Write about Academic Information

ELPAC Skill Focus: Task Type 4 – Academic Writing

What You Need to Do

When you write about academic information, you need to read a short passage, chart, or text and explain the main ideas clearly. You might:

• Summarize what the passage says

• Explain facts, numbers, or steps

• Compare or contrast two ideas

• Describe a process or sequence

• Give an explanation based on what you read

 Steps for Success

1. Read the text or chart carefully. Underline key words.

2. Find the big idea. What is the most important point?

3. Look for supporting details. What facts or examples support the idea?

4. Use academic language. Use formal words and transition phrases.

5. Stay focused. Only include information from the reading, not personal opinions.

6. Check your structure. Make sure your writing has a beginning, middle, and end.

Sentence Frames to Help You Write

Resources and Activities (Work in Progress)

Practice Articles (To Be Made/Added)

Sample Prompt:

You read a short passage about how plants grow in different environments. Write a paragraph that explains what the passage says.

Sample Passage: How Plants Grow in Different Environments

Plants grow in many places around the world, and they need different strategies to survive. In dry environments, there is not much water. Some plants, like cacti, store water in their thick leaves or stems so they can survive for weeks without rain. Their roots are shallow and spread wide to catch rain quickly.

In wet environments, plants face a different challenge. The soil is soft and wet, so the plants need strong roots to stay in place. Some plants grow wide root systems that help them hold onto the ground. Others grow long stems to reach sunlight above the water. Each environment requires special features so that plants can grow and stay alive.

Sample Student Response (High-Scoring Model):

The passage is about how plants grow in dry and wet environments. First, it says that plants in dry places store water in their leaves. Then, it explains that plants in wet areas have wide roots to hold them in the soil. A fact that supports this is that cactus plants can survive for weeks without rain. In conclusion, the passage shows that plants use different strategies to grow depending on where they live.