Explanations
How to write explanations
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Start with an introductory paragraph introducing the phenomenon being explained. It could include a definition or a brief description.
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Include technical and scientific terms.
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Use action verbs in simple present tense, an impersonal style in second or third person.
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Make use of conjunctions such as – as a result, because, before, how, if, once, since, than, that, though, till, until, when, where, whether, while.
In the write-up of a scientific investigation, an explanation may be included as a few brief sentences outlining what was done to ensure that the investigative method was as valid or reliable as possible. An explanatory text may also be used to convey the background research and provide a reason why the topic for investigation was initially selected. The explanation may also address the result, conclusion or hypothesis. For example, ‘The harder ball bounced higher because it lost less energy when it hit the surface.’ ‘The experiment was valid because all the variables were controlled except the one that we deliberately changed. We repeated our measurements four times and took an average so that our results were reliable.’
The Board of Studies has an Assessment Resources Centre (ARC) that contains annotated work samples. This link is to an explanation on how a simple electric circuit works.