1. How to Read Nonfiction texts

2. What is a signpost?
A way to organize information from a nonfiction text.
A way to track information in reading and expand on the information given while being an active reader
Signposts have 3 key components:
A quote or textual evidence
Identifying the type of signpost you noticed
Notes and analysis on the quote or textual evidence

3. Quoted Words
What to look for: When you’re reading and you notice the author quote a Voice of Authority, a Personal Perspective or cited Other’s Words.
Note:
Voice of Authority - someone who does the job
Personal Perspective - someone who was there
Other’s Words - what someone else at a different time said about the event
Ask yourself: Why did the author quote or cite this person?
Some keywords to look for: Any phrase with a set of quotation marks

4. Numbers and Stats
What to look for: When you’re reading and you notice specific numbers, number words, or amounts
Note: a number could be spelled out with letters or written as a traditional number, fraction, or decimal
Ask yourself: Why did the author use these numbers or amounts?
Some additional keywords: many, often, occasionally, few

5. Extreme or Absolute Language
What to look for: When you’re reading and you notice the author uses language that leaves no doubt, exaggerates, or pushes the limit
Note: This could also be a blanket statement, use of bandwagon, or loaded words
Ask yourself: Why did the author say it like that?
Some keywords to look for: never, none, totally, unquestionably, hardest, meanest, hungriest, perfectly, completely, absolutely, unconditionally, entirely, always, arguably

6. Contrasts and Contradictions
What to look for: When you’re reading and the author shows you a difference between what YOU know and what is happening in the text OR A difference between two or more things in the text
Ask yourself: What is the difference and why does it matter?
Some keywords to look for: however, unlike, different from, instead, yet, otherwise, alternatively, by contrast, on the other hand

7. Word Gaps
What to look for: When you’re reading and the author uses a word or phrase you don’t know
Ask yourself:
Do I know this word from some place else? OR
Does this seem like technical talk for experts of this topic? OR
Can I find clues in the sentence to help me understand the word?

8. Let’s apply these strategies!
John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address

9. Step 1: Background Information
Who was John F. Kennedy?
What is an inaugural address? What does inaugural mean?

10. Step 2: Read Through the Text
Mark anything that is interesting or confusing to you
Are there words you don’t know? Look them up!