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Year 3

Identifying features of an explanation text in preparation for writing

I can identify important linguistic features of an explanation text.

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New
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Year 3

Identifying features of an explanation text in preparation for writing

I can identify important linguistic features of an explanation text.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. An explanation text is a non-fiction text that explains a particular process or subject in detail.
  2. An explanation text can start with an introduction and then explains a sequenced process in chronological order.
  3. Vocabulary within an explanation text is subject-specific and factual, creating a formal tone.
  4. Formal fronted adverbials, ordering fronted adverbials and fronted adverbials of cause are used to enhance text flow.
  5. Explanation texts are written in the present tense.

Keywords

  • Explanation - a set of details and reasons given about how a process works

  • Linguistic feature - a structure of language that uses words

  • Chronological order - follows the order in which a series of events happens

  • Subject-specific vocabulary - vocabulary used when writing about a particular subject

  • Fronted adverbial - a sentence starter followed by a comma

Common misconception

Explanation texts can be written in any order.

Explanation texts are written in chronological order; they explain a process in the order in which it happens.

Consolidate pupils' understanding of an explanation text by comparing it with other types of non-fiction text, such as a non-chronological report or newspaper report.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
honey bees are essential to the natural world.
Honey bees are essential to the natural world
Correct answer: Honey bees are essential to the natural world.
honey bees are essential to the natural world
Q2.
Match the word class to its definition.
Correct Answer:Noun,A naming word for people, places or things.

A naming word for people, places or things.

Correct Answer:Verb,A doing or being word.

A doing or being word.

Correct Answer:Adjective,A word that describes a noun.

A word that describes a noun.

Correct Answer:Adverb,A word that describes a verb.

A word that describes a verb.

Q3.
Which of these are true for non-fiction texts?
Correct answer: A non-fiction text is full of facts to inform the reader.
A non-fiction text is made up.
A non-fiction text has two characters who speak to each other.
Correct answer: There are different types of non-fiction text.
Q4.
What is a co-ordinating conjunction?
A word that starts a subordinate clause.
A word that describes a noun.
Correct answer: A word that joins two main clauses to form a compound sentence.
A word or words that can tell the reader where a noun is.
Q5.
Tick the fronted adverbial that is best suited to start this sentence: "One beehive can produce 27kg of honey."
Suddenly,
Correct answer: Interestingly,
With a smile,
As quick as a flash,
Q6.
Which sentence has the comma accurately punctuated?
In the, morning we played chess.
In the morning we played chess.
In, the morning, we played chess.
Correct answer: In the morning, we played chess.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a linguistic feature?
The way punctuation is used to show an emotion.
Correct answer: The way words are used in a sentence to make the meaning clear.
The size of words in a piece of text.
The way pictures are arranged in a report.
Q2.
Tick all of the words that are specific to the topic of honey bees.
Correct answer: hive
Correct answer: nectar
tree
soil
Correct answer: honeycomb
Q3.
What type of fronted adverbial is "As a result,"?
Viewpoint fronted adverbial.
Correct answer: Fronted adverbial of cause.
Ordering fronted adverbial.
Q4.
Which of the following are ordering fronted adverbials?
Correct answer: Finally,
Slowly,
Correct answer: First,
At once,
Q5.
Choose a fronted adverbial of cause that links these two sentences: "The honey bees flap their wings.' and 'The water evaporates."
In addition,
Correct answer: As a result,
Amazingly,
Suddenly,
Q6.
Order these steps of the honey-making process in chronological order.
1 - A bee collects nectar.
2 - The bee returns to the hive.
3 - The bees work in the hive.