Cayman Islands Writing Exemplar

participants 

• 

Impersonal 

language 

• 

Timeless  

present tense 

• 

Specific, 

technical terms 

related to the 

subject 

• 

Use of  

comparatives 

(e.g., some, 

most all, larger 

than, etc.) 

• 

Transitional 

words to 

indicate  

relationships 

(e.g., also,  

as well) 

• 

Subject  

specific 

 

vocabulary 

• 

(AF 2, 3, 4) 

Organisation: 

Information is 

sorted by  

headings/topics 

• 

(AF 1) Ideas: 

Clear focus, 

details enhance 

the main idea; 

topic is covered 

thoroughly 

• 

(AF 1) Voice: 

Engages reader; 

may have  

personal style 

• 

(AF 7) Word 

Choice:

 Precise 

language,  

technical terms 

• 

(AF 5) Sentence 

Fluency:

 Varied, 

logical flow

 

• 

(AF 6, 8)  

Conventions:

 

Appropriate for 

level of writer 

• 

Presentation: 

Supported by 

illustrations, 

captions, charts 

and other text 

features

Text may include:

 -Title 

- Table of contents

 - Glossary

 - Headings and 

sub-headings

 - Illustrations

 - Diagrams with 

labels

 - Index

 - Captions

 - Charts,

 - Graphs

 - Text boxes, 

 - Info boxes, 

 - Fact boxes

• 

Magazine 

article, 

brochure, 

essay, 

research 

paper,  

compare 

and  

contrast 

 

Visual 

Texts: 

Concept 

map, table, 

poster

Report

The primary purpose of a report is to inform the reader, which is done through description, providing information,  

and/or summarizing an event. Reports tend to present information in an objective way. The descriptions contained in 

reports can be general or specific and usually include details about a specific topic such as an iguana, a type of air

-

plane, or the Caribbean Sea. Information is often well organised through the use of text features like headings  

and subheadings. 

---

8

Explanatory

The primary purposes of explanatory texts are to explain how and why things are the way they are, or how things 

work. Explanatory pieces often also inform the reader. Explanatory texts generally go beyond simple ‘descriptions’  

by including information about causes, motives, or reasons. Explanations are sometimes confused with other text 

types such as procedures or reports. The key difference between these text types is that explanatory text has more 

emphasis on the “how” and “why” rather than simply sequencing steps (procedural) or describing and giving  

information about something (report). Explanatory texts sometimes rely on labeled illustrations to help explain  

their content and may include a detailing of cause-and-effect relationships. Students will usually need to do some 

research in order to compose an explanatory text, making this a great opportunity to introduce and practice research 

skills. Explanatory writing often use causal words such as: because, therefore, as a result, since, so that, for this 

reason, this leads to, consequently, nevertheless, and owing to.