The Ultimate Set of Information Text Checklists

Editing is a crucial part of the writing process, yet students often try to rush through it!

To support your students in refining their self-editing abilities, Teach Starter has designed a set of five differentiated checklists specifically for report writing. These checklists help students verify that their information texts contain the appropriate structure and language features. Additionally, they serve as a guide for reviewing general writing conventions like spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Some of the statements found on these information text checklists include:

• I used a title that explains the topic.
• I introduced the topic using an opening sentence.
• I included the classification.
• I used paragraphs to organize my ideas.
• I included factual information under subheadings.
• I provided an illustration or labeled diagram.
• I included a concluding statement about the topic.
• I used complete sentences.
• I checked my spelling and punctuation.
• I used a variety of vocabulary.
• I used a formal, impersonal tone.

The features included on each checklist vary slightly, allowing you to choose the checklist that best suits your class or the abilities of individual students.

Using These Writing Checklists in Your Lessons

Writing checklists can help your students take their writing to new heights! Here are some ways that your students could use these checklists to improve their writing:

• Check-in Milestone – Students can use the checklist at various stages of their writing process to review that section of text. This way, they aren’t overwhelmed by editing the entire piece at once and can focus on one aspect at a time.
• Peer Editing – Students can exchange their writing with a partner and use the checklist to review each other’s work. This helps them see their writing from another perspective and gain insight into potential improvements.
• Reflection Journal – After completing their editing, students can write a brief reflection on how they used the checklist and how it helped improve their writing. This encourages them to think critically about the editing process.

Download This Pack of Information Text Checklists

This set of information text checklists can be downloaded as either a black-and-white PDF or an editable Google Slides file. If you download the Google file, please note that you will be asked to make a copy to your personal drive.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Curriculum-Aligned Informational Writing Resources

Teach Starter prides itself on our extensive range of teacher-created, curriculum-aligned resources. Check out some of our great informational writing activities to cut down on your planning time!

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Download this expository writing prompt to use when teaching report writing to elementary students.

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Developing Report Writing Skills Teaching Slides

Use this slide deck to teach your students about the purpose, structural elements and language features of informational texts.