1. Text Structures and Text Features
Ginny Webb
Henry Moss Middle School
August 2015

2. Fiction versus Non-Fiction
Not real
Characters
Setting
Plot
Exposition
Rising action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution

3. Plot Mountain

4. Fiction versus Non Fiction
Usually True and informational
Can be organized in different ways
Cause and Effect
Sequential Order
Problem/Solution
Description
Compare and Contrast
Chronological Order
Main Idea and Details

5. Informational Text Designed to convey factual information
Gives important information about people, places, things
Examples
Newspaper article
Chapter in a textbook
Recipe in a cookbook

6. More Examples of Informational Text
Atlas
Autobiography
Biography
Brochure
Cookbook
Diary
Encyclopedia
Manual
Internet website
Newspaper
Pamphlet
Poster
Phone book
TV Guide
Warranty

7. Text Features
Help you pick out the important information in a informational text
Divided into 3 categories
Organizational
Print
graphic

8. Organizational Text Features
Used to help organize text
Table of contents
Index
Glossary
Appendix
Atlas

9. Examples

10. Print Text Features Shows important information Headings Subheadings
Bold or highlighted print
Italics
Underlining
Font
Bullet points

11. Examples
Heading
Subheading

12. Graphic Text Features Used to expand the meaning of text Illustrations
Sidebars
Maps
Charts/tables
Time lines
Graphs

13. Examples
Graph Sidebar

14. What are the Organizational Text Structures?
Explanation
Signal Words
Questions to Ask
Cause and Effect
Why something happened and the result of it happening
Therefore, so this led to, because, as a result
Why did something happen? What were the results of it happening?
Sequential Order
Describes the order or tells the steps to follow
First, second, third, before, after, next
What steps are listed? Do the steps have to happen in a certain order?
Compare/Contrast
Shows how two things are alike or different
Like, unlike, but, in contrast, on the other hand, however, both, also, too, as well as
How are two things alike?
How are they different?
What do they have in common?

15. What are the Organizational Text Structures?
Type
Explanation
Signal Words
Questions to Ask
Chronological Order
Time order in which events occur
The use of dates
What are the dates the events happened? In what order did they happen?
Main Idea/Details
Key concept and information that supports the concept
For example, also, one reason, another reason
What is the main idea being expressed?
What details support the idea?

16. Practice Time!
You will be given a worksheet to complete as a whole group.

17. Text Features

18. Purpose of Text Features
Help us 1. identify important information
Help us remember the big ideas and topics
Used to support information in the text
Pictures, maps, tables, etc

19. What are Text Features?
Parts of a reading passage that stand out from the rest of the information
2. Used to bring important information to our attention

20. How Do We Use Them? 3. Preview text features before reading
Think about the ideas the author wants you to remember
“Read” everything-the captions, sidebars, labels, fine print...all of this can help you understand the information presented in the text

21. Types of Text Features 4. Table of Contents Glossary Index
Underlined, bold, italicized, highlighted words
Headings/subheadings
Font styles and colors
Diagrams, charts, tables, graphs, maps
Pictures or illustrations
Sidebars
Captions
Bullets or numbered lists
Timeline

22. Table of Contents Makes it easier to locate information in the text
A list of chapter titles from a book
5. Tells you what page chapters begin on
What page does Chapter 2 start on?
6. Page15

23. Glossary 7. Gives definitions of words found in a text
Helps you know what the words in the book mean
What is the definition of galaxy?
8. A cluster of stars, dust, and gas held together by gravity

24. Index
Detailed alphabetical listing of names, places, topics, and the page numbers where that information can be found
9. Helps find specific information quickly
What page will I find the Matrix-method?
10. Page 556

25. Underlined, Bold, Italicized, or Highlighted Words
Features used to draw attention to specific information
Uses them to signal you to notice or remember something
Usually used with vocabulary terms, section headings/subheadings, etc

26. Headings and Subheadings
Found at the top of a paragraph or page
Usually in larger font or different color
11. Sum up the topic or paragraph in just a few words

27. Font (Style, Size, and Color)
Words can be in different styles, sizes, or colors to highlight important or key information
12. Font changes add variety to a page

28. Graphics (Diagrams, Charts, Tables, Graphs, Maps)
13. Explain or demonstrate ideas from the text
Helps the reader see the text in a visual form
Helps you see the information in chart/map/ form

29. Sidebar (Textbox) 14. Boxed information to the side of the page
Usually have a color background or border
Include text, illustrations, or other information to supplement the main text

30. Pictures/Illustrations
15. Provide support for the written text
Sometimes give extra information
Add visual appeal to a page

31. Captions
16. Usually added to the bottom of pictures (can also be beside or above a picture)
Tells you what is happening in the picture or photograph
What is the caption on this picture?
Teacher Lighthouse Team

32. Bulleted List 17. Call attention to main ideas and details
Things the author wants you to notice

33. Timelines Arranged in 18. CHRONOLOGICAL order
Usually displayed along a line
Connects events or puts events in order
What year was Benjamin Franklin born?
1706

34. Quiz Time!
Please clear your desks of everything except a piece of paper and a writing utensil.
Number your paper 1-10
PUT YOUR NAME ON YOUR PAPER

35. #1

36. #2

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44. #10