Unit 3

What Does It Mean to Explore?

Reader's Notebook

Planning an Explanation

Use the Planning an Explanation guide to help you plan your explanation.


Refer back to the research question that you chose in the Researchers at Work lesson.

Add your research question to the Reader's Notebook: Planning an Explanation Guide and keep it in mind as you read page 145 of Literacy in Action.





Document: Reader's Notebook: Planning an Explanation Guide
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  1. Download the document Reader's Notebook: Planning an Explanation Guide.
  2. IMPORTANT NOTE: When the download screen opens:
      • Click the "Open with" button.
      • Select "Adobe Reader".
      • Click "OK".
      • You will then be able to view the document Reader's Notebook: Planning an Explanation Guide.
      • Can't view the file? View Skill Builder: Saving Dynamic PDFs.

Click each coloured row for information about the activity.

As indicated on page 145 of Literacy in Action, as you prepare your Explanation, you will:


  • organize your facts around three main ideas and include supporting details for each of these ideas
  • look for connections among pieces of information
  • use a chart, outline, or web to arrange your facts logically (you will use Reader's Notebook: Planning an Explanation Guide)

As you plan your Explanation, think about


  • who your audience will be
  • choosing an interesting way of presenting your information
  • using features such as diagrams, visuals, and headings to help you explain your ideas

Locate the resources you plan to use.


You can locate information in

  • books
  • magazines
  • resources on the Internet

Think back to what you learned in the previous lesson about finding quality Internet resources and using effective keyword searches.

Add the resources you plan to use to the Reader's Notebook: Planning an Explanation Guide.

After researching your question in your chosen resources, add the following to your Reader's Notebook: Planning an Explanation Guide:


  • Identify the main ideas and supporting details you will use in your explanation.
  • Add the features you plan to use.
  • Write in complete sentences.

It will be helpful for you to refer back to other explanations you have read in Unit 3. Here you will see explanation examples that can guide your writing and help you prepare your presentation.

One example is: 
  • Space Junk (pages 130 to 131 of Literacy in Action)
Skill Builder

Skill Builder

To learn more about How to Build a Explanation, click the Skill Builder button to access the Skill Builder page, then view Writing Skills - How to Write a Report.

Save

How to save a file:

  1. Have the file open and select Save As from the File menu.
  2. Name your Reader's Notebook: Planning an Explanation Guide in this format: jsmith_research and save the file to your Documents folder.