1. Text Features 2A

2. Text features
Are parts of books, magazines, etc. besides the main text.
May include table of contents, introduction, charts, sidebars, foreword, timeline, afterword, etc.
Are useful to the reader when he is trying to understand the main text a little better.
Have a purpose!
Your job is to determine that purpose! (to verify, support, or clarify meaning)

3. Table of Contents Is in the front of the book.
Lists the chapters (or sections) in the order they appear.
Usually indicates the main topic (if given a title).
Your job will be to analyze what a chapter or section title might include.
Example – Page 155

4. Headings
Are a short line of text that briefly describes the topic of material coming after it.
Usually in bold
Easy to spot
Usually in informative writing
Break up the text into smaller sections
A reader can quickly skim headings and be able to determine information underneath them.
Example – Page 159

5. Introductory features
Introduction – a paragraph (or longer) that appears at the beginning of the main text.
The general purpose of many introductions is to build the reader’s interest to read more.
Forewords and prologues are two types of introductions.

6. Introductory features (cont.)
Foreword – a type of introduction to a book that is often written by someone other than the author.
The purpose may be to give the author praise or to emphasize the author’s qualifications as a writer.
Prologue or Preface – a type of introduction written by the author.
The purpose may be to tell of an event that happened before the story begins, or it may give part of the story that occurs at or near the end of the story line.
Example – Page 162

7. Sidebar Is a short text written in addition to the main article.
Relates to the main article in some way.
Usually gives additional information about a specific detail mentioned in the article.
Is often in a box placed beside a main article.
Often verifies, supports, or clarifies something in the main article.
Example – Page 166

8. Reference features Are used when something needs further explanation.
An asterisks(*) or dagger(†) sign may be used as a symbol to show a footnote or an endnote.
Footnote – a note or reference placed at the bottom of the page.
Endnote – a note or reference placed at the end of the document.
Reasons for using footnotes or endnotes:
To give further information or instructions
To comment on an idea in the text
To define a word or term that may be unfamiliar to a reader
To cite a source of information

9. Reference features (cont.)
Bibliography – a list of books, articles, etc. used as a reference for another document
at the end of the article, essay, or research paper
listed in alphabetical order
The author’s purpose is to give credit for the information he used and to verify from which sources the information was obtained.

10. Concluding features
Afterword – a commentary usually written by someone other than the author that comes after the author’s text.
Usually found in nonfiction writing
Similar to a foreword
Can comment either on the text or the author
Purpose is to give a sense of closure.
May answer common questions or may give additional resources for further research.
When written by the author, he/she may explain underlying reasons for writing.

11. Concluding features (cont.)
Epilogue – a conclusion given at the end of a story that often tells what happens to the characters in the future.
Usually found in after fictional stories / plays
Often tells what happens to the characters
Purpose is to give a sense of closure.
May answer common questions.
When written in a play, it may be a concluding speech given directly to the audience.

12. Graphic
Is a photo, a design, or a display of data in the form of charts or graphs.
Charts / Graphs
Illustrations
Diagrams
Often used to support the text.

13. Graphic (cont.) Graph Definition Looks Like… Line Graph
A line graph uses points that are connected to show how the numbers change over TIME.
Bar Graph
A bar graph uses bars to REPRESENT and COMPARE numbers.
Circle Graph
A circle graph (pie chart/pie graph) uses parts of a circle to COMPARE PARTS OF A WHOLE or PERCENTAGES of different things.
Pictograph
Similar to a bar graph but uses pictures instead of bars to represent a CERTAIN NUMBER of things (there will be an explanation regarding HOW MUCH a picture stands for)
*each pencil stands for 100 pencils I have loaned to students

14. Tips
Pay more attention to the second part of each answer choice.

15. Possible test questions
How would the sidebar support the information of the passage?
How does the sidebar support the meaning of the passage?
How will the inclusion of the sidebar support the meaning of the passage?
How does the inclusion of the timeline support the meaning of the passage?
Does the introduction support the meaning of the passage?
Which conclusion is supported by information in the graph and the passage?

16. Possible test questions
Under which suggestion in the passage does the above statement appropriately fit?
Does the proposed afterword help to verify the information in the excerpt?
Which statement below justifies the decision to include or not to include the information in the timeline?
Which statement below justifies the author’s decision to include or not to include the foreword?
If presented as a sidebar to the passage, how would the chart support the message of the passage?

17. Words to know Demonstrates Proposes Compassionate Cautious Indicates
Isolate
Verify
Compliance
Clarifies
Contradict
Reveals
Significant
Elaborates
Justifies
Detracts
Forthright
Dominant
Emphasize
Illustrates

18. Mississippi SATP English II Revised: Multiple Choice
Student Review Guide for Vocabulary/Reading