By R. Simpkin 2007Adapted from The National Literacy Strategy Grammar for Writing

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PurposeTo tell readers how or why something

works.

General statement to introduce the topic, e.g. in the autumn some birds migrate

A series of logical steps explaining how or why something occurs, e.g. because hours of daylight shorten

Steps continue until the final state is produced or the explanation is complete.

Present tense, e.g. many birds fly south

Time Connectives, e.g. then, next, several months later

Causal connectives, e.g. because, so, this causes

Title-tells readers what is being written about

◦ Sometimes includes how or why◦ May be in the form of a questionEg Why do sloths hang about?.

diagrams, charts, illustrations, flow charts help to explain.

first paragraph - introduces the subject to the reader

Organise the writing and illustrations to explain: what you need, how it works, why it works (cause and effect), when and where it works, what it is used for.’

Glossary- defines words in the passage that readers may not know.

Interest the reader with exclamation, eg Beware - whirlwinds can kill!

Or use questions, e.g. Did you know that…?

Draw the reader in, e.g. strange as it may seem…, not many people know that…

Finally … re-read your explanation,

pretending you know nothing about the subject - is it

clear?