E2: Intro to Info

Informational

Text​

What is informational text anyway?

Informational text is a written work that gives information.

There are many different types of informational texts such as:

​

• Argumentative

• Persuasive

• Expository

• Procedural

​What does informational text include?

help divide the text into sections and explain what the section will be about.

​Heading and Subheading

Gives an overview of what

the article will be about.

​Thesis/Position Statement​

A topic sentence states the main idea of a paragraph. The rest of the paragraph provides evidence to help support or prove the main idea presented in the topic sentence.

Topic Sentences & Supporting Details

​Graphic Aids

Graphic aids help share information in a more visual way.

Examples: photos, maps, charts, graphs, timelines, etc.

​Organizational Patterns
​Description--provides descriptive details about characteristics, actions, etc.
​Chronological/Sequence--gives information in order that it happened
​Cause/Effect--gives reasons or explanations for happenings
​Compare/Contrast--looks at two or more ideas and explains differences
​Problem/Solution--provides a problem and possible solutions

Commonly used words in STAAR Questions

Multiple Choice

What is the author's main idea?

• People can water plants more efficiently.

• It is important to conserve water.

Multiple Choice

From the details in sentence 2, the reader can conclude that the author —

• has studied plants for a long time

• understands that the advice being given is unusual

Multiple Choice

The author uses the quotation from Dr. Kevin Pope to support the idea that —

• the crater might have been dug long ago by the Mayans

• archaeologists often work with NASA on projects

• the crater was immense enough to be seen from space

Multiple Choice

What is the primary purpose of this selection?

• To explain the events that caused the crater and to describe its unusual

  depth

• To show how a huge crater could be unknown to scientists and to tell how

  it was finally recognized

• To describe how the Yucatan's location and its unique ground cover often work together to hide craters like this one

Commonly used words in STAAR Questions

Multiple Choice

What can the reader conclude about the first two sentences?

• The author wants to list the best reasons for choosing grass for

  landscaping.

• The author wants to explain why so many people have grass yards.

Multiple Choice

The author's purpose for including the phrase "water hogs" is to —

• get readers to imagine how much a hog can drink

• present a vivid description of a grass yard's water usage

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the first sentence in this paragraph?

• To introduce the topic of hurricanes and other severe storms

• To claim it is difficult to predict hurricane activity

• To caution readers about the dangers of hurricanes

Multiple Choice

Why does the author include the details about the 1933 hurricane season?

• To evoke the alarm people felt during that hurricane season

• To describe the damage hurricanes can cause coastal towns

• To provide an example of an uncommon hurricane season