Informational Texts

1. Informational Texts

2. Fiction vs. Nonfiction Fiction Non-Fiction Based on true events Can also have characters, plot, settings, or symbolic meaning So what’s the difference? • Made up • Characters • Plot • Setting • Usually something symbolic

3. What is the difference? Characteristics of Literary Texts Characteristics of Informational Texts Written to inform or persuade, rather than entertain Factual Direct • Usually creative • Tells a story • Often meant to entertain • Might be fictional • Usually indirect or symbolic in presentation

4. Types of Informational Texts Expository Procedural Purpose is to tell the reader how to do something. Examples are recipes, self-help books, instructions, or rules. • Purpose is to inform, explain, describe, or define its subject. • Examples are textbooks, encyclopedias, instruction or owner’s manuals, newspapers.

5. Elements of Informational Texts Expository Procedural Has a statement of goal (sometimes in the title) (e.g.,“How to Grow a Plant”) Has a materials section Includes methods, procedures/steps Uses letters or numbers to indicate the order of the steps Also contains graphics, charts, maps, etc. • No characters or plot • Headings & subheadings • Charts, maps, graphs, diagrams, sidebars, photos, reading guides, etc.

6. Effective readers of identify structures of organization: Titles Headings, subheadings Numbering Also use these structures to scan and skim text to find specific information. How to read Informational Texts. • Terms to know • Skim and Scan • Sequence • Logic • Clarity

7. Preview your Text • Identify structures that aid in determining sequence of information, logic, and clarity. • Is the information sequenced in a clear and logical way?

8. Graphic Forms in Informational Texts • Maps • Charts • Schematics • Illustrations • Timelines • Tables • Diagrams

9. Summarizing Expository Texts • Effective summaries contains: • Author’s Viewpoint • Main Ideas of the text • Elements of the idea without your opinion or stance

10. Steps in Summarizing • Determine Main Idea • Read Title and Introductory Paragraph • What is the text mainly going to be about? • Is there a sentence that identifies the main idea and the author’s viewpoint? • Highlight or underline this sentence. • This is probably the thesis statement. • Continue to read and focus on ideas in the text that support the main idea or thesis statement.

11. Analyzing Conclusions • What is a conclusion? • A statement that is inferred or deduced from evidence. • In order to understand a conclusion, you must be able to make inferences about the author’s reasoning.

12. Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning • Deductive Reasoning – the author reaches a conclusion by applying a general principle to a specific instance. • If the general principle is accepted as true, then the conclusion must be true. • Ideas that are already accepted are applied to new situations.

13. Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning • Inductive Reasoning – the author reaches a probable conclusion based upon observation in multiple situations or contexts. • It is possible for a false conclusion to be made. • New ideas come from inductive reasoning.

14. Other Terms to know • Premise – an assumption that leads to a conclusion • Valid – logically follows premise • Sound – deductive reasoning in which the conclusion is valid and the premises are true. • Strong: inductive reasoning in which the conclusion is probable • Weak: inductive reasoning in which the conclusion is not probable