Unlocking Text Text structures, features, genres

Text structures  Narrative: story based can be fiction or non-fiction  Factual/Informational/Expository: can be fiction or non-fiction* *There is text that mimics facts, but are fiction. This is where Critical Literacy Skills become so important. The Term GENRE is often used to denote the defining characteristics of literary forms and elements.

Text features Narrative text features use story grammar at the earliest levels:  Setting (when and where story takes place)  Characters  Plot (what happens in the story)  Problem (conflict, issue, disagreement)  Solution

By middle/high school Story grammar includes: Lesson or moral/Theme Parallel episodes/Subplots Rising and falling action/Climax Point of view/perspective

Genres are identified by  Characteristics of settings/plot lines  Characteristics of character traits  Characteristics of problems/solutions  Length, writing style, themes  Literary techniques See: MDE website and KISD websites (listed in Resources section) for details on specific genre studies.

Informational text structure  Because students spend more time reading informational texts to learn, they need to know the structures.  The structures are there to contain content and serve as markers and support for meaning.  Ignore the markers and the meaning isn’t picked up.

Common features/markers: Captions, labels, charts, lists, maps, descriptions, diagrams, photos, directions, procedures, drawings, table of contents, glossaries, graphs, Titles, subtitles, topic sentences, headings, indexes, varied print (bold/italics).

Text structure in informational text Also covers how the text is organized.  main idea and then details  a cause and then its effects  an effect and the causes  two different views of a topic, etc.

 When a student is able to understand and use the features to increase their understanding, it doesn’t matter what type of text is being read. Understanding will ensue.  Graphic organizer use is one of the best ways to teach text structure. See Resource page for websites on graphic organizers.