Chapter 6 Informational Text and Text Complexity

glossary

A glossary, also known as a vocabulary or clavis, is an alphabetical list of terms in a particular domain of knowledge with the definitions for those terms

maps

A map is a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of some space, such as objects, regions, and themes

_____ are the choice of language and styles used to make a point.

Rhetorical devices

Which of the following should you do as you read an informational text?

Take notes

When measuring the complexity of a text, one area to examine is the quantitative measure. A quantitative measure for a text is _____.

The nice part of the quantitative, or 'quantity', measure is that it is truly best found through technology tools that rely on algorithms versus teacher decision. In general, these formulas calculate a value or reading level based on word length and sentence length.

Which of the following is a type of specific evidence that can be used to define and prove a general or main idea?

Types of specific evidence that can be used to define and prove a general or main idea include examples, anecdotes, logical reasons, facts, statistics, and expert testimony.

What is bias?

a prejudiced or preconceived notion about something

If you're summarizing an argument, which of the following should you include?

The major points of the argument, but you don't need to give all the supporting evidence.

When considering the qualitative measure of a text, there are several categories to analyze. Which of the following below is not a category associated with the qualitative measure?

The missing category from qualitative measures is language conventionality and clarity. This along with levels of meaning, structure, and knowledge demands make up qualitative measures of text complexity; not a reader's motivation.

When finding text complexity, much of it relies on professional judgment of the teacher or instructor. Which component below relies on a technology tool instead?

The quantitative measure, or reading level, of a text is determined using a technology.

You are reading an article on global warming and find that the author has a PhD in climatology. This information makes the author more credible. What aspect of analyzing the writer is this an example of?

This is an example of background knowledge of the author. The writer's educational history adds to his credibility because he is more educated in the matter of climate change.

To analyze a text means

To analyze a text means to look closely at the text and draw out as much information as possible.

To synthesize means:

To combine information in a logical way to form a clear and comprehensive picture of the topic.

What is the primary purpose of an informational text?

To convey knowledge about a topic

Which of the following statements would you expect to see in a problem and solution essay?

Truancy has become a large concern for Canton City school district.

Which method requires the student to explain the main concepts orally after having read the passage?

When using retelling, allow the student to read the passage independently. When finished, ask the student to retell the information he just read. As he does so, compare the retelling to your outline. How many of the main ideas was he able to retell?

Which of the following statements is true about informational text?

informational text is non fiction writing that uses headers over certain sections, bolded key vocabulary, and uses visual representations to give the reader information about the specific topic they are writing about.

Which is not a category when you are analyzing writers with differing opinions?

logical

When discussing measuring how complex a text is, we are referring to _____.

the level of deep thinking and critical analysis needed for a text

When you are reading nonfiction pieces of writing, what does it mean to evaluate the author's point of view?

to assess the value of his or her attitude or opinion on the topic in order to make a judgment

'Similar to her first novel, Gillian Flynn continues to rely on an unreliable narrator in her next work.' You would expect to see this sentence in what type of essay pattern?

A comparison and contrast structure will discuss the similarities and differences between two topics. To organize a comparison and contrast text, an author should research characteristics of each topic and then share how they are alike or different. In the example above, the writer is comparing and contrasting an author's first novel to her next work.

You have a student write out his thoughts as he reads a passage. Which method are you using?

A think aloud is a method to evaluate the processes a student goes through while reading. Have the student write down his thoughts as he reads and analyze the responses to see if he is using the processes superior readers use.

How can an author introduce complex ideas in an easier way?

An author may use illustrations or graphics to summarize main ideas. Illustrations, such as photographs or drawings, let the audience really see what something looks like rather than trying to describe it. Graphics, such as graphs, tables, maps, or diagrams, make it possible for the author to take a lot of information, such as statistics, and condense it in a much easier way to follow.

Which methods rely on a verbal response?

Both curriculum-based measurement and retelling require a verbal response. Retelling asks students to describe what they have read. To use CBM, choose a passage of about 600 words and have your student read the passage out loud.

cause and effect

Causality is the agency or efficacy that connects one process with another process or state , where the first is understood to be partly responsible for the second, and the second is dependent on the first

After reading an informational text, what should you NOT do?

Cross out everything in it that you disagree with.

Which method for assessing reading level involves using miscues to get the words per minute your student can read fluently?

Curriculum-based measurement subtracts the number of miscues from the number of words read to give how many words per minute are read fluently.

Which of the following is NOT a step in synthesizing two texts?

Decide which text is better than the other one.

Which of the following provides a visual portrait of how something works or is put together or of how sets of data overlap?

