Non-fiction text types: reports, explanations and persuasion

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Lesson notes

What Are Non-fiction Text Types?

Non-fiction means writing that is about real things, not made-up stories.
Different text types have different purposes (jobs to do).
The purpose of a text shapes what it looks like and the words it uses.
In this topic, we learn about reports, explanations, and persuasion.
Knowing the purpose helps you choose the right features for your own writing.

Information Reports

A report gives facts and information about a topic.
Reports often use headings and subheadings to organise information.
They use the present tense (e.g., 'Dolphins live in the sea.').
Reports use general nouns to talk about whole groups (e.g., 'Dolphins' not 'my dolphin').
The language is factual – it states true things without opinions.

Explanations

An explanation tells how or why something happens.
The title often asks a question like 'How do volcanoes erupt?' or 'Why do we have seasons?'
Explanations show a sequence (order) of causes and effects.
They use time connectives like 'first', 'next', 'then' to show order.
They also use cause connectives like 'because', 'so', and 'therefore'.

Persuasive Writing

Persuasive writing tries to make the reader agree with the writer's opinion.
It has a clear point of view – the writer's opinion is stated clearly.
Reasons are backed up with evidence (facts or examples).
It uses rhetorical questions – questions that don't need an answer (e.g., 'Don't you want to save the planet?').
It uses emotive language to make readers feel emotions (e.g., 'cruel', 'wonderful').
It often ends with a call to action – telling the reader to do something (e.g., 'Sign the petition!').

Other Text Types: Instructions and Recounts

Instructions tell you how to do something step by step.
Instructions use imperative verbs (bossy verbs) like 'cut', 'mix', 'press'.
A recount tells about something that happened in the past.
Recounts use the past tense and are in time order.
Knowing these types helps you spot the difference between them.

Identifying a Text Type

Look at the features to decide what type of text it is.
If it has headings and present tense facts, it's probably a report.
If it explains how or why with cause and effect, it's an explanation.
If it tries to convince you and has a call to action, it's persuasion.
Always think about the purpose – what is the writer trying to do?

Matching Features to Purpose and Audience

Purpose is why you are writing – to inform, explain, or persuade.
Audience is who will read it – e.g., friends, teachers, or the public.
Choose features that suit your purpose and audience.
For a report to your class, use clear headings and simple facts.
For a persuasive letter to the school, use strong reasons and emotive words.
Always think: 'What do I want my reader to know or do?'

Slides

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Practice questions

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1.What is the main purpose of a report?
Easy
- Ato inform
- Bto persuade
- Cto entertain
- Dto tell a story
2.Which text type would you use to convince someone to recycle?
Easy
- Aa report
- Ban explanation
- Ca persuasive text
- Da narrative
3.An explanation text often uses cause and effect connectives.
Easy
True or false?
4.Which of these is a feature of a report?
Easy
- Aa call to action
- Ba rhetorical question
- Cheadings and subheadings
- Da sequence of events in time order
5.Which sentence is written in the present tense?
Easy
- AThe cat slept on the mat.
- BThe cat sleeps on the mat.
- CThe cat will sleep on the mat.
- DThe cat has slept on the mat.
6.Which of the following are features of persuasive writing? (Select all that apply)
Medium
- Aa clear point of view
- Breasons backed by evidence
- Crhetorical questions
- Da title that asks 'how' or 'why'
- Ea call to action
7.Match each text type to its main purpose.
Medium
- report
- explanation
- persuasion
- to inform
- to explain how or why
- to convince
8.Put the steps of writing a persuasive text in the correct order.
Medium
- state your point of view
- give reasons with evidence
- use rhetorical questions
- end with a call to action

Revision notes

## Non-fiction Text Types: Reports, Explanations and Persuasion Texts have different **purposes** (why they are written). The purpose changes how the text looks and the words it uses. ### Reports (Information) - **Purpose**: To give facts about a topic. - **Features**: - Headings and subheadings (titles and smaller titles). - Present tense (e.g., 'Dogs are mammals.'). - General nouns (e.g., 'dogs' not 'my dog'). - Factual language (no opinions). ### Explanations - **Purpose**: To explain how or why something happens. - **Features**: - A title that asks 'How...?' or 'Why...?' (e.g., 'Why do volcanoes erupt?'). - A sequence of causes and effects (one thing leads to another). - Time connectives (e.g., 'first', 'then', 'next'). - Cause connectives (e.g., 'because', 'so', 'therefore'). ### Persuasion - **Purpose**: To convince the reader to agree with your point of view. - **Features**: - A clear point of view (your opinion). - Reasons backed by evidence (facts or examples). - Rhetorical questions (questions that don't need an answer, e.g., 'Don't you want to help?'). - Emotive language (words that make you feel, e.g., 'heartbreaking'). - A call to action (tell the reader to do something, e.g., 'Sign the petition!'). ### Other Text Types - **Instructions**: Tell you how to do something, step by step. - **Recount**: Tell about something that happened in the past. ### How to Identify a Text Type Look at its features. Ask: What is the purpose? Does it inform, explain, or persuade? Match the features to the purpose. **Remember**: The purpose shapes the text. Choose the right features for your purpose and audience.

