Writing

INFORMATIVE or

EXPLANATORY
Texts
English Language Arts
Year 11 and 12
 Learning OBJECTIVES
01 02 03 04
Understand the Give an List some of the Select a range
definition, overview of the structural of accurate and
purpose and qualities, style features of two credible primary
types of and formality of key text types - and secondary
informative or informative explanatory sources for
explanatory texts. essays and your research.
texts. informative
reports.
contents
What is Informative or
1. Explanatory Writing?

2. Types of Informative Texts

3. Important Qualities

4. Structural Features

5. Style, Tone and Formality

6. Primary & Secondary Sources

What is informative or
explanatory writing?
Informative or explanatory writing seeks to accurately convey information to a reader with a
primary purpose to increase knowledge, to help them better understand a procedure or
process, or to enhance their comprehension of a concept.

Informative texts answer questions of 'why' or 'how', by clearly and accurately explaining a topic
and selecting and incorporating relevant examples to support.

Although informative writing holds some similarities to argumentative writing, the style and tone
overall is different. Where argument seeks to persuade, explanation seeks to create
understanding. It does not aim to change the reader's thinking or move the reader to take action
but simply seeks to educate them on a topic.