List/Description (Part 6 of 7)
In a description the author describes, lists, explains or highlights attributes, features and characteristics of people, things or places. In body paragraphs there may be one main, or central idea, which can be identified by locating a topic sentence or summary sentence, or by inferring a connection between ideas across sentences. Examples, analogies, explanations or elaborations provide details about the significant idea. A description, or list-like structure, may feature one central idea per paragraph, or may build on the idea across multiple paragraphs.
Signal Words*:
additionally, in addition, also, another, approximate, approximately, a number of, at first, as well as, besides, features, first, for example, for instance, first, former, furthermore, include, last, latter, to illustrate, many, moreover, most important, much, next, numerous, parts, secondly, several, such as, the following, these, to begin with, types, various, PLUS:
- specific or general elements of measurement including words like litres/gallons or numerals
- punctuation markers which suggest detail or description may follow, such as commas or colons
*Note: This plan can be used without signal words.
Sample Text Model:
A komodo dragon is easy to identify. Full grown komodo dragons grow to approximately 2.9 metres in length and weigh 70 kilograms. The largest recorded dragon measured 3.13 metres and 165.9 kilograms. In addition to tough, mottled, scaly skin, komodos have sturdy legs and sharp claws.
To begin with, young komodos live in trees, feeding largely on small birds, birds’ eggs and insects. After about four years when reaching approximately 1.2 metres in length young dragons venture to the ground to live. Tree life provides safe shelter from larger counterparts which commonly hunt them as prey. Young komodos also employ another safety measure. When necessary to venture to the ground, they roll in faeces to avoid attack. Not until large enough to avoid attack do younger dragons settle into life on the ground.
View the Graphic Organisers Black Line Masters.
List/Description structures and the use of graphic organisers are covered in depth in our Balanced Literacy Program workshop.