Writing Informative Text
Use this lesson as a model for
the process of writing an
informative research paper.
Mrs. Gennosa www.elahelp.com
Select a
topic
Decide on
your
purpose
Read to
find details,
information
Writing Informative Text
1. Select a topic: What do I care about?
Writing Informative Text
1. Select a topic: What do I care about?
Writing Informative Text
2. Decide on your purpose:
Why should someone read this?
Writing Informative Text
2. Decide on your purpose:
Why should someone read this?
There are many good reasons for
writing informational text:
Writing Informative Text
3. Read to find details or textual evidence
to use in your writing. Select a variety of
texts.
Writing Informative Text
3. Read to find details or textual evidence
to use in your writing. Find a variety of
texts.
Read books, magazines, websites
• Time for Kids
• National Geographic Kids
As you read, take notes, highlight or underline:
• What should my audience know about my topic?
• How can I get them to care about it or be
interested?
• What can the audience do to get involved or learn
more?
As you read, take notes, highlight or underline:
• What should my audience know about my topic?
• How can I get them to care about it or be
interested?
• What can the audience do to get involved or learn
more?
As you read, take notes, highlight or underline:
• What should my audience know about my topic?
• How can I get them to care about it or be
interested?
• What can the audience do to get involved or learn
more?
You already know
what is expected:
• introduce a topic
• use facts and definitions to develop points
• provide a concluding statement or section.
Now the expectations increase:
a. Introduce a topic and group information together
-- include illustrations when helpful
b. Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details
c. Use linking words and phrases to connect ideas
d. Provide a concluding statement or section.
Bats on the Brink
A mysterious disease has killed
more than a million bats in the
United States and Canada.
The U.S. government and other
groups are trying to stop the
spread of the disease.
October 21, 2011
By Elizabeth Winchester
Time for Kids
At this time of year, there are lots of images of bats and all things spooky. But in reality,
the number of creatures that fly in the night is dwindling.
A mysterious disease has killed more than a million bats in parts of Canada and the
eastern and southern United States, and it is spreading west. The disease, called whitenose syndrome, first appeared in 2006, in upstate New York. Scientists have been
looking for ways to stop—or at least slow—the spread of the disease. The U.S.
government has spent nearly $20 million on white-nose syndrome since 2007.
Battling the Problem
Jeremy Coleman of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service leads the government’s
response. Part of Coleman’s job is to coordinate with the efforts of many
groups, including Bat Conservation International (BCI), the Center for
Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Bat Lab at Boston University. The groups are
working together to find a solution.
In May, the government launched a major plan. “It establishes standard ways
of collecting information,” Coleman told TFK. But it may not be enough to stop
the bats from dying out. “Extinction is a possibility,” Coleman admits.
Saving the Species
Some bats hibernate, or stay in a deep sleeplike state during the winter.
White-nose syndrome appears to affect only hibernating bats. Scientists
believe the disease is caused by a fungus that grows on a bat’s nose, wings
and ears. The fungus damages wing tissues, which may also irritate the bats,
causing them to end their hibernation early. When they do, they burn up fat
reserves needed to survive the winter. Unfortunately, there are not enough
insects to eat in winter. It appears that with nothing to eat, many of the bats
starve and die.
The fungus does not likely harm people, but people can accidentally
spread it on their clothes and shoes. To stop its spread, researchers are
testing drugs to fight the fungus. The government has closed to visitors
several caves where bats live.
BCI and CBD conservationists told TFK that more money is needed to
study the disease and find a cure. “It’s important to save bats,” says the
CBD’s Mollie Matteson. “They are fascinating animals, and we can learn a
lot from them.”
Bats are also helpful. They eat mosquitoes and other insects that carry
disease and harm crops, saving farmers at least $3.7 billion a year,
according to a recent study. “Bats are our friends,” says Tom Kunz. He is a
scientist and the director of the Bat Lab. “They help people and the
environment they live in,” he says.
The fungus does not likely harm people, but people can accidentally
spread it on their clothes and shoes. To stop its spread, researchers are
testing drugs to fight the fungus. The government has closed to visitors
several caves where bats live.
BCI and CBD conservationists told TFK that more money is needed to
study the disease and find a cure. “It’s important to save bats,” says the
CBD’s Mollie Matteson. “They are fascinating animals, and we can learn a
lot from them.”
