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)