Formal Explanatory Writing Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: W.6.2.E

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When we need to explain something in writing for a professional requirement, we need to focus on making complex ideas, simple and digestible. They main goal should be to present information in a clear and accurate manner for the reader. When we are writing to explain, we need to remind ourselves that it is not our intention to persuade the read. Pieces that are explanatory are written solely to convey information and pass it on. These worksheets will put students through various explanatory tasks that will improve their writing skills.

Formal Explanatory Writing Worksheets:

How to Play – Is there a game that you really enjoy playing? Explain how to play it.

Faces of History – You will need to draw on your knowledge of history a bit here.

Civil Rights in America – Booker T. Washington and Web DuBois same basic fight, but different points of view.

Formal Writing – When being disappointed is a good thing.

The Most Influential President – Your thoughts on past Presidents of America.

Dress for Success – Write a formal essay about what it means to "dress for success" and why it is important.

Formal Explanatory Writing – Choose one human invention that you feel has had an impact on your life.

Team Sports – Pretend that your school has decided to ban team sports.

Who is Your Role Model? – Who is your role model? Why do you admire this person?

Pretend You... – Pretend that you are a contributing writer for a literary magazine. Write an essay for the magazine about a writer that you think would interest your readers.

How To Make Something... – Write an essay explaining how to make something.

What Do You Enjoy? – Think about an activity that you enjoy. Write a composition in which you tell a friend how to do it.

A Slice of History – Write a composition about a significant event in American history. Write as though you are explaining it to someone from another country who has never heard of the event.

A Person of Distinction – Write about a famous person. What did they do? Why was it important?

This Day In History... – Write a short composition about a period of history that interests you.

What Is Formal Explanatory Writing?


Explanatory writing or informative writing is the form of writing that requires you to demonstrate on the comprehension of a certain topic. Explanatory writing tends to describe and explain the processes, complex ideas, and concepts. The purpose of explanatory writing is to inform the readers about the topic. It gives the details and explanations regarding a difficult topic. The explanatory form of writing can be of two types i.e. formal and informal. The formal explanatory writing has to maintain some rules. It is written in a highly professional language. You use long and complex sentences to explain the topic. The formal explanatory writing is mostly used for business and legal purposes. The readers of such texts usually have some sort of knowledge of the text already. They only use it to enhance it. The formal explanatory writing does not use any slangs or short forms of words. A strictly formal tone is maintained throughout the text.


The formal explanatory writing can have the following organizational structures.


Cause and Effect


This organizational structure focuses on the answer to why. It talks about why a certain thing happened and what caused it to happen. It also talks about the consequences of an event upon another event. The writers use strong evidence to provide readers with proof.


Classifications


This organizational structure divides the topic into several classifications. It presents an organized form of information. Terms are divided into useful categories for better understanding of the topic. Examples are also used in each category.


Compare and Contrast


This organizational structure uses the comparison and differentiation method to elaborate on the differences between two entities. Similarities are also addressed so that the readers can focus on both parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



How to Play Preview