Introduction to nonfiction External Text Features & Internal Organizational Patterns

Imagination vs. Reality FICTION Not true An imaginative creation that may or may not represent reality Has been invented or made up by the author

Imagination vs. Reality NONFICTION True or fact About real things, people, places, & events Informative writing

Imagination vs. Reality Characteristics of FICTION: Tells stories (sequential) Consists of story elements Purpose is to be engaging Writing is creative Contain illustrations to help reader visualize created worlds Long sections of intact text Good for cover-to-cover readers Characteristics of NONFICTION: Provides factual info using words and images Purpose is to provide info Must be accurate Writing style is clear Contain illustrations or graphics to facilitate understanding Frequently broken up into sections Good for skimmers

Purposes of Nonfiction Writing is as easy as PIE Persuade: to convince reader to agree with author Inform: to share factual info with reader Entertain: to amuse the reader

What do nonfiction texts look like? Information in nonfiction texts is presented both verbally and visually Frequently broken up Author lets us know the purpose of the piece by how it is structured: External Text Features (obvious) Internal Organizational Patterns (subtle)

External Text Features (“Exoskeleton”) Visual aids that help focus readers & draw attention to important info Make books more readable & accessible Support comprehension & expand info about a topic Facilitate a reader’s locating of info

Text Features Textbooks and informational texts have important elements that stand out from the other parts of the text. Purpose: to help us understand the information presented

External Text Features a. table of contents j. diagrams b. headings/sub-headings k. tables/charts c. bold type/italics l. graphs d. glossary m. maps e. index n. flowcharts f. sidebars o. webs g. fact box p. timelines h. photos q. references i. captions

Boldface Signal to slow down and pay attention Signals that a word, term, or event is important

Charts Give information, show processes, or make comparisons Pack lots if information in a small space

Glossary ABC ordered list of key people, places, events, or terms A tool to help you understand the language of the subject (jargon)

Graphs Use pictures and symbols to show information Always read the graph’s title, labels on the vertical and horizontal axes, etc.

Headings & Titles Tells you what the section is about Allows us to be efficient in our reading—skim the headings to focus on the purpose of our reading

Index Found at the very back of a textbook Gives the location of every important idea, term, definition, person, and place A search tool to help you find what you need

Photos & Illustrations Photo: a picture with a camera that shows how things look in real life Illustration: a rendition or drawing of what something looks like Used to emphasize or make important points

Table of Contents Gives the heading and beginning page numbers of each section in a book

Caption A sentence that tells about a picture Say in a few lines what the author takes paragraphs to explain

Label A word that tells about a picture

Additional Text Features Color Italics Underlining Examples Bullets Preview Inset

So What? Authors use text features in order to bring attention to important details Putting them to use will help you understand more of your reading, and probably allow you to do it in less time!

Internal Organizational Patterns (“Body System”) Arrangement/structure of the text Authors use signal words & phrases to show the relationships among ideas Aid in understanding and enhance recall & retention of the material

Internal Organizational Patterns 1. Compare & Contrast Structure used to show how things are alike and different Comparing means noting the similarities between subjects Contrasting means noting the differences between subjects Signal Words: alike, likewise, in addition to, similar, similarly, both, all, in comparison, in both, as well as, contrast, together, different and opposite, on the other hand Venn Diagram

Internal Organizational Patterns 2. Cause & Effect Structure that relates 2 or more events The causes result in the effects The causes are why something happens The effects are what happens Signal Words: as a result of, consequently, therefore, because, & if…then EFFECT 1 EFFECT 2 CAUSE EFFECT 3

Internal Organizational Patterns 3. Enumeration/Listing Structure that uses numbers or listing to organize texts Order is not important Signal Words: one, two, 1, 2, bullets (∙), such as, colon ( : ) __________________ 1.__________________ 2.__________________ 3.__________________ 4.__________________

Internal Organizational Patterns 4. Process Structure of directions where a sequence of actions is described in order Instructs the reader on how to do something A set of directions/steps Signal Words: Beginning with, in order to, first, after that, now, Step 1

Internal Organizational Patterns 5. Sequencing Structure that uses relative time order to organize events in which they happen Organize a series of events—the life of a person; historical events Signal Words: next, then, in the beginning, meanwhile, finally, during --OR--

Internal Organizational Patterns 6. Chronological Structure that uses specific or exact time order to organize events that happen Organize a series of events—the life of a person; historical events Signal Words: specific dates, times (ex. 1988; June 1; 2:39 AM), today

Internal Organizational Patterns 7. Generalization/Principle Structure that organizes info with a main idea & supporting details/examples/facts A generalization is a big idea A principle is a general or believed truth Often is an opinion Used in newspaper articles, reviews, advertisements Signal Words: Additionally, in fact, generally, furthermore, typically, always

Internal Organizational Patterns 8. Concept/Definition Structure where a concept or difficult term is defined & further explained with examples & characteristics Signal Words: refers to, thus, is defined as, means, is described as