Reading Informational Texts

What are some informational text features?

• Headings/Subheadings

• Bolded or Italicized Vocabulary

• Sidebars with Additional Information

• Visual Representations (Tables or Graphs)

What are the structures of informational texts?

• Problem and Solution

• Cause and Effect

• Sequential/Chronological

• Description

• Compare and Contrast

Find the central idea.

Being a clown isn't all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business

• Being a clown isn't all fun and games.

• Rodeo clowns protect cowboys by putting themselves in danger.

• Rodeos are exciting.

• Clowns are good at riding bulls.

Most people think that gorillas are mean, but actually they are shy. It seems that such a huge animal with very large teeth would be aggressive. Hollywood movies help convey this image of the scary, ferocious gorilla. In fact, gorillas only attack if they are provoked. 
This author belives that:

• Gorillas are misunderstood as vicious animals.

• Gorillas are mean animals

• Gorillas don't like other animals.

When reading a text, look for the _______________________ or what the passage is mainly about.

• Central Idea

• Theme

• Text Features

• Author

Evidence that develops the central idea is called _______________.

• Supporting details

• Paraphrasing

• Analysis

• Text features

when the facts, details, or other information within a text are related to the topic; information which helps support the author's opinion, claim, and reasoning.

• Relevant

• Structure

• Incident

• Dialogue

What does the author want you to learn about the passage?

• We can taste only sweet things.

• We taste through our nose.

• Taste buds are found in different places.

What are Text Features?

• The color and font of the main body of the text

• Short excerpts from longer texts

• Parts of a text that are not part of the main body of written text

• The exact words the author uses

What is Tone?

• How the text makes you feel reading it

• How you feel about the subject of the text

• How the audience interacts with the text

• The author's attitude towards their subject