Bats are also helpful. They eat mosquitoes and other insects that carry
disease and harm crops, saving farmers at least $3.7 billion a year,
according to a recent study. “Bats are our friends,” says Tom Kunz. He is a
scientist and the director of the Bat Lab. “They help people and the
environment they live in,” he says.
Notes:
What is the problem?
• mysterious disease has killed more than a million bats
The fungus does not likely harm people, but people can accidentally
spread it on their clothes and shoes. To stop its spread, researchers are
testing drugs to fight the fungus. The government has closed to visitors
several caves where bats live.
BCI and CBD conservationists told TFK that more money is needed to
study the disease and find a cure. “It’s important to save bats,” says the
CBD’s Mollie Matteson. “They are fascinating animals, and we can learn a
lot from them.”
Bats are also helpful. They eat mosquitoes and other insects that carry
disease and harm crops, saving farmers at least $3.7 billion a year,
according to a recent study. “Bats are our friends,” says Tom Kunz. He is a
scientist and the director of the Bat Lab. “They help people and the
environment they live in,” he says.
Notes:
What is the problem?
• mysterious disease has killed more than a million bats
• white-nose syndrome, first appeared in 2006, in upstate New York
The fungus does not likely harm people, but people can accidentally
spread it on their clothes and shoes. To stop its spread, researchers are
testing drugs to fight the fungus. The government has closed to visitors
several caves where bats live.
BCI and CBD conservationists told TFK that more money is needed to
study the disease and find a cure. “It’s important to save bats,” says the
CBD’s Mollie Matteson. “They are fascinating animals, and we can learn a
lot from them.”
Bats are also helpful. They eat mosquitoes and other insects that carry
disease and harm crops, saving farmers at least $3.7 billion a year,
according to a recent study. “Bats are our friends,” says Tom Kunz. He is a
scientist and the director of the Bat Lab. “They help people and the
environment they live in,” he says.
Notes:
What is the problem?
• mysterious disease has killed more than a million bats
• white-nose syndrome, first appeared in 2006, in upstate New York
• caused by a fungus
The fungus does not likely harm people, but people can accidentally
spread it on their clothes and shoes. To stop its spread, researchers are
testing drugs to fight the fungus. The government has closed to visitors
several caves where bats live.
BCI and CBD conservationists told TFK that more money is needed to
study the disease and find a cure. “It’s important to save bats,” says the
CBD’s Mollie Matteson. “They are fascinating animals, and we can learn a
lot from them.”
Bats are also helpful. They eat mosquitoes and other insects that carry
disease and harm crops, saving farmers at least $3.7 billion a year,
according to a recent study. “Bats are our friends,” says Tom Kunz. He is a
scientist and the director of the Bat Lab. “They help people and the
environment they live in,” he says.
Notes:
What is the problem?
• mysterious disease has killed more than a million bats
• white-nose syndrome, first appeared in 2006, in upstate New York
• caused by a fungus
Why we should care about the bat?
The fungus does not likely harm people, but people can accidentally
spread it on their clothes and shoes. To stop its spread, researchers are
testing drugs to fight the fungus. The government has closed to visitors
several caves where bats live.
BCI and CBD conservationists told TFK that more money is needed to
study the disease and find a cure. “It’s important to save bats,” says the
CBD’s Mollie Matteson. “They are fascinating animals, and we can learn a
lot from them.”
Bats are also helpful. They eat mosquitoes and other insects that carry
disease and harm crops, saving farmers at least $3.7 billion a year,
according to a recent study. “Bats are our friends,” says Tom Kunz. He is a
scientist and the director of the Bat Lab. “They help people and the
environment they live in,” he says.
Notes:
What is the problem?
• mysterious disease has killed more than a million bats
• white-nose syndrome, first appeared in 2006, in upstate New York
• caused by a fungus
Why we should care about the bat?
• Bats are helpful. They eat mosquitoes and other insects that carry
disease and harm crops
What is the problem?
• mysterious disease has killed more than a million bats
• white-nose syndrome, first appeared in 2006, in upstate New York
• caused by a fungus
Why we should care about the bat?
• Bats are helpful. They eat mosquitoes and other insects that carry
disease and harm crops
What is the problem?
• mysterious disease has killed more than a million bats
• white-nose syndrome, first appeared in 2006, in upstate New York
• caused by a fungus
Why we should care about the bat?
• Bats are helpful. They eat mosquitoes and other insects that carry
disease and harm crops
• Bats help to spread seeds of rainforest trees and shrubs
What is the problem?
