Gemstones
Levels 22/23 Gold/Silver
Key learning Area Social Studies and Mathematics
Theme Gem Mining
Title HowGemstonesAreMined
Text Type Explanation
Pages 2–9
Text Form Scientific Writing
Genre Non-fiction
Purpose To explain how or why something occurs
Text Structure
Identifying Statement: Tells what is to be explained (Page 2)
Explanation Sequence: Explains a series of events or cause and effect (Pages 3–8)
Concluding Statement: Draws all the information together (Page 9)
Language Features
-- Nouns (e.g. gemstones, earth, minerals)
-- Pronouns (e.g. they)
-- Adjectives (e.g. deep, small)
-- Present tense verbs (e.g. brought, cut, polished)
-- Adverbial phrases (e.g. at these mines)
-- Time and sequence words (e.g. After that)
TitleWorkingat a Diamond Mine
Text Type Exposition
Pages 10–16
Text Form Essay
Genre Non-fiction
Purpose To persuade by arguing one side of an issue
Text Structure
Statement of Position: Explains the writer’s point of view and previews the arguments (Page 10)
Series of Arguments: Describes each argument and lists them in order of importance (Pages 11–15)
Concluding Statement: Relates the position more forcefully to persuade the reader (Page 16)
Language Features
-- Nouns (e.g. mine, diamonds, truck)
-- Pronouns (e.g. I, you, they)
-- Adjectives (e.g. giant, exciting, beautiful)
-- Sensing verbs (e.g. think, like)
-- Adverbial phrases (e.g. in an aeroplane)
-- Time and sequence words (e.g. First, Second)