Determining the Effect of Textual Aids on the Understanding of a Text

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to textual aids and their functions, based on the lecture notes.

Textual Aids

Non-textual elements (e.g., titles, illustrations, graphs) that highlight key ideas and help readers understand and retain information.

Non-textual Elements

Visual or structural features such as maps, tables, and charts that supplement the written text.

Titles

Main headings that introduce the overall topic and activate prior knowledge.

Subtitles

Secondary headings that present supporting ideas and show hierarchical importance beneath a title.

Bold Text

Words in heavier typeface used to emphasize crucial terms or themes.

Italicized Text

Slanted type used to stress important concepts or indicate titles of works.

Underlined Text

Words with a line beneath them to draw attention or signify emphasis.

Illustration

A visual representation (drawing, photo, diagram) that aids comprehension and memory of information.

Table

Data organized in rows and columns to reveal patterns or relationships and read like prose.

Column Heading

Label at the top of a table column identifying its specific content.

Row Label

Descriptor at the side of a table row that defines the data in that row.

Graph

Visual device used when a simple table cannot clearly show significant data relationships.

Bar Graph

Graph that employs vertical or horizontal bars to compare quantities.

Line Graph

Graph displaying how numerical data change over time to reveal trends.

Pie Graph

Circular chart showing how a whole is divided into proportional parts.

Pictograph

Graph similar to a bar chart but using images to represent countable units.

Map

Flat visual representation of selected characteristics of a place.

Physical Map

Map that labels natural features such as mountain ranges and bodies of water.

Political Map

Map that marks human-made boundaries and locations such as cities, states, or provinces.

Footnote

Numbered note at the bottom of a page that explains difficult words, references, or background.

Annotation

Explanatory note (often in margins) offering clarification, context, or interpretation of the text.

Diagram

Simplified drawing that shows relationships or processes, aiding conceptual understanding.

Flowchart

Diagram using symbols and arrows to display a sequence of steps or decisions in a process.

Sidebar

Short, related information placed beside the main text to provide additional insight.

Boxed (Framed) Text

Information enclosed in a box anywhere on the page, offering extra facts not in the main narrative.

Chapter Heading

Top-level heading that signals the start of a new major section or chapter.

Subheading

Heading under a main heading that breaks information into smaller, skimmable parts for easy navigation.