Features of Informational Texts

Print Features
❖ font ❖ bullets ❖ italics
❖ bold print ❖ titles ❖ labels
❖ colored print ❖ headings ❖ captions
❖ subheadings

Graphic Aids
❖ diagrams ❖ maps ❖ cross-sections
❖ sketches ❖ charts ❖ timelines
❖ graphs ❖ tables ❖ overlays
❖ figures

Organizational Aids
❖ table of ❖ glossary ❖ pronunciation
contents ❖ preface guide
❖ index ❖ appendix
Illustrations
❖ colored photographs ❖ labeled drawings
❖ colored drawings ❖ enlarged photographs
❖ black and white photos ❖ acrylic, watercolor, oil
❖ black and white drawings paintings

From:
Fountas and Pinnell, Guiding Readers and Writers(p. 401). Portsmouth, NH. 2001
 Features of Informational Texts
Text Pattern Definition
Description Use language to help the
reader form images or
visualize processes
Temporal Present ideas or events in the
order in which they happen
Sequence
Comparison/ Discuss two ideas, events, or
phenomena, showing how they
Contrast
are similar and different
Cause and Effect Provide explanations or
reasons for phenomena
Problem/Solution Identify problems and pose
solutions
From:
Fountas and Pinnell, Guiding Readers and Writers(p. 402). Portsmouth, NH. 2001
Key Words
‣ descriptive details - words like
on, over, beyond, within
‣ descriptive adjectives
first, second, before, after, finally,
then, next, earlier, later, last
while, yet, but, rather, most, either,
like and unlike, same, as opposed to,
as well as, likewise, on the other
hand, although, the same, similarly,
opposites
because, since, thus, so that,
if...then, therefore, nevertheless, due
to, as a result, then...so, for this
reason, on account of, consequently
propose, conclude, a solution, the
problem or the question, research
shows, the evidence is, a reason for
 Systems of Strategic Actions for Processing Written Texts

Strategies for Expanding Meaning

Definition Readers need Teachers help readers learn how
to: to:

Predicting To say in advance Anticipated what Use knowledge of characters, plot, setting,
what one believes will follow while or theme to predict what will happen next
will happen reading continuous in a text.
text Generate expectations based on genre,
author, or topic.
Predict kinds of information available given
the topic or the organization of the text.
Use what is known from reading, personal
experiences, of word knowledge, or
literary knowledge to anticipate what will
happen.

Connecting To show or think of Search for and use Understand/develop purposes for reading
how two or more the connections to texts.
things are related the funds of Connect knowledge of topic, plot,
knowledge that they characters, or setting to personal
To relate one have gained from experiences and their knowledge of the
aspect to another personal, world, and world and other texts.
text experiences. Bring background knowledge to their
reading of a text.
Interpret texts using personal experience
and background of world knowledge.
Make connections between and among
texts they have read, seeing similarities and
differences.

Inferring To arrive at a Go beyond the Construct theories that explain how

decision or opinion literal meaning of a characters behave or plot unfolds.
by reasoning from text to derive what Have empathy for fictional or historical
known facts or is not there but is characters.
evidence implied Use background knowledge and
information from the text to form tentative
theories as to the significance of the
events.
Create sensory images related to
character, plot, setting, theme, or topic.
Understand what is not stated but is
implied in the text.

Synthesizing To bring together Put together Relate important ideas to each other.
parts or elements information from Deepen understanding of an idea, concept,
to form a whole. the text and from or topic by integrating new knowledge
personal, world, and with prior knowledge.
literary knowledge Expand personal understandings by
to create new incorporating the “lived through”
understandings. experiences from texts.
 Systems of Strategic Actions for Processing Written Texts
Analyzing To separate and Closely examine Recognize plot development based on
break up a whole elements of a text knowledge of text structure.
into its parts to to achieve greater Recognize and use text characteristics
find out their understanding of related to genre.
nature, proportion, how it is Discover the underlying organization of a
function, constructed. text related to topic, genre, or theme.
interrelationship, or Recognize the author’s use of language to
properties. communicate meaning and emotions in
various ways.
Analyze elements of a fiction or nonfiction
text to gain an understanding of how the
author communicated meaning.
Analyze illustration or other graphic
features as to how they evoke aesthetic
responses and communicate meaning.
Recognize and use graphic features of texts
(such as maps and charts) to increase
understanding.
Recognize and use literary features of texts
to expand understanding.
Analyze the whole test to determine how
illustrations, test, and format communicate
meaning in an integrated way.

Critiquing To make Judge or evaluate a Assess whether a text is consistent with

judgements through text based on what is known through life experiences.
analyzing the personal, world, or Judge whether a text is authentic in therms
qualities and text knowledge. of plot or setting.
evaluating them. Evaluate the writer’s craft in light of
appropriateness of genre, use of language,
or other criteria.
Judge the accuracy of information.
Judge the qualifications of the writer to
produce an authentic fiction or nonfiction
text.
Examine and discover bias in texts.
Appreciate the aesthetic qualities of a text.

From:
Fountas and Pinnell, Guiding Readers and Writers(p. 317-318). Portsmouth, NH. 2001