Informative & Research Writing
Aligned to W.6.2 — Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
What this lesson teaches
Informative writing examines a topic with organized evidence, and research means gathering sources, deciding if they are trustworthy, and citing them. Paraphrasing in your own words instead of copying avoids plagiarism.
Worked examples
Example 1
Researching solar power, you find a '.edu' site with an author and date — likely reliable — and a random blog with no author — less reliable. You paraphrase the good source and cite it.
Example 2
A page with an author, a date and a works-cited list can be checked. The same claim on a site with none of those cannot, even if it is true.
Example 3
Paraphrase then cite, do not paraphrase instead of citing. Putting an idea in your own words does not make it yours.
Practice questions
- List two clues that a website is trustworthy.
- Paraphrase a sentence in your own words and cite it.
- Organize three pieces of evidence to support one topic.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Escritura Informativa e Investigación
La escritura informativa examina un tema con evidencia organizada, y la investigación implica reunir fuentes, evaluar si son confiables y citarlas. Parafrasear con tus propias palabras en lugar de copiar evita el plagio.
Ejemplo 1: Al investigar sobre la energía solar, encuentras un sitio '.edu' con autor y fecha — probablemente confiable — y un blog sin autor — menos confiable. Parafraseas la fuente confiable y la citas.
Ejemplo 2: Una página con autor, fecha y lista de fuentes se puede verificar. La misma afirmación en un sitio sin nada de eso no se puede, aunque sea cierta.
Ejemplo 3: Parafrasea y luego cita, no parafrasees en lugar de citar. Poner una idea con tus palabras no la vuelve tuya.
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