How do you teach readers more about your topic in an informational text?

1. How do you teach readers more about your topic in an informational text?

2. In this lesson you will learn how to support readers’ understanding by adding textual features.

3. An informational text gives facts about a non-fiction topic. Chart Map Favorite Colors Blue Red Green Australia Waning Crescent Caption

4. Writing Process 1 2 3 Generate Ideas Write Drafts Revise and Edit

5. Forgetting important features. Where? I need a map. They lived in this area.

6. Read over your text to find areas of unclear information. 1 • Ask, “What textual features would help my reader better understand my topic?” 2 Insert the appropriate textual features when needed. 3

7. 1 • Read over your text to find areas of unclear information. Trouble with the Land English settlers claimed the Virginian peninsula for their own. Unfortunately, the town they formed, called Jamestown, did not have traditional farmland. Land Disputes As they attempted to grow crops, the Powhatans watched angrily as their land was being taken. Unclear information

8. 1 • Read over your text to find areas of unclear information. A Peace Offering The Powhatan tribes saw the settlers suffering through the fall and winter. They sent food as a peace offering. It helped them survive. Working Together During the Cold Months After, settlers traded English goods for knowledge about the land. In time, they were skilled at farming, hunting and fishing. Unclear information

9. Ask, “What textual features would help my reader better understand my topic?” 2 • Common Textual Features • Charts • Glossary • Maps • Timelines • Headings and Titles • Index • Pictures/photos

10. Ask, “What textual features would help my reader better understand my topic?” 2 Trouble with the Land English settlers claimed the Virginian peninsula for their own. Unfortunately, the town they formed, called Jamestown, did not have traditional farmland. Land Disputes As they attempted to grow crops, the Powhatans watched angrily as their land was being taken. A map could show readers where Jamestown is.

11. Ask, “What textual features would help my reader better understand my topic?” 2 A Peace Offering The Powhatan tribes saw the settlers suffering through the fall and winter. They sent food as a peace offering. It helped them survive. Working Together During the Cold Months After, settlers traded English goods for knowledge about the land. In time, they were skilled at farming, hunting and fishing. A timeline could show the dates of these events.

12. Insert the appropriate textual features when needed. 3 Trouble with the Land English settlers claimed the Virginian peninsula for their own. Unfortunately, the town they formed, called Jamestown, did not have traditional farmland. Land Disputes As they attempted to grow crops, the Powhatans watched angrily as their land was being taken. Virginia Peninsula Jamestown Powhatan Tribes

13. Insert the appropriate textual features when needed. 3 A Peace Offering The Powhatan tribes saw the settlers suffering through the fall and winter. They sent food as a peace offering. It helped them survive. Working Together During the Cold Months After, settlers traded English goods for knowledge about the land. In time, they were skilled at farming, hunting and fishing. Timeline of Events Powhatans Smith Arrived Helped Saved Summer Fall Winter 1607

14. Read over your text to find areas of unclear information. 1 • Ask, “What textual features would help my reader better understand my topic?” 2 Insert the appropriate textual features when needed. 3

15. In this lesson you have learned how to support readers’ understanding by adding textual features.

16. In your own informational text, find places where textual features are missing and add it into your draft.

17. Find a partner and together choose 10 sentence cards. Read the sentence on each card and takes turns adding a textual feature of your choosing.

18. Read through a photocopy of a text. Highlight the places where you see the need for textual features and then add one that fits. Here are some choices: • Map • Picture • Timeline • Chart • Caption • Heading • Title

19. Look at the sentence below and choose which textual feature would best fit: The Great Wall of China is a long fort that stretches from East to West on the Northern border of the country. Picture Index Chart