Information Text – Text Features Students will: Use text features to locate information and make meaning from text (e.g., headings, key words, captions, footnotes).

Text features are parts of informational (nonfiction) text other than the body that help the reader understand the content more clearly.

Common Text Features Boldface terms Photos and Illustrations Charts Preview Glossary Footnotes Table of contents Headings and Titles Caption Index Timeline Maps

Common Text Features Boldface terms Photos and Illustrations Charts Preview Glossary Footnotes Table of contents Headings and Titles Caption Index Timeline Maps

Interact! Everyone Stand Up!!! Turn to the person closest to you. Take turns telling each other as many common text features as you can remember. Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boldface Boldface is a signal to: Slow Down and Pay Attention. Boldface also signals that a word, term, or event is important.

Footnotes A numbered note that is placed at the bottom of a page that will provide additional information, a source, or a definition of a word Notice how a footnote is organized on the page with the two examples shown.

Charts Gives information, shows processes or to make comparisons. Packs lots of information in a small space. Adds clarity to the information in the text.

Glossary Alphabetical list of key people, places, events, and terms. A tool to help you understand the language of the subject.

Graphs Variety of graphs: line, bar, etc. Can use pictures and symbols to show information. A graph is shown to make a point. Always read the graph’s title, labels on the vertical and horizontal axes, and any other text included with the graph.

Headings and Titles Announces the topics that will be covered. Allows us to be efficient in our reading -- skim the headings to focus on the purpose of our reading.

Index Found at the very back of a textbook. Gives the location of every important idea, term, definition, person, and place. A search tool to help you find what you need.

Maps When reading a map, pay attention to the following: Labels Legend or Key Compass Rose Lines of Longitude and Latitude Lines Scale Symbols Colors

Closer Look…

Photos and Illustrations Photos and illustrations are used to emphasize or make important points. Read the captions. Captions tell you the reason for putting the picture or illustration in the text. Captions say in a few lines, what the author takes paragraphs to explain. Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin (32) dunks in the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Staples Center. Clippers won 112-100.

Preview Many textbooks include a preview at the beginning of chapters. Acts like a summary. Packs into one small space, many of the important things to know about a chapter. Key terms and important vocabulary will often be listed in the preview.

There’s more! Italics Underlining Examples There are additional text features that authors use to bring attention to important details. Here are a few more: Color Italics Underlining Examples Insets and many, many more!!!!

Sample Test Questions