Y06W03WR Writing an Informative Magazine Article

Part 1

How to Write

Explanatory – Magazine article

An explanatory text makes a concept, process or system understandable to a reader who is encountering it for the first time. It is written for someone who wants to genuinely understand how or why something works. The tone should be clear and patient — building understanding step by step without assuming prior knowledge.

  • Ideas & content: Select the most important information needed to understand the topic. Focus on how and why — explanation is about building genuine understanding, not just describing what exists.
  • Structure & cohesion: Move from the general to the specific. Introduce the concept, explain how or why it works, then give examples or consequences. Use cause-and-effect connectives to show relationships between ideas.
  • Voice & audience: Write as a knowledgeable guide. Define terms as you introduce them. Avoid jargon without explanation. Your reader should feel guided through the topic, not overwhelmed by it.
  • Language choices: Use precise vocabulary and define technical terms clearly. Write in the present tense for ongoing processes. Vary sentence length — shorter sentences help when ideas are complex.
  • Conventions: Spell technical vocabulary accurately. Use commas, colons and semicolons to manage complex explanations. Keep sentences clear even when the ideas are demanding.

Common pitfalls: Describing what something is without explaining how or why it works — readers need to understand the mechanism, not just the label. Including too many facts without connecting them into a clear explanation that builds understanding progressively.

Part 2

Your Task Plan for Today

The brief

Question: Write an article for the magazine. You have space for one introduction paragraph and three body paragraphs. Choose the facts that are most relevant and useful for your audience, organise them into a logical sequence and write in your own words. You do not need to use all of the facts provided.

Stimulus: A school health magazine is running a feature for students in Years 5 and 6 explaining why sleep matters for learning. Below is a collection of facts about sleep, memory and learning. They are not in any particular order.

- Screens emit blue light that delays the release of melatonin, a hormone that signals the body it is time to sleep
- During sleep, the brain moves information from short-term to long-term memory, a process called ‘memory consolidation’
- Children aged 6 to 12 need approximately 9 to 11 hours of sleep each night; teenagers need 8 to 10
- REM sleep, the stage when most dreaming occurs, is linked to emotional processing and creative thinking
- A 20-minute nap can temporarily restore alertness but does not replace the benefits of a full night’s sleep
- Studies show students who sleep well before an exam perform significantly better than those who stay up late studying
- Sleep deprivation can reduce reaction time by up to 50%
- The brain clears waste products during sleep through a system called the ‘glymphatic system’
- People who sleep fewer than 7 hours regularly are more likely to become unwell because sleep supports immune function
- Caffeine blocks the brain’s sleep signals and can remain active in the body for up to 6 hours after consumption
- Students who are sleep-deprived are more likely to feel anxious, irritable or easily overwhelmed
- The deepest stage of sleep, called ‘slow-wave sleep’, is especially important for cementing new learning

Task Analysis: This task asks you to write a magazine article based on the prompt. Your response should demonstrate clear thinking, good organisation and writing appropriate for a Year 6 reader. Focus on showing your understanding through specific examples and thoughtful details.

Quick Plan

Before you write, plan:

  • What you’re explaining — define it clearly
  • Two or three key points that build understanding
  • Real examples that show why this matters
  • Why the reader should care — your closing message

Define the key concept

Start by explaining what you’re talking about in clear, simple words. Your reader may have no background knowledge. Make sure they understand the basic idea before adding details.

Examples that teach

Use specific, concrete examples that help readers understand. Show what the idea looks like in real life. Don’t just explain the concept—show it in action.

Paragraph focus

Each paragraph should have one main idea. Start with a topic sentence that tells readers what the paragraph is about, then develop it with facts or examples.

Tone & voice

Write clearly and factually for readers your age. Avoid jargon, or explain technical terms you need. Sound like someone who understands and wants to share knowledge.