This document discusses the importance of informational text in response to the Common Core State Standards. It provides definitions of key terms like informational text and text complexity. It outlines the shifts in standards, which require increasing amounts of informational texts be taught from K-12. The document also covers essential questions for analyzing informational texts and common patterns found in the genre, such as main idea and supporting details. Sample book titles and resources for more information are also included.

2. The Genre Study of Informational Text provides a
framework for understanding the types of texts that
all students will be expected to read proficiently.
This presentation is divided into key sections:
• Definitions
• Essential Questions
• Patterns
• Selected Books
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

3. INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

4. KEY TERMS FOR SHARED UNDERSTANDING
The Common Core State Standards provide a
consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected
to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do
to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and
relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills
that our young people need for success in college and
careers. With American students fully prepared for the
future, our communities will be best positioned to compete
successfully in the global economy. www.corestandards.org
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

5. KEY TERMS FOR SHARED UNDERSTANDING
Arizona’s Common Core Standards
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

6. KEY TERMS FOR SHARED UNDERSTANDING
Informational Text is used as the broad
term for academic, non-fiction, and
functional text, including history/social
studies, science, and technical texts.
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

7. KEY TERMS FOR SHARED UNDERSTANDING
Text Complexity is defined by three equally important
components:
1. Qualitative dimensions of text complexity, such as
levels of knowledge demands.
2. Quantitative measures of text complexity, such as
word frequency and sentence length, which are
typically measured by computer software.
3. Reader and Task considerations, such as students’
knowledge, motivation and interests.
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

8. INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

9. INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

10. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
What is the
audience, task, purpose, a
nd discipline?
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

11. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
What are the assumptions
within the author’s
argument?
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

12. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
What is the evidence?
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

13. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
What is the target?
Grade Literary Information
Span Text al Text
K–5 50% 50%
6–8 25% 75%
9 – 12 10% 90%
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

14. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
Is there a pattern?
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

15. INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

16. PATTERNS WITHIN INFORMATIONAL TEXT
Main Idea
1.Supporting Idea
2.Supporting Idea
3.Supporting Idea
Concluding Information
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

17. PATTERNS WITHIN INFORMATIONAL TEXT
Main Idea
Supporting
Detail #1
Supporting
Detail #2
Supporting
Detail #3
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

18. PATTERNS WITHIN INFORMATIONAL TEXT
Idea Idea
#1 #2
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

19. PATTERNS WITHIN INFORMATIONAL TEXT
Cause #1
Cause #2
Effect
Cause #3
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

20. PATTERNS WITHIN INFORMATIONAL TEXT
• Effect #1
• Effect #2
Cause • Effect #3
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

21. INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

22. SELECTED BOOKS
In order to make good choices as
we select books for our
students, we must understand the
purpose of using informational text.
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

23. SELECTED BOOKS
The attached list is arranged to allow for access
to materials using a variety of criteria. These are
the headings:
Title Author Subject Expositor Grade
Area y Pattern Level
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE

24. SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION
Council of Chief State School Officers
http://www.ccsso.org/What_We_Do/Standards_
Assessment_and_Accountability.html
Arizona Department of Education
http://www.azed.gov/standards-
practices/common-core-state-standards/
Common Core State Standards Initiative
http://www.corestandards.org/
INFORMATIONAL TEXT: IMPORTANT SHIFTS IN
RESPONSE TO THE COMMON CORE