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Developing early literacy: Assessment and teaching
Report The purpose of an information report is to organise and store information about a class of things. Information reports may have a structure based on description, question/answer, compare/contrast or problem/solution. Description is the Âsimplest kind of report. More complex reports may have headings to do with, for example, description, behaviour, habitat and life cycle. Opening statement and classification
Information reports often explore a class of living or non-living things, for example tarantulas
Facts such as habits, behaviour, colour and shape are included
The information may be about different kinds of things such as different kinds of leaves
Diagrams and labels may be used
Information reports may examine how something is made or the aspects of something, such as plastic
Explanation The purpose of an explanation text is to explain how something works or to give reasons for how something came to be. Statement about the topic
An explanation begins with a statement about the object or topic
Explanation 1 Explanation 2 Explanation 3
There are several explanations elaborating on the object or topic
Explanations can be found in scientific texts, explaining how sand hills are formed or how weather works.
Exposition The purpose of an exposition or argument is to take a position on some issue and justify it. The goal is to persuade someone to your point of view. Expository texts are concerned with the analysis, interpretation and evaluation of the world around us. An exposition is one-sided, and focuses on persuading the reader to one point of view. A statement or a position
Begins with the position or point of view taken
Points in the argument with evidence and examples
Statements supporting the position are carefully selected and described Evidence and examples are given
Summary
The points supporting the position are summarised Sometimes there is a call for action
