Text Features

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Text Features

• Information for this presentation is taken from
  the following source
• Readers Handbook, A Student Guide to Reading
  and Learning by Great Source

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Textbooks and informational text have important
elements that stand out from the other parts of
the text.
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While reading informational text, you have
probably seen some or all of the following

• Boldface terms
• Photos and Illustrations
• Charts
• Glossary
• Headings and Titles
• Index
• Maps

• Preview
• Table of Contents
• Captions
• Timeline

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These are called Text Features and their purpose
is help us understand the information presented.

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Boldface/Italics

• boldface type is a signal to Slow Down and Pay
  Attention
• signals that a word, term, or event is important

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Charts

• gives information, show processes or make
  comparisons
• packs lots of information in a small space
• a great resource to help you understand
  information in the text

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Glossary

• alphabetical list of key people, places, events,
  and terms.
• a tool to help you understand the language of the
  subject (definitions)

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Graphs

• uses pictures and symbols to show information
• a graph is shown to make a point
• always read the graphs title, labels on the
  vertical and horizontal axes, and any other text
  included with the graph

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Headings and Titles

• announces the topics that will be covered
• allows us to be efficient in our reading -- skim
  the headings to focus on the purpose of our
  reading
• increase your comprehension by turning headings
  and titles into a question -- as you continue to
  read, can you answer your question?

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Index

• found at the very back of a textbook
• gives the location of every important idea, term,
  definition, person, and place.
• a search tool to help you find what you need

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MapsWhen reading a map, pay attention to the
following

• Lines Scale
• Symbols Colors
• Labels Legend or Key
• Compass Rose
• Lines of Longitude and Latitude

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Photos and Illustrations

• photos and illustrations are used to emphasize or
  make important points
• read the captions
• captions tell you the reason for putting the
  picture or illustration in the text
• captions say in a few lines, what the author
  takes paragraphs to explain

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PreviewMany textbooks include a preview at the
beginning of chapters.

• acts like a summary
• packs into one small space, all of the important
  things to know about a chapter
• key terms and important vocabulary will often be
  listed in the preview

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Labels

• help the reader understand the small parts of a
  picture.

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Captions

• help the reader understand what they are looking
  at in a picture.

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Comparisions

• help the reader compare the item to something
  they are already familiar with.

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Cross Sections

• help the reader see what something looks like
  from the inside.

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Close-Ups

• help the reader see what something looks like
  from up close.

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Table of Contents

• help the reader know how the book is organized.

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There are additional text features such as color
underlining, examples, insets and many, many
more!!!!
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Authors use text features to bring attention to
important details.