• mysterious disease has killed more than a million bats
• white-nose syndrome, first appeared in 2006, in upstate New York
• caused by a fungus
Why we should care about the bat?
• Bats are helpful. They eat mosquitoes and other insects that carry disease and
harm crops
• Bats help to spread seeds of rainforest trees and shrubs
What is the problem?
• mysterious disease has killed more than a million bats
• white-nose syndrome, first appeared in 2006, in upstate New York
• caused by a fungus
Why we should care about the bat?
• Bats are helpful. They eat mosquitoes and other insects that carry disease and
harm crops
• Bats help to spread seeds of rainforest trees and shrubs
• Bats pollinate plants in the desert and the tropics
What is the problem?
• mysterious disease has killed more than a million bats
• white-nose syndrome, first appeared in 2006, in upstate New York
• caused by a fungus
Why we should care about the bat?
• Bats are helpful. They eat mosquitoes and other insects that carry disease and
harm crops
• Bats help to spread seeds of rainforest trees and shrubs
• Bats pollinate plants in the desert and the tropics
• Bats reduce the use of pesticide and save farmers money
What can
kids do to
help
the bats?
What can
kids do to
help
the bats?
Write
about
bats and
spread
the word!
What can kids do to
help
the bats?
Write about bats and
spread the word!
Raise money for
research.
What can kids do to
help
the bats?
Write about bats and
spread the word!
Raise money for
research.
Close caves to people
to keep them from
spreading the disease.
What can kids do to
help
the bats?
Write about bats and
spread the word!
Raise money for
research.
Close caves to people
to keep them from
spreading the disease.
Leave bats alone if
they are living in your
attic.
What can kids do to
help
the bats?
Write about bats and
spread the word!
Raise money for
research.
Close caves to people
to keep them from
spreading the disease.
Leave bats alone if
they are living in your
attic.
Put up bat houses.
Bats in the United States and Canada are getting white-nose
syndrome, a fungus that disturbs their hibernation, causing them to starve
and die. We need to protect bats because they may go extinct if we do
not find a cure for white-nose syndrome.
Bats in the United States and Canada are getting white-nose
syndrome, a fungus that disturbs their hibernation, causing them to starve
and die. We need to protect bats because they may go extinct if we do
not find a cure for white-nose syndrome.
We need to save the bats because they help us in many ways. For
instance, they eat mosquitos and other insects that bite us and carry
disease. They also eat insects that harm crops, saving farmers at least $
3.7 billion a year. In the rainforest, bats spread the seeds to many
important trees and shrubs. Bats are fascinating animals, and we can
learn a lot from them.
Bats in the United States and Canada are getting white-nose
syndrome, a fungus that disturbs their hibernation, causing them to starve
and die. We need to protect bats because they may go extinct if we do
not find a cure for white-nose syndrome.
We need to save the bats because they help us in many ways. For
instance, they eat mosquitos and other insects that bite us and carry
disease. They also eat insects that harm crops, saving farmers at least $
3.7 billion a year. In the rainforest, bats spread the seeds to many
important trees and shrubs. Bats are fascinating animals, and we can
learn a lot from them.
There are several things we can do to help save the bats. One is
to spread the word and get other people to care. We can raise money for
research to cure white-nose syndrome. People should not be allowed
into caves where bats live, because people may be spreading the disease.
If we find bats in our attic, we should leave them alone, and can even
build bat houses for them.
Bats in the United States and Canada are getting white-nose
syndrome, a fungus that disturbs their hibernation, causing them to starve
and die. We need to protect bats because they may go extinct if we do
not find a cure for white-nose syndrome.
We need to save the bats because they help us in many ways. For
instance, they eat mosquitos and other insects that bite us and carry
disease. They also eat insects that harm crops, saving farmers at least $
3.7 billion a year. In the rainforest, bats spread the seeds to many
important trees and shrubs. Bats are fascinating animals, and we can
learn a lot from them.
There are several things we can do to help save the bats. One is
to spread the word and get other people to care. We can raise money for
research to cure white-nose syndrome. People should not be allowed
into caves where bats live, because people may be spreading the disease.
If we find bats in our attic, we should leave them alone, and can even
build bat houses for them.
Bats are our friends because they help people and the
environment we live in. They are important creatures who need our help
to prevent extinction.
Now it’s your turn . . .
Select a
topic
Decide on
your
purpose
Enjoy your research,
and share your interest
in your topic!!
Read to
find details,
information