Informational Texts
Page 4: What are Informational Texts?
Informational texts provide facts, data, and knowledge about a specific topic.
They aim to educate and inform the reader without offering personal opinions or fictional narratives.
Informational texts rely on organization and objective language to present information.
Page 5: Types of Informational Texts
Most informational texts fall into four categories: expository, argumentative, instructional, and narrative.
Understanding the type of text helps in understanding its purpose.
Page 7: Text Structures
Regardless of the type of text, all informational texts have certain text structures.
Being able to identify text structures and understand their purpose improves comprehension.
The text structures include sequence, problem/solution, description, compare/contrast, and cause & effect.
Page 8: Sequence
Sequence text structure is written in order of events or chronological order.
Signal words like "at first," "before," and "next" indicate the sequence of events.
Page 9: Problem/Solution
Problem/solution text structure contains information about an issue and possible or attempted solutions.
Signal words like "problem," "solution," and "recommendation" indicate the problem and its resolution.
Page 10: Description
Description text structure explains characteristics, features, and gives examples of a particular topic.
Signal words like "to illustrate," "for example," and adjectives are used to describe the topic.
Page 11: Compare/Contrast
Compare/contrast text structure provides information about the similarities and differences of particular things.
Signal words like "but," "however," and "while" indicate the comparison and contrast.
Page 12: Cause & Effect
Cause & effect text structure describes an event and the effects that follow.
Signal words like "therefore," "because," and "consequently" indicate the cause and effect relationship.
Page 13: Informational Text Features
Informational texts have various features that aid in understanding.
Print features, illustrations, organizational aids, and graphic aids are common features.
Page 14: Print Features - Table of Contents
The table of contents helps readers identify key topics in the book and their order.
Page 15: Print Features - Index
The index helps readers see everything listed in the text in alphabetical order.
Page 16: Print Features - Glossary
The glossary helps readers define important words in a text.
Page 17: Print Features - Preface
The preface helps authors set a purpose for reading and gives an overview of the content.
Page 18: Print Features - Appendix
The appendix offers readers additional information about particular subjects.
Page 19: Illustrations - Photos
Photos help readers understand what something looks like.
Page 20: Illustrations - Drawings
Drawings help readers understand what something might look like when photos are not available.
Page 21: Organizational Aids - Bold Print
Bold print signals that a word is important or appears in the glossary.
Page 22: Organizational Aids - Italics
Italics are used to stress the importance of a word.
Page 23: Organizational Aids - Bullets
Bullets emphasize key points and concepts.
Page 24: Organizational Aids - Titles & Headings
Titles help readers locate different categories and topics in a text.
Page 25: Organizational Aids - Captions
Captions help readers understand a picture or photograph.
Page 26: Organizational Aids - Labels
Labels help readers identify parts of a picture or photograph.
Page 27: Organizational Aids - Sidebars
Sidebars provide additional or explanatory information.
Page 28: Graphic Aids - Diagrams
Diagrams help readers understand a more detailed or simplified view of information.
Page 29: Graphic Aids - Flow Chart
Flow charts help readers understand a more complex sequence of movements or actions.
Page 30: Graphic Aids - Sketches
Sketches help readers visualize an important concept.
Page 31: GRAPHIC AIDS - GRAPHS
Graphs help the reader understand relationships between concepts or elements.
Page 32: GRAPHIC AIDS - MAPS
Maps help the reader understand locations.
Page 33: GRAPHIC AIDS - CHARTS/TABLES
Charts and tables help summarize and compare information.
Page 34: GRAPHIC AIDS - TIMELINES
Timelines help understand the sequence of time.
Page 35: READING INFORMATIONAL TEXTS - READING LAB PART TWO: DATA & COMMAND OF EVIDENCE TEST PREP
Page 36: DATA
Objective: Read information presented in graphs and charts.
Steps:
Carefully read the graph and understand what it shows and how the information is displayed.
Determine the question being asked.
Refer back to the graph to locate the answer, as the information on the graph supports the answer choice.
Page 37: DATA
Steps:
Carefully read the graph and understand what it shows and how the information is displayed.
Determine the question being asked.
Refer back to the graph to locate the answer, as the information on the graph supports the answer choice.
Page 38: DATA
Explanation of how to find the answer using the Y-axis of a graph.
Page 39: RESPOND
Objective: Draw a conclusion or support a statement based on the data.
Steps:
Understand the question being asked.
Refer to the data for each answer choice and conclude whether the graphical information supports it.
Eliminate answer choices that are not supported by the data until the correct one is found.
Page 40: INTERPRET
Steps:
Understand the question being asked.
Refer to the data for each answer choice and conclude whether the graphical information supports it.
Eliminate answer choices that are not supported by the data until the correct one is found.
Page 41: INTERPRET
Explanation of how to find the correct answer based on the data shown in a graph.
Page 42: RESPOND
Objective: Summarize key points, analyze different perspectives, and combine multiple sources to present a comprehensive and new idea.
Steps:
Comprehend the passage.
Determine if the data supports the answer choice by going through the answer choices.
Refer to the passage to ensure both the data and the passage reflect the answer choice before making a selection.
Page 43: INTERPRET
Steps:
Comprehend the passage.
Determine if the data supports the answer choice by going through the answer choices.
Refer to the passage to ensure both the data and the passage reflect the answer choice before making a selection.
Page 44: INTERPRET
Explanation of how to find the correct answer based on a map.