text features notes

overlays

a method of preparing copy for a multicolor printing, in which matter for each color is prepared on a transparent sheet that is placed over a key plate, usually one to be printed in black

cross section

a section formed by a plane cutting through and object helping readers understand something by looking at it from the inside

preface

a statement in the front of the book by the book's author or editor, explaining its purpose and expressing appreciation for help received from others

map

a visual representation of an area that helps students understand where things are in the world

timelines

a visual representation of important events in the order in which they occurred that helps the readers understand the sequence of time

glossary

alphabetical list of key terms and their definitions

index

alphabetical list of topics included in the book and their corresponding page numbers; found in the very back

magnification

an enlarged representation, image, or model that helps the readers see details in something small

heading

announces the topic that will be covered, helping students identify topics throughout the book as they skim or scan

boldface type

dark letters indicating important information; reader must slow down and pay attention to these

photographs/drawings

give information in a visual way, working with the words and headings to help teach the material, and to help the reader understand exactly what something looks like

charts/tables

graphic organizers that summarize and compare information

diagrams

help the reader understand a more detailed or simplified view of information

labels

identifies pictures, diagrams, or photographs and their parts

sidebar

in informational text, boxed sections off to the side containing interesting, related information that can stand on its own

titles

show the main idea of the text and help the reader by letting them know what they are about to read

italicized type

slanted letters indicating important information; reader must slow down and pay attention to these

appendix

supplementary material at the end of a book, article, document, or other text, usually of an explanatory, statistical, or bibliographic nature.

bullets

symbols used to introduce and emphasize key points or important concepts

caption

text describing the contents of a picture, graph, or chart

pronunciation guide

using the pronunciation symbols found in a dictionary, this guide helps students say the words in the text

comparisons

visual aid that helps the reader understand the size of one object by comparing it to the size of something familiar

flow chart

visual representation of a sequence of events or actions, helping to simplify a complex process

colored print

words printed in a different color highlight new or important words

graphs

a graph that uses bars or lines to compare information

subheading

a heading given to a smaller subsection within a larger piece of writing

table of contents

a list of the parts of a book or document, placed in the front of the book, It's organized order in which the parts appear.