A Picture is Worth...
This text feature is a realistic image that has clearly been taken by a camera. It shows what you are reading about in clear detail.
What is a photograph?
If you were told to open your book to chapter 5, where should you look to find out what page to open to?
What is a table of contents?
This is where you would find the title of a book, the author, and what company published it. It might also include when the book was published.
What is a title page?
Lizzie is fascinated by what she is learning about for her research project. If she wants to learn even more, what text feature might be the most helpful?
What is a link/hyperlink?
Max is looking for a text feature that will help him know where the capital of Italy is. Which text feature would be most likely to help him?
What is a map?
This image shows what you are reading about. It has been drawn or painted by someone, not taken by a camera.
What is an illustration?
This text feature has a list of many important words related to your subject and explains which page those words can be found on. The words are listed in alphabetical order.
What is an index?
Shelly is reading a book about weather. Under a section with the larger title "Types of Clouds," she sees some smaller titles saying "cumulus," "nimbus," and "stratus." What type of text feature are these smaller titles?
What is a subheading?
This text feature is used when a list of items or information appears in the text. (Hint: small dots next to words)
What are bullet points?
This text feature can show the events that happen in a cycle or sequence, or it can show important events that have happened in the past.
What is a timeline?
This text feature shows the parts that something is made up of or instructions for how something is used.
What is a diagram?
Which text feature shows data represented in an easier-to-understand way?
What is a chart/graph?
Luis needs to write a definition for one of the vocabulary words in his science lesson. Which text feature would likely be the most helpful to Luis?
What is a glossary?
This text feature is used to provide extra information about what you are reading. It is separate from the main text and often has a small title of its own.
What is a text box?
Brendan has an illustration of a guitar, which he wants to make into a diagram. What text feature should Brendan add to his illustration to make a diagram?
What are labels?
Rudy sees a short sentence next to each of the pictures in the article he is reading. Which text feature is he probably looking at?
What is a caption?
Which text feature collects information in rows and columns? Hint: You used it before making your bar graphs.
What is a table?
Which text feature indicates that a new, broad subject is being introduced?
What is a heading?
Sheri is reading a book and notices some words that are darker than the surrounding text. When she looks in the back of the book, she finds the definitions of those words. What text feature tells about the words?
What are words in bold/bold words?
Kevin is looking at a picture of a fingerprint that has been magnified so that you can see all of the details. What text feature is Kevin looking at?
What is a close-up?