Diagrams often provide a visual portrait of how something works or is put together (like a schematic) or of how sets of data overlap (like a Venn diagram).

When reading a book about the U.S. Civil War, which of the following lists would be considered forms of textual evidence?

Forms of textual evidence include; facts, expert testimony, anecdotes, statistics, and graphs.

Which level of a reader is the lowest?

Frustration

General ideas ____.

General ideas cover broad categories or groups of people or things and usually express the overall aspects, characteristics, or elements of these categories or groups.

Some characteristics of informational text include?

Headers over specific sections, bolded vocabulary, and visual representations.

Which of the following is NOT a step in analyzing an individual text?

Identify the author's background.

graphs

In mathematics, and more specifically in graph theory, a graph is a structure amounting to a set of objects in which some pairs of the objects are in some sense "related

quantitative

In natural sciences and social sciences, quantitative research is the systematic empirical investigation of observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques

point of view

In philosophy, a point of view is a specified or stated manner of consideration, an attitude how one sees or thinks of something, as in "from doctor's point of view"

What features might an author use when writing an informational text?

Informational texts are well-organized and contain aids throughout. When you begin reading the text, you may find a table of contents, index, or a preface. At the end of the text, you may see a glossary or appendix. The author may use print features, such as fonts, headings, bolding, italics, or bullets. You may see that the text contains many different kinds of visual aids such as diagrams, graphs, maps, charts, or tables. In addition to these organizational features, informational texts will focus on the topic through repetition of key words, introducing new vocabulary, and including illustrations or diagrams.

Which is not a question to ask yourself when analyzing the actual point of view or opinion of a piece of writing?

Is the author biased? When looking at any biases, you are analyzing the writer and not the point of view. When analyzing the point of view, see if it makes logical sense, is supported by evidence, and has reliable sources of information.

In step 3 of determining text complexity, the teacher assesses both the reader and the task. When reflecting on readers, it is important to consider their _____, motivation, and interests.

It is important to think about a reader's knowledge, motivation, and interests as a piece of the text complexity formula.

informational text is usually found in?

Magazines, history and science books, autobiographies, and instruction manuals.

Informational text is written in a way that

Makes key information quick and easy to find in nonfiction text.

miscues

Miscue analysis was originally developed by Ken Goodman for the purpose of understanding the reading process

Which of the following is NOT an example of an organizational aid?

Organizational aids help the readers find important information. To highlight these important areas of information, an author may change the font and use bold, color, or italics. There may also be headings or subheadings that show the main details and their support. In addition, an author may separate important ideas from the text through bullets or notes in the margins.

Which supplemental feature helps the audience find important information?

Organizational aids such as headings and subheadings help readers to locate the information they are looking for.

Which of the following is an example of a print feature?

Print features act as guides. These may include table of contents, which is a list of the parts of a paper, a preface, which is a note from the author that states the purpose of the content, an index, or a glossary.

Which supplemental feature helps guide the audience through the paper?

Print features such table of contents, a preface, or a glossary all act as guides so readers can use these features to guide them to various parts of the paper to find their needed information.

qualitative

Qualitative research is a method of inquiry employed in many different academic disciplines, including in the social sciences and natural sciences, but also in non-academic contexts including market research, business, and service demonstrations by non-profits

What should you NOT do before reading an informational text?

Read someone else's thoughts on the text.

Specific ideas ____.

Refer to particular individuals, ideas, or things and tend to express distinct characteristics that define those individuals, ideas, and things

Informational writing

Rhetorical modes describe the variety, conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of language-based communication, particularly writing and speaking

When you restate an idea, you. . .

Say it again in different words.

Should a summary be longer or shorter than the text that you're summarizing?

Shorter

You are reading two books about early colonist settlements and you are comparing the reasons and evidence listed in each book. Which process are you doing while reading?

Synthesizing two or more texts helps the reader better understand the topic by presenting more information and a fuller picture than either text offers individually. Comparing their reasons and evidence is a process of synthesize

In some cases the author will add what to make information easier to find?

Table of contents and glossary.

textual evidence

Textual criticism is a branch of textual scholarship, philology, and literary criticism that is concerned with the identification of textual variants in either manuscripts or printed books

If an author writes on Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, this would be an example of which informational text pattern?

The author writing about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath is using cause and effect. This essay is normally organized by explaining the event (what happened during Hurricane Katrina), what led up to it (the reasons), and then the results of that event (the aftermath).

analyze

Analyze That is a 2002 mafia comedy film, and a sequel to the 1999 film Analyze This