As a reader…

• Your job as a reader is to take notice of these text features before you read so that they help you predict what you will be reading.

• During reading, so that they help you understand the main ideas of the text.

• After reading, to understand why they were valuable to you, the reader.

TEXT FEATURES…

We are going to focus on informational text, which is a type of literature whose purpose is to give information .

To help readers understand the ideas in the text, authors of informational reading usually format their text with something called TEXT FEATURES, which you are probably familiar with.

Text Features are…

--techniques that make text look different and stand out

--used to make information easier to read and understand

Common Text Features•Headings--a “title” to show the main idea of an entire passage•Subheadings--a “title” under the heading to further break that text into sections•White Space--extra spaces between text to separate it into sections so the reader can find information easily

heading

subheading

white space

Common Text Features•graphics--visuals that help the reader understand concepts presented in the text (not just for show)-- include maps, charts, pictures, diagrams, tables, timelines•captions--text under a graphic that gives an explanation of the graphic

map

timeline

chart

table

diagram

Notice the font effects used in this paragraph about instant messaging etiquette. IMs are meant to be casual, but it's a real turn-off when messages are FULL of typos. It's not a test, but you want people to understand you. It may help to slow down and think a little before typing. Don't be haughty, either. It's not your job to criticize someone else's typing, unless it's really horrible. Remember, you're using an IM to communicate. If you're not communicating, what's the point?

Common Text Features•Font changes--different ways to make words look different and add emphasis to certain words--includes bold print, different colored fonts, italics, underlining, ALL CAPS

Common Text Features•Bulleted List--easily displays a

list of items where the order of the items is not important

Notice how the bullets on this

recipe make the ingredients list easier to read.

Common Text Features• Numbered List--easily displays a list of

items where the order of the items is importantNotice how the Notice how the numbers on this recipe numbers on this recipe help make the list of help make the list of cooking steps easier to cooking steps easier to read. It also helps you read. It also helps you follow the steps in the follow the steps in the correct ORDER!correct ORDER!

Common Text Features• Columns--vertical (up and

down) sections of text that are easier to read than text that stretches across the entire page

--separated by white space

Common Text Features•Sidebar--a box of text that gives you side information related to the topic of the text you are reading; sometimes this is additional information; sometimes it is interesting facts or trivia about your topic

Notice this web page of a software company features a sidebar to the left to show the reader key features of the software.

TEXT FEATURES SCAVENGER HUNT…

Your assignment is to cut, glue (just a dot), and label examples of text features from a newspaper and/or magazine onto a piece of construction paper. You must have 10 separate cut-outs; you cannot find more than one text feature per cut-out. You will be scored on participation and cooperation. Use your notes to help you find examples of the 10 text features.