1. OSSLT: Reading a Graphic Text

2. Graphic Text Reading Selection
On the OSSLT the graphic text reading selection has less than 150 words. The graphic text reading selection has a title. One or more graphic elements are included.
The purpose of a graphic text is to communicate ideas and information visually by using diagrams, photographs, drawings, sketches, timetables, maps, charts, or tables.
Text features such as bold and italic fonts, headings, subheadings, bullets, legends, labels, and captions may be used to support or emphasize key ideas or information.
The design and layout of graphic elements such as images or charts also may be used to communicate key ideas or information visually.

3. Learning Goal
I can use visuals and text features to enhance my understanding of a graphic text.

4. Success Criteria for Reading a Graphic Text
I read the title to determine the topic
I preview the text features to determine the order I will read the text.
I make connections between the text and my prior knowledge
I use the text features to help me understand the text
I can identify the main idea
Review this criteria with the students.

5. Before you read… Read the title to determine the topic
Skim the graphic text to confirm the topic.
Think about what you already know about the topic.
Ask yourself how you can use this knowledge to help you understand the selection.
Quickly preview the features of text by looking for headings, labels, captions, legends, columns, arrows, or scales.
Set a purpose for reading the graphic text; for example, to understand the steps in a procedure or ideas and information in a poster.
Determine the order in which you will view the visuals and read the print in the selection.

6. As you read…
View the visuals and read the print in the selection in chunks. After each chunk, pause for a moment to make sure you understand the specific ideas and information in that particular section.
When viewing and reading a chart or diagram, read each label and follow the arrow beside it to the related part of the chart or diagram. Ask yourself what the purpose of the chart or diagram is.
Make connections between the ideas and information in the graphic text and your personal experiences and knowledge from other texts or the world. Ask yourself how these text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections help you understand the graphic text.

8. After you read…
Ask yourself if there were any parts of the graphic text you did not understand. Go back to each part and review it. Use the information in the text and your own ideas to make an inference to fill in any missing information.
Ask yourself if you understand how the parts of the graphic text are related to each other. If you do not understand how some parts are related, have another look at them and think about how they are similar to or different from each other.
Ask yourself what the main idea of the graphic text is. How would you explain it in your own words in a few sentences?
Ask yourself how the text features such as font size and style, headings, or captions and the design and layout of the visuals helped you understand the main idea.

9. Multiple-Choice (Determine the best or most correct answer
1. Which combination of factors contributes most to the creation of a pothole?
A. heavy rain and loose soil
B. freezing water and busy traffic
C. snow tires and pavement cracks
D. worn asphalt and temporary repairs

10. Answer
B. freezing water and busy traffic

11. 2. What does the word “void” (Stage 5) mean. F. freezing water G
2. What does the word “void” (Stage 5) mean? F. freezing water G. an empty space H. cracked pavement J. a crumbled sub-base

12. Answer
G. an empty space

13. 3. What remains unchanged as a pothole is formed and fixed. A
3. What remains unchanged as a pothole is formed and fixed? A. the soil B. the sub-base C. the pavement D. the temperature

14. Answer
A. the soil

15. 4. Which feature in this graphic text identifies the problem and its solution? F. photos G. arrows H. subtitles J. numbers

16. Answer
H. subtitles

17. 5. How is the information in the first bullet under “How They’re Fixed” organized? A. by cause and effect B. as steps in a sequence C. in order of importance D. by comparing and contrasting

18. Answer
B. as steps in a sequence

19. 6. What does the photograph in the middle of the page show. F
6. What does the photograph in the middle of the page show? F. a repaired pothole G. how to fix a pothole H. another view of Stage 7 J. the early stages of pothole formation

20. Answer
H. another view of Stage 7

21. For more samples of graphic texts and other reading selections visit…