Y08W38PA - The Great Barrier Reef

This week you wrote an informative report on the Great Barrier Reef, explaining what it is, why it is under threat, and what is being done to protect it. Now you'll read another student's piece and judge how well they select information, organise it logically, and explain it in their own words.

Part 1

The Assessor Scorecard for

Informative – Informative report

Informative writing asks readers to understand something they didn't before. The best informative pieces select relevant information, present it in a logical order, and explain it in language the audience can follow without oversimplifying.

Ideas & Content

Facts chosen because they are relevant and important to the topic. Connections explained — why coral bleaching happens and why it matters. Writing that links ideas rather than just listing facts on a page.

  • Purposeful selection: the writer chooses information that genuinely matters to understanding.

Structure & Cohesion

An introduction that frames the topic for the reader. Organised body sections where ideas connect logically. A conclusion that ties ideas together meaningfully. Transitional language that helps readers follow one idea to the next.

  • Logical progression: information arranged so earlier ideas support later ones.

Audience & Purpose

Awareness of what the reader already knows about the topic. Language and examples pitched to that reader's level. Writing that informs and engages rather than showing off knowledge.

  • Audience awareness: details and explanations suited to the reader's level.

Language Choices

Technical terms used carefully and explained when first introduced. Concrete examples that make abstract ideas real for readers. Active verbs and varied sentences that hold the reader's attention.

  • Clear, precise language: terms are explained, examples are concrete, sentences are varied.

Conventions

Accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar throughout. Distinct paragraphs with clear topic sentences. Facts stated accurately so the reader trusts the writing.

  • Accurate, polished writing: conventions support clarity and reader trust.

Part 2

Today’s Marking Targets

Task in one sentence

Write a 280-word three-paragraph informative piece for an adult community reader explaining what the Great Barrier Reef is, why it is under threat, and what is being done to protect it.

Let’s Focus

Three strands matter most this week: Ideas & Content, Structure & Cohesion and Language Choices. The first decides whether ideas connect. The second guides the reader through the explanation. The third makes complex information accessible without oversimplifying.

Ideas & Content

Strong writing this week selects facts that help readers understand the reef, the threats, and the protection efforts. The writer explains connections — why bleaching damages coral, how acidification differs from temperature stress. Material is in the writer's own words, not copied.

What markers scan for

  • Selection of facts that genuinely matter to the topic.
  • Explanation of why coral bleaching is damaging to the reef.
  • Clear links between cause (warming ocean) and effect (bleaching).
  • Evidence the writing is in the student's own words.

Score Bands

  • Basic

    Includes relevant facts but explains few connections; the piece reads like facts listed rather than ideas linked.

  • Strong

    Selects relevant information and explains several key relationships between threats, causes and protection efforts.

  • Excellent

    Selects the most important information and demonstrates how threats compound and how protection requires multiple coordinated approaches.

Structure & Cohesion

Strong writing this week follows a clear three-part structure: what the reef is, why it is threatened, and what is being done. Within each section, ideas connect logically. Transitional words and topic sentences help the reader move smoothly between paragraphs.

What markers scan for

  • An opening paragraph that defines the topic and its scale.
  • A middle section that explains the threats in an organised way.
  • A closing section that describes protection efforts clearly.
  • Paragraphs that feel connected rather than separate blocks.

Score Bands

  • Basic

    Has three paragraphs but they don't always connect logically; the reader is sometimes unsure how the ideas relate.

  • Strong

    The three-part structure is clear; paragraphs are distinct but connected and the reader follows why each section matters.

  • Excellent

    Structure supports understanding; each paragraph builds on the previous and ideas flow naturally from definition to threat to protection.

Language Choices

Strong writing this week uses language suited to an adult reader with general knowledge but no specialist background. Technical terms are introduced and explained. Examples and comparisons make abstract ideas concrete. Sentences vary in length to keep the writing engaging.

What markers scan for

  • Technical terms introduced and explained clearly for the reader.
  • Examples that help readers picture abstract scientific ideas.
  • Language that feels natural rather than copied from sources.
  • Sentence variety that keeps the writing engaging.

Score Bands

  • Basic

    Some technical terms are unexplained; language occasionally feels vague and sentences stay similar in structure.

  • Strong

    Most technical terms are explained or clear from context; examples help readers understand and sentences vary.

  • Excellent

    Technical language is introduced with clear explanation; examples illuminate the point and sentence variety creates rhythm without distraction.

Now read · Student sample

The Great Barrier Reef

Year 8 sample · \~250 words

Student sample for assessment

Written by a Year 8 student in Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, stretching nearly 2,300 kilometres along the Queensland coast. It consists of almost 2,900 individual reefs, making it one of the most complex ecosystems on Earth. These reefs support an extraordinary diversity of life, including around 1,500 species of fish and countless other creatures. The reef was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, reflecting its global importance. For Australia, the reef generates significant economic value, with tourism contributing approximately $6.4 billion to the economy each year. However, the reef now faces serious threats from multiple directions. Rising ocean temperatures have triggered mass coral bleaching events in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2022, with another major event in 2024. When water temperatures become too warm, corals expel the algae that gives them colour and keeps them alive, a process known as bleaching. Ocean acidification is another problem: as the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the water becomes more acidic, making it harder for corals to build their skeletons. Additional pressures come from crown-of-thorns starfish, which eat coral, and agricultural runoff that clouds the water and reduces light available to corals. Protection of the reef involves a multi-layered approach. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, or GBRMPA, manages the reef and works to minimise human damage through zoning and regulation. Scientists are exploring innovative techniques like assisted evolution, which involves developing heat-resistant coral varieties that might survive warming oceans. The Australian government funds reef protection programs aimed at reducing local stressors. However, the hard truth is that without significant cuts to global carbon emissions, these efforts alone cannot prevent large-scale damage to the reef in the coming decades.