INTRODUCING Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Instructional Technology: Identifying Text Features Date Posted: July 5, 2006 Contributed by: Deborah StoneModified/Posted by:

What are text features? Text features are important graphics/pictures or words that authors use to help readers better understand the information in the text.

Refresh your memory! What are some examples of text features in this article? Click on the text feature name to learn more. Large Bold Print Diagram Map Title and Subtitle Pronunciation Key Photograph Caption

Large Bold Print Example In this example, the author uses large bold print for a picture title so that the reader focuses attention on it. I know that the title refers to the picture below it of “The Big City” because there is a large blue arrow pointing to the picture.

Map Example This map was really helpful for me! I can see how close the cenotes are to the United States and Mexico. I was able to find the Yucatan Peninsula very easily since it was orange. I can also see where the largest cenote, Cenote Azul, is because of the colored labels in the map.

Title and Subtitle Example The author chose the title “Cenotes!” because that is what the article is about. Although it is helpful to see what I am going to be reading about, I don’t know what cenotes are, so I am glad the author included the subtitle explaining that a cenote is a Mayan word for “sinkhole.”

Pronunciation Key Example I wasn’t sure how to say hieroglyphs, but the author broke down the word into sounds. I didn’t get stuck on that hard word.

Photograph Example I love to look at photographs because they help me to see what I am reading about. This photograph shows the pool of water that often forms in a cenote.

Caption Example Authors include captions to describe a picture or photograph. This caption helped me to understand that I was looking at stalactites and stalagmites in a cenote. I also know learned how stalactites and stalagmites are formed by reading the caption.

Diagram Example This is a diagram of how a cenote, or sinkhole, forms. This diagram is very helpful because I can see how the rainwater breaks down the sand, water, and clay to form a cenote in the ground.

Other Text Features that Authors Use Italics Underlining Charts and Graphs Labels Numbered Steps Bullets Definitions- the meaning of a word Colored Print

Your Turn! Directions: 1.Choose the link to one of the Time for Kids articles in the box below and read the article. 2.Use the “Back” button to return to this presentation and go to the chart on the next slide. 3.Toggle between the slide and the online article in order to fill in the chart. 4.Don’t forget to type your name and print the page! 5.Exit this PowerPoint presentation. Do not save your changes. World News Report-Ancient Tomb Holds Secrets Learn about the Egyptian artifacts that archaeologists found. Kid Scoops-Talking to a Baseball Legend Read an interview with the baseball legend, Willie Mays. World News- “A Queen’s Homecoming” Archaeologists identify the mummy of a lost Egyptian Queen.

Text Feature Example How does it help me understand the text? Who wants a challenge? Click here

Find text features in the article. For example, do you see any bold print? What about photographs? Write the type of text feature that you find in this column.

Tell me about the text feature you found. For example, if you find a title, write the name of the title in this column. Did you find a photograph? Describe the photograph in this column.

Think about the text feature you described. How did it help you to learn about the information in the article? Did it clear up something you did not understand? Did it give you additional information? Be specific.

Directions: Use your chart to help you respond to this BCR. Print this out when you are finished and hand it in. Would you recommend the article you read to other third graders? Use specific information about the text features in your article to support your answer.