Text Features
Using text features helps the reader __________ the text better.
comprehend/understand
What are cause/effect relationships?
When an event happens that makes a chain reaction and creates another event to happen.
What is the author's purpose of informational texts?
The inform the reader by giving true facts.
What is the purpose of subheadings?
To let the reader know that a new topic is starting.
What is the problem and solution is this example: Many pioneers who settled the Great Plains lived in sod houses built from thick-rooted prairie grasses. This was because the prairie lacked standard building materials, such as wood or stone.
Problem: The prairie lacked standard building materials, such as wood or stone.
Solution: Poneers built houses from thick-rooted prairie grasses.
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA: The Pennsylvania Railroad Company was set up in 1846. Originally, it was supposed to run between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. At first, it only had freight trains which carried goods and supplies. Then in 1848, it began running a passenger train. By 1856, the Pennsylvania Railroad went to Chicago, Illinois. After the Civil War, it went to Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Missouri, New York City, and other large cities.
The main idea is how the Pennsylvania Railroad Company was set up.
What is a biography?
A biography is a type of informational text that tells about SOMEONE ELSE'S life.
Name three examples of text features.
title/headings, bold words, italic words, underlined words, table of contents, glossary, index, captions, sidebars, photographs, captions, timelines, maps, charts, graphs, or diagrams
How are the events on a timeline ordered?
Chronologically.
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA: It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. Brach’s, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. That’s a lot of candy corn, but that’s nothing compared to Tootsie Roll production. Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry’s staple product, chocolate. Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. Now that’s a mouthful!
The main idea is that there is a lot of candy produced in the United States each year.
True or False: All informational texts will have a glossary.
False
What do the bold or underlined words/phrases mean?
They let the reader know important vocabulary words or phrases in order to understand the text.
Is this true or false: Pluto was once the ninth planet in our solar system. Then, in 2006, scientists defined a planet as an object with a clear orbit around a star. Since Pluto does not have a clear orbit, it was reclassified. Today it is classified as a dwarf planet.
True
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA: Remember, if something is worth doing, it is worth doing correctly. That said, the key to making perfect cookies is merely a matter of preparation and precision. To begin with, read your cookie recipe thoroughly before baking and make sure that you have all of the necessary ingredients. Next, use good tools and utensils. By using good tools you can minimize mistakes and improve the quality of your product. Lastly, you should use top quality ingredients. If you use poor quality materials, you’ll create an inferior product. So, to make perfect cookies you should use the highest quality materials available.
The main idea is how to make perfect cookies.
True or False: Mr. Neyer is the best teacher ever.
You better have said true...
If you were working on your Michigan brochure and wanted to know more information about the Ojibwe tribe, what text feature might you use in the Meet Michigan textbook?
Index or glossary
What two things are being compared in this example: Most reptiles lay eggs. The shell of a reptile egg is not hard like the shell of a bird's egg. Instead, a reptiles's egg is soft and leathery.
Reptile and bird's eggs.
IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA: Mark Twain is one of America's most famous writers. His real name was Samuel Clemens. He was born in Missouri in 1835. When he was eighteen, Mark Twain left Missouri and worked as a printer in different cities. He wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
The main idea is Mark Twain is one of America's most famous writers.
What are three examples of informational texts in the real world? (Books do not count)
Examples: newspaper articles, menus, recipes, instructions/directions, ads, catalogs