Nonfiction Signposts

words of the wiser (wow)

meaningful facts that come from a subject matter expert or witness

again and again (aaa)

repeated topics or ideas

tough questions (tq)

a question that the author asks that may be hard to answer

memory moment (mm)

author interrupts to reveal a memory from the past

aha moment (am)

indicates when the character has a sudden realization or understanding that change their perspectives

memory contrast and contradictions (cac)

a moment in the text where information presented directly opposes something previously stated

number and statistics (nas)

when the author gives data in the form of numbers, such as dates, amounts, percentages

extreme or absolute language (eoal)

when the author uses “all or nothing” language to imply really intense ideas, words like always, never, total, none, complete

word gaps (wg)

when the author uses specific vocabulary words that connect to the topic