Author's Use of Text Features

Learning Objective

• We will identify nonfiction text features.

• We will check out the purposes for text features.

Nonfiction Text Features

​Why do you think authors include such features in nonfiction texts?

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​Allow time for group discussion.

​Authors include nonfiction text features to help you better understand what you are reading, to highlight important information, or to give you extra information about the topic.

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​Always pay close attention to nonfiction text features!  You can learn some very surprsing things.

The title

identifies the topic of the text/tells what the text will be about.

Multiple Choice

Which of these tells you what the text will be about?

• Caption

• Glossary

• Title

Headings/Sections

divide the text into sections & explain what the sections will be about.

Multiple Choice

This feature helps the reader find information more closely when divided into sections

• Subheadings/sections

• illustration

• index

Read and analyze the text features.

Multiple Choice

The author used the subheading "On the Move!" to excite the reader. The author also could have used any of these headings EXCEPT.....

• Always moving

• Life Cycles

• Day and Night

Photographs

show what something actually looks like (taken with a camera)

Map, Graphs, Diagrams

also help show readers a visual of the information

Captions

explain what a photograph or illustration is about

Multiple Choice

Why do authors include photos and illustrations in a text?

• To help the reader visualize the topic they are reading about

• To list out the meaning of difficult words

• To help the reader understand sports

• To explain how to pronounce words

Multiple Choice

The purpose of graphics (such as graphs, tables, pictures, or maps) is to ____________

• Help the reader visualize important information 

• Describe what is found in a photo or illustration 

• Separate text into sections based on main ideas 

• Show information that occurs in a certain order 

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Multiple Choice

If something is bolded, highlighted or in a different font, the information could be...

• should be ignored

• old

• important

• someone colored in the book

Read and analyze the text features.

Multiple Select

What text features did you see on this page? Select all that apply.

• Bold Words

• Captions

• Photograph

• Headings

• Diagram

​Take a moment to read this page taken from the book, Backyard Animals: Raccoons.

Multiple Choice

Why do you think the author included this picture and caption in this book?

• To show the size of an average raccoon.

• To show the coloring of the animal.

• To let the reader know the origin(where it comes from) of its name.

• To show where raccoons live.

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Take a moment to read this page taken from the book. Be sure to look at the picture and caption, too.

Multiple Choice

Why do you think the author included this picture and caption with this section of the book?

• To show the reader what nocturnal means.

• To give the reader extra information about why a raccoon looks hunched up.

• To show how a raccoon is camoflagued at night. 

• To show what raccoons eat.

​Take a moment to read this section of the book and look over the text features included!

Multiple Select

Which text features did you see?

(Select ALL that apply. Then click SUBMIT)

• Heading

• Bold Print

• Glossary

• Table of Contents

• Map

Multiple Choice

Why do you think the author included a map in this section?

• To show the reader how to get to North America.

• To show the reader where raccoons originated and where they live today.

• Just to show where racoons came from.

• To let the reader know that racoons live all over the world.

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of these sections/subheadings?

• To help the reader understand the author’s opinion 

• To help the reader visualize the information 

• To help the reader find the main ideas in each section

• To help the reader place events in order like a timeline

Read and analyze the text features.

Multiple Select

What text features did you see on this page? Select all that apply.

• Diagram

• Glossary

• Subheading

• Bold Words

• Map

Multiple Choice

Why did the author include the diagram?

• To explain the photograph

• To show important words

• To define the meaning of words

• To give the reader a picture of how a process works

Read and analyzethe text features.

Multiple Choice

Part A: What is happening in this picture?

• Earth is the 3rd planet from the sun.

• There are 24 hours in a day.

• Earth rotates on its axis. An axis is an imaginary line.

• There are 365 days in a year.

Multiple Choice

Part B: What text feature helps you know this?

• The map of the United States

• The bolded words

• The caption

• The subheading

Poll

How do you feel about your ability to use text features to better understand nonfiction text? Be honest, your answers will help me know how to help you prepare for the test.