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Informational Text Notes . Monday, January 17, 2011. Why do authors write? What are their purposes?. To inform/ to explain/ to describe: to convey nonbiased information to people To persuade: to convince someone of something; information typically biased and one-sided
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Informational Text Notes Monday, January 17, 2011
Why do authors write? What are their purposes? • To inform/ to explain/ to describe: to convey nonbiased information to people • To persuade: to convince someone of something; information typically biased and one-sided • To entertain: to write in order for the writing to be enjoyed by people (poems, short stories, novels, comic books, etc.)
Public Documents • Governmental documents issued for public knowledge • Court records, land deeds, birth & death certificates, marriage licenses, professional & business licenses, criminal records, library cards, etc.
Workplace Documents • Documents used at work • Communication: those used for communication – e-mails, memos, reports (let employees know what’s going on) • Instruction: those used to teach employees – employee manuals
Consumer Documents • Documents used by consumers - Consumers buy two things: goods (stuff) & services (help)
Consumer Documents (cont.) • Different types: • Product Information: tells what something does • Contract: tells what services are provided • Warranty: spells out what happens if something doesn’t work • Instruction Manual: how to set up/ work something • Technical Directions: precise info. about assembly & other devices
Narrative vs. Informational • Remember: • Narrative: tells a story – can be fiction • Informational: explains something that is true
Tips for Reading Info. Texts • 1. Numbered Steps: • Pay attention to numbered steps! Don’t do step #5 before step #2.
2. Headings & Subheadings: • Pay attention to these! They indicate that there is a new topic.
3. Boldface/ Italics: • Pay attention! They indicate there is something important! BOLDFACE ITALICS
4. Graphics & Captions: • Pay attention! These give you extra information!
Comparison/ Contrast Words: • Pay attention! These help indicate if the author is talking about similarities (comparison) or differences (contrast). • Compare Words/ Phrases: similar, as, same, in the same way, both, most important, have in common, the same as, similarly, as well as • Contrast Words/ Phrases: although, yet, whereas, however, but, while, differ, instead, unless, unlike, on the contrary, contrary to, even though, on the other hand, the reverse
6. Cause & Effect Key Words: • Pay attention! These help indicate if the author is talking about cause/ effect situations. • Key Words/ Phrases: because, so, so that, if…then, consequently, thus, since, for, for this reason, as a result of, therefore, due to, this is how, nevertheless, accordingly