TEXT FEATURE DETECTIVES
Which text feature helps you find the meaning of a difficult word?
Glossary
What is the central idea?
The most important idea the author wants the reader to understand.
An author explains events in the order they happen. What text structure is this?
Chronological order.
An author writes to give readers facts about a real-world topic. What is the purpose?
Inform.
What does it mean to compare?
Tell how things are alike.
In Animal Abilities: Octopuses, you want to find where different kinds of octopuses live. Which text feature should you look for?
Map
Which detail is relevant to the central idea “Octopuses have special abilities that help them survive”?
A. Octopuses like to live alone.
B. Octopuses can use camouflage.
C. Some octopuses are different colors.
D. Octopuses live in the ocean.
B. Octopuses can use camouflage.
An author explains how two animals are alike and different. What text structure is this?
Comparison.
What is the author's purpose in 8 Arms and 8 Ways?
To inform readers about how octopuses protect themselves.
What does it mean to contrast?
Tell how things are different.
A picture has arrows pointing to the arms, eyes, mantle, and suckers of an octopus. What text feature is this?
Diagram
What is the central idea of the section about octopuses' lives in the wild?
Octopuses have behaviors and abilities that help them survive in the wild.
An author explains why something happened and what happened because of it. What structure is this?
Cause and effect.
Name two details the author uses to develop the purpose of informing the readers about how octopuses protect themselves in the text "8 Arms and 8 Ways".
The octopus can use spit, camouflage, ink clouds, its siphon, and regrow its arms.
What do 8 Arms and 8 Ways and Animal Abilities: Octopuses have in common?
Both provide information about octopuses and their abilities.
Why does an author include a caption with a photograph?
To explain or give more information about the photograph and help the reader understand the topic.
In Kids Care About: Sea Turtles, why are details about fishing nets, pollution, buildings, lights, and climate change relevant?
They all explain dangers that put sea turtles at risk.
Which structure is being used?
“The road divided the elephant herd. Because of the animal crossing, the elephants were able to safely reconnect.”
Cause/effect.
What is the author's purpose in All About Snakes?
To persuade readers that they should not be afraid of snakes because snakes are helpful.
Which text gives more detailed information about the body parts of an octopus?
Animal Abilities: Octopuses.
In What Is Animal Migration?, the photograph shows geese flying south and the caption explains that geese fly south for the winter. How does the photograph and caption help you understand the paragraph?
They give a visual example of animals migrating because of seasonal change. The module specifically uses this photograph/caption relationship as an example.
A student says:
“The central idea of Kids Care About: Sea Turtles is that sea turtles live all over the world.”
Is this a strong central idea? Explain why or why not.
No. That is one detail, but it does not explain the whole text. The text is mainly about the many dangers sea turtles face and how people are trying to help them.
Why does the author of Dogs at Work use cause/effect?
To explain why dogs are able to help people and what happens as a result. For example, dogs can be trained to perform helpful tasks, which allows people to live more comfortably and safely.
How does the author develop the purpose of All About Snakes?
The author gives examples showing that snakes eat pests such as rats and mice, provide food for larger animals, and that most snakes are harmless.
Compare and contrast the texts What Is Animal Migration? and Florida Manatee Migration.
-Similarity: Both explain animal migration and seasonal changes.
-Difference: What Is Animal Migration? gives general information about many animals, while Florida Manatee Migration focuses specifically on manatees and where they move.