Nonfiction Terms

A label or brief explanation that accompanies a photograph or an illustration.

• caption

• sidebar

• headline

• direct quotation

• central idea

A report of the exact words of an author or a speaker.

• caption

• sidebar

• headline

• direct quotation

• central idea

A main point that the author is making (also called a main idea). It's what the article is about!

• caption

• sidebar

• headline

• direct quotation

• central idea

A short article placed alongside a longer article and containing additional or contrasting information. It usually appears in a box.

• caption

• sidebar

• headline

• direct quotation

• central idea

The title of an article in a newspaper or magazine or on a website.

• caption

• sidebar

• headline

• direct quotation

• central idea

The heading, or title, of a section of a text, sometimes called a subtitle. It’s a title that comes after the headline.

• objective summary

• paraphrase

• subhead

• supporting evidence

Information used to support an argument or a claim (also called “supporting details”). If you are writing about something you have read, you use it to back up or prove whatever point you are making.

• objective summary

• paraphrase

• subhead

• supporting evidence

A short statement or paragraph that tells what an article is about and does not include your opinions.

• objective summary

• paraphrase

• subhead

• supporting evidence

To reword or rephrase something written or spoken by someone else by putting it into your own words.

• objective summary

• paraphrase

• subhead

• supporting evidence

Parts of a newspaper article, magazine article, textbook, web page, or other type of text, beyond the main article or story, that help you better understand what you read like photographs, captions, bullet points, sidebars, and subheads.

• text evidence

• text features

• text structure