American History through American Lives

Classroom Resources

Informational Writing

Informational writing is a nonfiction-writing piece that contains factual information about a topic. There are 4 types of informative (informational) writing: literary nonfiction, argumentative, persuasive, and procedural. Some examples include almanacs, newspapers, and reference books. The purpose of this type of text is to educate the reader about a specific topic.

Informational writing has common text features depending on where the writing piece is being presented. Some of these text features are table of contents, captions, pictures, bold and italic print, and a glossary. These characteristics guide the readers to find information within the text. Some text structures that are shown in informational pieces can include description, sequence, cause and effect, compare and contrast, and problem and solution.

First graders are taught how to write an informational piece during the school year. Some of the topics they write about are an informational piece about an animal. Another piece that they write is a procedural piece. Many students write about making a sandwich or how to play a game. In this unit, my students will write about an immigrant they have researched who has made an impact in America.

Narrative Writing

Narrative writing often tells or retells a story. Narrative writing has characters, conflict and solution, plot, setting, main idea or theme, and many other essential parts of a story. This all depends on the type of narrative writing you are reading or writing.  Some examples include poems, books, and essays.

Autobiography, Biography, and Memoir

Autobiographies, biographies, and memoirs are types of writing and literature that are taught starting in elementary school through high school.  These types of writing pieces and texts are used across the curriculum to educate students. Then if student chose a degree pathway that incorporates these modes of writing, you will be exposed and will practice writing and analyzing these types of texts. There are key differences with these forms of writing and literature.

Autobiographies are used in first grade to teach students about a person who is still living. They make great companion pieces for teaching students how to research and write informational pieces.  According to Shyam autobiographies are "an account of a person's life given by himself or herself, especially one published in book form. Also: the process of writing such an account; these are considered as a literary genre.”⁴² An autobiography can be written in book form, essay form, or even as a narrative.  They often discuss the most memorable or important events in their life. During the primary education years, students will write at least one autobiography as an activity for class. They will read many autobiographies as well. An autobiography is considered a primary source since the person who the autobiography is about is being interviewed.

Biographies are another great resource and educational tool to use for close and informational reading as well supplemental texts. Students often struggle with knowing the difference between biographies and autobiographies. Biographies can be defined as "the process of recording the events and circumstances of another person's life, esp. for publication (latterly in any of various written, recorded, or visual media); the documenting of individual life histories (and, later, other forms of thematic historical narrative), considered as a genre of writing or social history.”⁴³ Students will also be required to read about and read many biographies through their primary education experience. They are also often asked to write one based off of research.  Biographies are considered a secondary source since it is an account of a person’s life written by someone else.

Memoirs are another great resource to use in the classroom. They make great companion texts to autobiographies and biographies. Memoirs can be defined as "autobiographical observations; reminiscences.”⁴⁴ Autobiographies and memoirs are very similar and easily interchanged or confusing to students. Autobiographies go in sequential order of an individual’s life, while memoirs focus on emotions, feelings, attitudes about random portions in a person’s life.