Text Features

Text Features

​Text Features

All About Nonfiction Text Features

Standards RL.1.5: Explain major differences between books that tell stories and books that gives information RI. 1.5 : Know and use various text features to locate key facts or information in a text

Text Features Scavenger Hunt

Text Feature

Book Title and Page Number

How does this feature help you understand the text?

Table of
Contents

Photograph

Caption

Heading

Bold Print

Diagram

Glossary

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Text features are included in nonfiction text to help the reader better
understand the material.

Many different types of text features provide
unique information to the reader.
These features can:
• tell or explain new information

• help the reader find information

Text Features

A heading is included at the top of
the text. It tells the reader what
the text is about.
A subheading tells the reader
what information they will find in
the following paragraphs before
the next subheading.

Headings and Subheadings

A table of contents is often included at

the very beginning of a book.

The table of contents shows a list of

headings within the book and the page
number where you can look to find that

heading.

The table of contents makes it easier

for the reader to find specific

information they are looking for.

Table of Contents

Photographs and
Illustrations

Authors often choose to include
photographs or illustrations to
help the reader better understand
the information.

A photograph may be an actual
picture from an event or person in
history, or it could be of an animal
or place.

An illustration may be a diagram
that explains a complex body
system or scientific process.

A label points to a specific part of a
photograph, illustration, or diagram
and tells you the name of that part.

A caption briefly explains what a
photograph or illustration is. It is often
a short phrase or sentence that is
located directly next to or under the
image.

Captions and Labels

Skeletal system of a human

skull

pelvis

ribs

femur

Throughout the text, an author may choose to make a word bold.

Bold Words

A bold word is often an important word to the subject of the text or a
difficult word that the reader may not know.

If you see a bold word, there is a good chance you can find the definition
in the glossary.

Next to each word is a definition of the word to help the reader better
understand the information.

Glossary

A glossary is included at the end of a book.

Bold words throughout the text are listed in alphabetical order.

mechanical system noun
contains related components
which act together to create
a motion