Informational Text A Whole New Type of Reading

Learning Targets: I can give other names for nonfiction text I can see the difference between fiction and nonfiction I can understand the purpose of nonfiction I can recognize and understand text features I can demonstrate how text features help me read I can identify and comprehend text structures I will use this to improve my reading

Informational Text Nonfiction or Informational text: – Is also called expository text. – Is very different from narrative text. – Narrative text/fiction’s purpose is to tell a story. – Informational/nonfiction/expository text’s purpose is to: Explain Inform Persuade

Informational Text There are many different types of expository text. What types of expository text can you think of?

Examples of Informational Text Saving the Baghdad Zoo Textbook: Science, Social Studies, Religion Cookbook Instructions, manuals Newspaper and magazine articles Biographies and autobiographies Atlases and almanacs Dictionary, Encyclopedia, and Thesaurus

Nonfiction Text is Different: WHY? Nonfiction text is different for a number of reasons: – There are various text features that make it look different from fiction. – It is structured (or organized) differently than fiction. – It has specialized vocabulary that fiction does not.

Text Features at a glance Expository writers use features unique to nonfiction Look through these examples. What are some of the features that are unique to nonfiction? What are some of the features that make it different from fiction? Hint: compare how these look to Where the Red Fern Grows, for example

Types of Text Features Here are some common text features: Table of Contents Glossary Index Headings and Subheadings Photographs and Illustrations Captions Graphics (Maps, Charts, Diagrams, and Timelines)

Text Features The following three slides contain virtually the same information about text features. How are the slides different from each other? Are any slides easier or more difficult to read than others? Why? Let’s look at the next slides and see which ones we like better…

Text features help you make predictions before you read. Which helps you understand your reading while you are reading it. As a matter of fact, text features also help you during your reading too. Text features help you see and understand the material you are reading better while you read it. Finally after you read, the text features help you too. The text features help you after you read by helping you find what you want to look at again and it helps you review the material.

How Text Features Help Look at the text features before you begin reading. It will help you make predictions about what you will read. During reading, text features will help you better understand or see the information being presented in the text.

How Text Features Help You Read Before you read: – Text features help you make predictions about what you will read – Text features help you find what you are looking for While you read: – Text features help you see the information better – Text features help you understand the information better After you read: – Text features help you find what you need to look up again – Text features help you review

Text Structures The following three slides contain virtually the same information about Text Structures. How are the slides different from each other? Are any slides easier or more difficult to read than others? Why? Let’s look at the next slides and see which ones we like better…

Being able to identify the text structure the author is using will help you in understanding the material. Material in expository text is composed of content (what you are reading about) and structure (how the information is organized). There are five common structures in nonfiction.

Text Structure Identifying the text structure can help you understand the message the author is trying to send. Identifying the text structure can make you a better reader. Text is composed of content (what you are reading about) and structure (how it is arranged or organized).

Informational Text is composed of: Informational, nonfiction, or expository text is composed of content and structure: – Content: What you are reading about – Structure: How it is organized – Being able to identify the text structure can help you comprehend the content – There are 5 common types of text structure

Text Structure There are five (5) common text structures Description/Listing Sequence/Time Order Compare and Contrast Cause and Effect Problem and Solution

Description and Listing

Description/Listing Description provides: -facts -characteristics -attributes of a subject -most common text structure.

Sequence/Time Order

Sequence presents a: -series of events -steps in a process -take place in a specific time order.

Compare and Contrast

Compare and Contrast points out: -likeness, similarities -differences, distinctions -between two or more subjects.

Cause and Effect

Cause and Effect attempts to explain: - why something happens -how facts or events lead to other events -a single cause often has several effects -a single event may have several causes

Problem and Solution

Problem and Solution: -describes a problem -presents one possible solution - suggests other solutions if one does not work

What Text Structure Is Being Used? Trouble had been brewing for more than ten years. First, in 1763 Britain defeated France in the French and Indian War. Then, Britain tried to tighten control over its 13 American colonies and tax the colonies more heavily. Finally, colonists began to rebel against their British rulers.

Sequence/Time Order

What Text Structure is Being Used? The cheetah can run 70 mph. In the 1996 Olympic Games, Michael Johnson set a world record and captured the gold medal when he ran 200 meters in seconds. That’s 23 mph.

Compare and Contrast

What Text Structure is Being Used? As the left plate slides down into the earth, it enters the hot mantle. Rocks in the sliding plate begin to melt, and they form magma.

Cause and Effect

What Text Structure is Being Used? Environmentalists are battling to save the remaining native species of plants and animals. Scientists and private citizens are attempting to preserve 4,000 acres on the island of Hawaii by literally fencing them off against the invading foreign species.

Problem/Solution

What Text Structure Is Being Used? The dinosaurs were four to eight feet long, about the size of kangaroos. They had small heads and longs necks, and they walked on two or four legs.

Description

Mixing it up Authors often use more than one type of text structure. They may start off by listing. Then they may follow that with compare and contrast. Finally, they may conclude their writing with problem and solution. Be prepared to see lots of structures