Overview Module 3 Informational Text

Informational Text

Overview

Informational text is nonfiction writing, written to inform the reader about a specific topic. It is typically found in magazines, science or history books, autobiographies and instruction manuals. They are written using special text features that allow the reader to easily find key information and understand the main topic. The author will do this by providing headers over certain sections, by placing important vocabulary in bold type, and by using visual representations with captions. These visual representations can be pictures or even infographics that include tables, diagrams, graphs and charts. In some cases, the author will even provide the reader with a table of contents or a glossary to assist them in finding the information easily. 

Essential Questions

1.) How does Informational Text differ from literary text?

2.) What are the elements of Informational Text?

3.) How should Informational text be analyzed?

4.) ) Why is it important to read and analyze Informational Text?

Key Terms

Author's Purpose:  The author's intended goal for writing such as "to entertain, or to persuade."

Expository Text: A text written to explain or convey information about a topic. 

Informational Text: Nonfiction text, written primarily to convey factual information. 

Text Structure:  The author's method of organizing a text.

Nonfiction Text Structure: Organizational structures found mainly in nonfiction texts. 

Transition Words:  Words that help maintain and connect the flow of ideas. 

Thesis:  The subject or major argument of a composition. 

Heading: Words or phrases in bold print that indicate the topic in a section of text.

Text Feature: A characteristic that offers additional information within a nonfiction text. 

Textual Evidence:  Details from the text that help to support a literary claim. 

Mood: The feeling the reader has from a text.

Tone: The attitude the writer displays toward a subject. 

Symbolism: The use of one object or idea to represent another object or idea.

**Key Terms info: There will be additional vocabulary pulled directly from the text**