Informational Text Terms

Subheading

A __________ is the title of a small section found underneath a heading. _________ give clues about what's coming next. Purpose: To help organize the text into sections of information that support the main topic. To make it easy to find important topics within the body of the text.

Diagram

A _________is a simplified drawing that breaks something down into its parts. Purpose is to to provide a different view of what is being discussed or to show a simpler version of something.

Caption

A caption is text in smaller print that is found next to a picture inserted in the main body of the text. Purpose: To give a brief explanation of the picture.describes or tells about a picture, usually next to or underneath a picture.

Heading

A heading is the title of a short section within the main body of a text. Purpose: To give readers clues as to what they will read about next. To make it easy to find the main ideas/topics within the body of the text.

Evidence

Supporting sentences, pictures, or words from a text that backs up or proves what you are saying

Sidebar

Text set off from the main body of text in a text box that provides additional information for the reader.

Chronological

Time order; also known as sequence

Map

____ is a diagram-type representation of a specific location. Purpose: To help us visualize where something is located or taking place.

Graphs

_____ are visual comparisons of data and information in a bar/pie/line format.

Glossary

_________is a list of terms and definitions found in the back of a book, at the end of an article, or somewhere on the page. Purpose: To provide an easy-to-access reference for important or difficult vocabulary.

Opinion

a viewpoint, what someone thinks or believes to be true

Index

an alphabetical listing in the back of a book of names and topics along with page numbers where they are discussed

Bullet Points

are graphics that are used to list items or ideas in a text. Purpose: To break up a lot of text into chunks of important information. To create lists, summarize key ideas at the end of a chapter, etc.

Pictures

are images or graphics often found in writing (i.e. photos, drawings, sketches, etc.). Purpose: To help us visualize what we are reading about. To catch readers' attention and make the text seem more interesting.

Charts

are sheets of information in the form of a table, graph, or diagram.

Tables

are summaries of facts or figures written in columns or rows. Purpose: To organize information into a small space and an easy-to-read format.

Bolded words

are words in the text printed in darker ink (sometimes highlighted in a different color). Purpose: To show readers important words, concepts, or ideas that should be studied or remembered. These words are the key to understanding the main ideas in the text.

Labels

are words that identify or explain the different parts of a diagram. Purpose: To help us visualize or understand the different parts of something.

Details

facts that support a main idea, or give more information about the main idea

Timeline

graph that shows changes or events over time

Insert or side bar

is a small section of text inserted into the main body of the text. Purpose:To provide additional information that is not vital to the text, but is supplemental or interesting.

Coloured Print

is text printed in a color other than black. Purpose: To make important ideas, interesting facts, or titles/headings stand out

Font

is the design for a set of typed characters. ______ can change in terms of the size of the text or the style in which it is written. Purpose:To hint at important ideas that readers should pay close attention to. To grab readers' attention.

Table of contents

located in the front and tells you units, chapters, headings, and page numbers

Informational TEXTS

newspaper articles, magazine articles, encyclopedias, science textbooks, history textbooks, consumer documents

Fact

something that is true or has occurred; can be proven.

Informational text features

subheadings, headings, bold print, italics, sidebar/framed texts, visuals with captions; can include tables, diagrams, graphs, charts infographics, and pictures

Cite

to quote, or provide support by using an author's words and giving them credit for those words

Main Idea

what the text (passage, book, or paragraph) is mostly about