Informational Text Features Print Features, Graphic Aids, and Organization

Why do we need to know about informational text features? They provide the reader with information in various forms. We must know what to look for so we don’t miss something important.

Text Feature: Types of Print Bold print, colored print, italics Purpose: Help the reader by signaling, “Look at me! I’m important!”

Text feature: Titles and Headings Purpose: They announce the topic that will be covered.

Text Feature: Labels Purpose: Help the reader identify a picture or photograph and/or its parts. Example:

Text Feature: Captions Purpose: Help the reader better understand a picture Example: Dema, a baby Sumatran tiger, licks Nia, a baby orangutan.

Text Feature: Bullets Purpose: Helps readers identify items in a list.

Text Feature: Fact Boxes Purpose: Gives the reader additional information about the topic and puts it in a box so it catches your eye. Example: FACT Bullfrogs got their name because someone thought the male's deep call sounded like a bull mooing. These frogs can be huge, sometimes growing as big as eight inches (20 centimeters) and weighing up to 1.5 pounds (0.6 kilograms).

Text Feature: Diagrams Purpose: It is a drawing or plan that helps the reader understand how something works. Example:

Text Feature: Flow Diagram Purpose: Help the reader understand the sequence (order) of steps. Example:

Text Feature: Size Comparisons Purpose: Help the reader understand the size of one thing by comparing it to the size of something familiar. Example:

Text Feature: Magnification/Close ups Purpose: Help the reader see details in something small. Example:

Text Feature: Photographs and Illustrations Purpose: Help the reader understand exactly what something looks like. Example:

Text Feature: Cross Section/Cut Away Purpose: Help the reader understand something by looking at it from the inside. Example:

Text Feature: Graphs Purpose: Use pictures and symbols to show information and to make a point. Example:

Text Feature: Table Example: Purpose: Helps the reader view facts by placing them in parallel columns. Example:

Text Feature: Timeline Purpose: To represent key historical events in order. Example:

Text Feature: Maps Purpose: Help the reader understand where things are in the world. Example:

Text Feature: Table of Contents Purpose: Help the reader identify key topics in the book in the order they are presented. Example: Table of Contents Chapter Page Becoming a Writer 8 Habits That Enhance Writing 11 Tips on Writing 14 The Narrative Essay Plan 17 Using the Writing Traits 20 Editing and Revising 25 Publishing Your Essay 30

Text Feature: Introduction/Deck Purpose: It gives you a “Heads Up” about what you will be reading about. Example:

Text Feature: Index Purpose: An alphabetical list of almost everything covered in the text, with page numbers. Example: Index Amphibians p.13 Bats p. 18 Diet p. 12, 14, 16 Insects p. 7 Mammals p. 10 Snakes p. 8

Text Feature: Glossary Purpose: Help the reader define words contained in the text. Example: Glossary Adaptation- a change that a living thing goes through so that it fits in better in its environment Extinct- died out Species- a group of related animals or plants Survive- to stay alive through some dangerous event

Text Feature: Pronunciation Guide Purpose: Helps the reader pronounce, or say a word. correctly. Example:   Pronunciation [pruh-nuhn-see-ey-shuhn]

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