Purpose: The reason a text is written, such as to inform, explain, or persuade.
Report: A non-fiction text that gives facts about a topic using headings, present tense, and general nouns.
Explanation: A non-fiction text that explains how or why something happens, using cause and effect and connectives.
Persuasion: A type of writing that tries to convince the reader to agree with a point of view, using reasons, evidence, and emotive language.
Headings: Titles that organize a text into sections.
Subheadings: Smaller titles within a section that help organize information.
Present tense: Verb form that shows something is happening now or is always true, e.g., 'is' or 'live'.
General nouns: Nouns that refer to a whole group, not a specific one, e.g., 'dogs' instead of 'my dog'.
Factual language: Words that state facts, not opinions.
Cause and effect: A relationship where one thing makes another thing happen.
Time connectives: Words like 'first', 'then', 'next' that show the order of events.
Cause connectives: Words like 'because', 'so', 'therefore' that show why something happens.
Rhetorical question: A question asked to make a point, not to get an answer, e.g., 'Don't you care?'
Emotive language: Words chosen to make the reader feel strong emotions, like 'heartbreaking' or 'wonderful'.
Call to action: A sentence that tells the reader to do something, like 'Sign the petition!'
Instructions: A text that tells you how to do something step by step.
Recount: A text that tells about something that happened in the past.

Flashcards

What is a non-fiction text?

A non-fiction text is a piece of writing that gives real facts and information, not made-up stories.

What is the purpose of an information report?

An information report gives facts about a topic, like animals or places, to inform the reader.

What are headings and subheadings?

Headings are titles for sections, and subheadings are smaller titles inside sections. They help organize information.

What tense is usually used in an information report?

Information reports usually use the present tense, like 'Dogs are mammals.'

What are general nouns? Give an example.

General nouns name whole groups, not one specific thing. For example, 'birds' is a general noun, not 'this robin'.

What is factual language?

Factual language uses true statements and exact information, without opinions or feelings.

What is the purpose of an explanation text?

An explanation text tells how or why something happens, like how a volcano erupts.

What kind of title does an explanation text often have?

An explanation text often has a title that asks 'how' or 'why', like 'How do bees make honey?'

What is a cause and effect?

A cause is why something happens, and an effect is what happens because of it. For example, rain (cause) makes the ground wet (effect).

What are time connectives? Give two examples.

Time connectives are words that show order, like 'first', 'then', 'next', 'finally'.

What are cause connectives? Give two examples.

Cause connectives are words that show why something happens, like 'because', 'so', 'therefore'.

What is the purpose of persuasive writing?

Persuasive writing tries to make the reader agree with the writer's opinion or do something.

What is a point of view?

A point of view is what the writer thinks or believes about a topic. For example, 'I think school should start later.'

What are reasons and evidence in persuasive writing?

Reasons are why you believe something, and evidence is facts or examples that support your reasons.

What is a rhetorical question? Give an example.

A rhetorical question is asked to make the reader think, not to get an answer. For example, 'Don't you want a cleaner planet?'

What is emotive language?

Emotive language uses words that make the reader feel strong emotions, like 'cruel', 'wonderful', 'terrible'.

What is a call to action?

A call to action tells the reader to do something, like 'Sign the petition today!'

What is an instruction text?

An instruction text tells you how to do something step by step, like a recipe or a game rule.

What is a recount?

A recount tells about something that happened in the past, like a diary entry or a news report.

How can you tell if a text is an information report?

Look for headings, subheadings, present tense, general nouns, and factual language.

How can you tell if a text is an explanation?

Look for a 'how' or 'why' title, a sequence of causes and effects, and time or cause connectives.

How can you tell if a text is persuasive?

Look for a clear point of view, reasons with evidence, rhetorical questions, emotive language, and a call to action.

Why is it important to match text features to purpose and audience?

Matching features helps make the text clear and effective for the reader. For example, a report for kids uses simple words and pictures.

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