Informational Texts

FICTION Writing or story created from the imagination, not presented as fact, though it may be based on a true story or situation. Informational texts are NOT FICTION!

NONFICTION literature that is not fictional (It is not made-up) Examples: biographies, autobiographies, etc.

What is an “informational text”? Informational texts are nonfiction texts that explain or convey information. Some examples are: Textbooks Encyclopedias Newspapers Magazines Web sites pamphlets

Expository means… a piece of writing that explains

To summarize: Without looking at your paper, tell your partner two facts about informational texts.

Can you name this movie? Raise your hand if you can name the title of this movie……

ATLAS A collection of maps in book form Examples of Informational Texts: ATLAS A collection of maps in book form

THESAURUS A book of synonyms, sometimes including contrasting words Examples of Informational Texts: THESAURUS A book of synonyms, sometimes including contrasting words

Examples of Informational Texts: ALMANAC A publication, usually an annual, containing useful facts and statistical information

You often use expository or informational texts for research. A primary source is a document or object which was written or created during the time under study. A secondary source is a secondhand account about people, even, topics or places. (examples: encyclopedia, textbook, biography)

Features of Informational Texts Whenever you use information from a source, you must cite it. A CITATION is a reference to a work, such as a book or a journal article - it provides the necessary information needed to locate the work. A book citation provides the author, title, publisher, publication place, and year of a work. Citations often appear at the end of the work in the form of a bibliography.

Can you name this famous voice? Raise your hand if you can identify this voice!

The way you read informational texts is different from the way you read stories, poetry, etc. You read fiction from beginning to end, focusing on the story, characters, setting, and meaning. You read informational texts by focusing on the organizational structure to find specific information. Often, you do NOT read the text from beginning to end.

Features of Informational Texts TEXTUAL FEATURES Headings Sub-headings Index Table of Contents Glossary Captions Topic/Main Idea Supporting Details GRAPHIC FEATURES Diagrams Photos Illustrations Maps Charts/Tables

Headings and Sub-headings Features of Informational Texts Headings and Sub-headings Titles of sections using bold print, different font sizes and colors These headings and sub-headings help to organize the text into sections

Summarizer: What is an atlas used for? What is a thesaurus used for?

INDEX Features of Informational Texts  an alphabetical list of items (as topics or names) given at the end of a printed work that gives for each item the page number where it may be found Use this to look up specific information!

Can you name this song? Raise your hand if you can name this song!

Features of Informational Texts TABLE OF CONTENTS A table of contents, usually headed simply "Contents," is a list of the parts of a book or document organized in the order in which the parts appear. Use this when you are looking for broad topics

GLOSSARY a collection of specialized terms with their meaning Features of Informational Texts GLOSSARY a collection of specialized terms with their meaning The glossary is usually located in the back of the book. Use this to look up definitions for words.

Features of Informational Texts GRAPHIC FEATURES  a graphic representation (as a picture, map, or graph) used especially for illustration graphic feature The Mona Lisa, by Italian painter Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the most recognizable artistic paintings in the Western world.

Features of Informational Texts CAPTIONS the heading especially of an article or document;  the explanatory comment or designation accompanying a pictorial illustration The Mona Lisa, by Italian painter Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the most recognizable artistic paintings in the Western world. caption

How informational texts are organized Chronological/Sequential order Enumeration/Description Comparison/contrast Cause/Effect

Chronological/ Sequential Order A main idea is supported by details that must be in a particular sequence Signal words First Next Then Before After Finally Following

Enumeration/ Description A major idea is supported by a list of details or examples Signal Words For instance For example Such as To illustrate

Comparison/Contrast The supporting details of two or more main ideas indicate how those concepts are similar or different. Signal words Different from Same as Similar to As opposed to Instead of However Compared with

Cause & Effect The supporting details give the causes of a main idea or the supporting details are the results produced by the main idea. Signal Words Because of As a result of Due to Therefore Consequently For this reason thus

Think! Which organizing structure would you use to tell about what you did this summer?

Can You Name this Movie?