Y06W08WR How Rainwater Harvesting Works

Part 1

How to Write

Explanatory – Information text

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 a section for the booklet explaining how a typical household rainwater harvesting system works and what homeowners need to consider. You have space for one introduction paragraph and three body paragraphs. Choose and organise the facts that would be most useful for this audience and write clearly in your own words. You do not need to use all of the facts provided.

Stimulus: A sustainability organisation is producing an information booklet for households considering installing a rainwater harvesting system. Below is a collection of facts about rainwater harvesting. They are not in any particular order.

- Gutters must be cleaned regularly to prevent leaves and debris from contaminating collected rainwater
- In Australia, rainwater tanks can reduce household mains water use by up to 40%
- Tank sizes for household use typically range from 1,000 to 30,000 litres
- The average Australian roof can collect approximately 1 litre of water per square metre for every millimetre of rainfall
- A ‘first-flush diverter’ discards the first flow of water after rain, which carries dust, bird droppings and other roof contaminants
- Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rainwater rather than allowing it to run off into stormwater drains
- Harvested rainwater can be used for toilet flushing, garden irrigation, laundry and, if properly filtered and treated, drinking
- Underground tanks take up no surface area but are more expensive to install
- Mosquitoes can breed in poorly sealed tanks, so all openings must be covered with mesh screening
- The most common system involves a roof, gutters, downpipes, a first-flush diverter and a storage tank connected in sequence
- Some local councils offer rebates for household rainwater tank installation
- Rainwater is naturally soft water, meaning it contains fewer dissolved minerals than mains water

Task Analysis: This task asks you to write a information text 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.