are you explaining a process.
 What is the title?
 What are the important parts, section of what you want to explain? How would you describe it and its
parts? Which parts need to be described as part of the explanation?
 How does it work? What happens first, next and and why?
 What else might you include?

TIPS FOR WRITING A GREAT EXPLANATION TEXT

EXPLANATION TEXT PLANNING TOOLS
 Assume your readers are not as knowledgeable on the topic as you are. This means you will have to
briefly explain your topic before getting into the body.
 Use an intriguing title that will encourage the reader to continue, such as 'Why do spiders need eight
legs?"
 Use correct scientific and technical terms.
 Find or create some labelled diagrams if possible.
 Use paragraphs effectively. Each new element of your explanation text should start with a new
paragraph. Be sure to check out our own complete guide to writing perfect paragraphs here.
 Explanation texts are always written in present tense and from a third person perspective.
 You may offer some form of question or comment around your findings in the conclusion only. The
rest of your report should be constructed purely of facts and evidence.
 If you use specific terminology you might need a glossary.