Activities

1. Identify facts that relate to the topic that will be used in the informative writing.
   
   
2. List and define terms that will be used in the informative writing to provide needed information about the topic.
   
   
3. List concrete details that will be used in the informative writing.
   
   
4. Quote information from sources that could be used to support the informative writing topic.

5. Determine the usefulness of facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information included in writing to assure their importance in supporting the topic.
   
   
6. Categorize facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information used in the writing to organize the writing in a logical manner.
   
   
7. Add additional facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information based on predictions of what readers might need to further clarify the topic upon reading the piece of writing.

8. Determine if facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information used in the topic reasons adequately provide information on topic.  Revise reasons as needed to provide additional topic support.
   
   
9. Critique and adjust order of information in the writing to assure most logical order.
   
   
10. Investigate additional facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information that may provide additional support for topic.
    
    
11. Assure that information used from other sources is from vetted, credible sources.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Suitable facts:

• are directly related to the topic
• provide additional support for the topic
• are meaningful and significant

2. Terms that may not be generally known by the reader should be defined in the writing.  Informative writing often is about a topic the writer knows well; an acknowledgement that the reader may need some background information is made. 
   
   
3. Details that are used to support the topic:

• are concrete
• provide additional support for the topic
• are meaningful and significant in the scope of the topic

4. Quotations have been chosen from sources which provide evidence and support for the topic.  Inclusion of these quotations provides strong support for the topic.
   
   
5. The usefulness of facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information included in writing is carefully considered to assure that each one provides direct support for the informative writing’s topic.  Information that isn’t directly connected or is repetitive should be omitted.
   
   
6. Student orders and/or categorizes the facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information included in writing.  A logical order should be evident.  Likely a logical order is order of importance, chronological order, or another order that can be logically defended.
   
   
7. Student predicts what the reader of the informative writing might need to further clarify the topic and adds additional facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information.  For example, the reader might acknowledge that the chosen topic needs to have more background information developed and, as a result, adds more to support that need of the reader. This provides the writer a chance to consider another’s point of view and adjust and react accordingly.
   
   
8. Writer analyzes the facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information used in the topic reasons to determine if they adequately provide information on topic.  If gaps are found in the information, additional information is added to support the topic. 
   
   
9. Writer considers other possible orders for the information in the writing and continues using the same order or adjusts the order of reasons to provide additional information about the topic.  This might be a “what if” exercise that encourages the writer to try out other orders. 
   
   
10. Writer researches and examines additional facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information that might provide additional support for the topic.  If additional information is added to writing, its place is carefully considered.
    
    
11. Sources that are used to provide information are researched to assure their credibility.  Sources that are found not to be credible are not used for support in writing.  Through this vetting process, the writer evaluates resources and appropriately reacts to the findings.