Informational Texts

1. What are they and what should you know about them? Informational Texts

2. An informational text is one that contains information (duh!) • This type of text comes in many forms: • Textbooks • Magazine articles • Websites • Encyclopedias • Newspapers • And many more@ What IS Informational Text?

3. The primary purpose of an informational text is to inform readers about a specific subject An informational text is used to convey facts, details, instructions, and other important information. Informational texts are always works of nonfiction. What is the purpose of informational text?

4. Common informational text features • Table of Contents- found at the beginning of a text and gives the reader a basic overview of the topic (including general sections, main topics, and subheadings) • Headlines and Titles- appear at the beginning of a text (often in larger, boldface type) and convey the main idea of the text. • Index- is found at the back of the text and gives an alphabetical list of all topics and subtopics in a text,

5. Common informational text features • Headings- usually appear in larger or boldface type and communicate the main ideas of key sections in a text • Subheadings- appear in smaller type and convey the subtopics in a text. Previewing the headings and subheading of a text can give you a good sense of what that text is about before you begin reading.

6. Common informational text features • Lists- used to present complex information in an easy-to-read format. • Illustrations- visual representations of something in the text (in the form of pictures, maps, etc.) • Diagrams- drawings or images that show how something works or how its parts relate to each other • Labels- used to identify items in a diagram, or sometimes to match each part of the diagram to its reference in the text.

7. Many informational texts, especially consumer documents like instruction manuals, include visual representations of the information in a text. • These are called graphic aids and can come in the form of: • Diagrams • Photographs • Tables • Charts • Graphs • Graphic aids usually contain captions, which are used to describe the content of the image provided. GRAPHIC AIDS

8. Procedural texts are informational texts that were created to communicate instructions, rules, processes, or other detailed, step-by-step information. You will read and write a procedural text this week! Now, turn to page 579 and look over the Elements of Nonfiction: Text Features and Background information before you begin reading “Who Killed the Iceman” WHAT IS A PROCEDURAL TEXT?