Informational Text and Essay Unit

What is Informational Text? Informational Text: A text that provides facts, ideas, and principles that are related to the physical, biological, or social world; classified as non-fiction text. – Uses features of text in order to achieve the purpose. Non Fiction: A type of writing that is based on fact or true events

What is an Essay? Essay: A piece of non fiction writing that is considered short, on a specific topic. (All written word)

Types of Essay Narrative Expository Augmentative Personal Persuasive Descriptive

Types of Essays Narrative: An essay which tells a real, no fiction story. Normally about a specific event in one's life. Persuasive: A type of essay designed to persuade or change the reader's view point on topic. Utilizes emotional appeal. Argumentative: A type of essay designed to argue a side or stance on a subject. Utilizes facts, figures and statistics Descriptive: A type of essay which provides a detailed description of an event, object or person.

Important Informational Text/ Essay Definitions Purpose: is the reason why the author had written their piece Audience:is the group of people who the author is intending to reach. Tone: is the author’s attitude towards the subject

Important Informational Text/ Essay Definitions Cont'd Coherence: is when an author writes one set of ideas or arguments in one paragraph and will not introduce other facts or arguments until the next paragraph refers Unity: to the logical arrangement and progression of ideas within a paragraph. Emphasis: is when the major points or ideas which are made to stand out within a paragraph

How is Coherence Achieved? By repeating key words, phrases, and synonym (Baby, infant, child) By using pronoun reference for key nouns (Sally =She/Her) By using conjunctive adverbs or thought connecting words (TRANSITIONS) such as nonetheless, moreover, therefore, however. By arranging the sequence of events in some perceivable order. ( Narration-arranged chronologically Description-arranged spatially, and Exposition-usually arranged logically.)

Emphatic Devices Repetition: Is the repeated use of the same word or word pattern Font/Text Choice: May be used to emphasize significant points. (Bold, Italics, Underlining, change in font.) Short Sentences/One sentence paragraph: May be used to emphasize a significant point. (“Stop.”)

Emphatic Devices Unusual punctuation / capitalization: May be used to emphasize a significant points. (NO!!) Interrupted movement or Intrusive phrases: It is the use of dashes and brackets to inserts a phrase or word. “You said to wear that dress I had to be thin (Whatever that means?)”

Methods of Development Narrative Classification Compare and Contrast Example/Illustration Process Division Cause and Effect Description Persuasion/Argument

Parts of an Essay Topic Sentence: is a sentence that expresses the main idea of the paragraph. Clinching Sentence: A concluding sentence that sums up and sometimes adds to the main idea of the paragraph

Parts of an Essay Thesis Statement: is the position or opinion the writer is trying to defend. It is usually stated in one or two sentences normally written in opinion pieces. Closing By Return: A restatement of the thought found in the topic sentence, sometimes used in the clinching sentence.

Fact, Opinion and Emotions Fact: Statements that can be proved through direct observation or experience Opinion: Statements that may or may not be supported by fact, but which cannot usually be proved Emotional Appeal: Technique used by writers of opinions pieces to sway the emotions of their audience.

Features of Text Features of text can be broken down into four (4) category types: Print Features Organizational Aids IllustrationGraphic Aids

Print Features The purpose of print features in a informational text is to help guide readers through the patterns of organization.

Print Features Examples Bold Print Coloured Print Italics Bullets Titles Labels Sidebars Headings Subheadings Captions

Illustrations The purpose of Illustrations is to help explain the meaning of the text.

Illustrations Examples Photos Drawings Magnifications

Organizational Aids The purpose of organizational aids are to help readers find important information

Organizational Examples Table of Contents Index Glossary Preface Pronunciation Guide Appendix

Graphic Aids The purpose of graphic aids are to represent information in some specific way

Graphic Aids Examples Diagram Show Diagram Sketches Comparisons Graphs Figures Maps Charts/Tables Cross Sections Overlays Timelines

Activity Time Let's see how much you learned!

Features of Text Scavenger Hunt Directions: In groups of 3-4 people, you have to find as many examples of features of text within the Library that you can. You can use any books, articles, textbook etc. Use the handout to copy down the feature of text you found, and where you found it.

Practice Make Perfect! Using the Informational text provided to you, answer the questions on your handout.