Text Features

Non-fiction Text Purpose: Gain information or facts about people, places, things, or events

Table of Contents The Table of Contents helps the reader identify key topics in the book in the order they are presented. It is found at the beginning of the book. Table of Contents How to choose a puppy 2 Helping your puppy adjust to his new home 6 Feeding your new puppy 10 Potty training a puppy 12

Index An index is an alphabetical list of almost everything covered in the text, with page numbers. It is located at the back of the book. Christmas 20-30 cultural traditions 21, 22, introduction 20 presents 30 Easter 10-15 eggs 15

Photographs Photographs help the reader understand exactly what something looks like.

Captions Captions help the reader better understand a picture or photograph Bison or buffalo once roamed the Great Plains.

Labels petals Labels help the reader identify a picture or photograph and/or its part. stem leaf

Cutaways Cutaways help the reader understand something by looking at it from the inside. (Like cutting a slice of something.) http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/animals/images/bvr2.jpg

Close-ups Close-ups help the reader see details in something small.

Comparisons Comparisons help the reader understand the size of one thing by comparing it to the size of something else. Comparisons may also be in the form of charts, tables, or graphs where you are comparing data.

Charts, Tables,and Graphs Charts & Tables help the reader understand important information by listing it in a chart or table. Graphs help the reader see relationships between things. Color of M & Ms Number of M & Ms Red 4 Yellow 5 Blue 10 Green 3

Maps Maps help the reader understand where things are in the world. http://www.oldmap.co.uk/ISLE-OF-WIGHT-old-Map.jpg

Types of Print Types of print help the reader by signaling, “Look at me! I’m important!” It may be bold print, italics, ALL CAPS, underlined, or larger print. The old dresser draw screeched as the children slowly pulled it open. Inside they found and old document that gave directions to a lost gold mine.

Glossary The glossary helps the reader understand key words that are in the text. It is an alphabetical listing of key words and their meaning. It is located in the back of the book. Other names: Important Words to Know. captions cutaways Captions – words describing what is happening in a picture or photograph Close-ups – enlarged picture or object to show details in something small Cutaways – picture or illustration that helps the reader understand something by looking at it from the inside. (Like cutting a slice of something)