The document discusses how to navigate and find information in non-fiction texts using the example of determining the color of the American alligator. It instructs the reader to spend 5 minutes reviewing information about alligators in a handout to find the answer, then compares how easy or difficult it was to locate. It then prompts the reader to examine their own non-fiction book to identify text features such as headings, tables of content, bold text, pictures and captions, indexes, maps, different fonts, and charts or graphs that help navigate the information.
Is it easy or hard to find information here that answers our question? (what color is the American Alligator?) Was it easy or hard to find the answer to this question in the handout I gave you?
In non-fiction books, authors use what is called “text features” to make it easier to search for, find, and understand the information (organization features). Text features can also make the book more interesting and easier to understand. Today we are going to analyze nonfiction books looking for “the organizational features or qualities that make the books interesting. Explain to students that nonfiction texts have several different features that set them apart” One example of these features is a heading. A heading announces the topic of the paragraph that follows (goes after)” from readwritethink.org “Usually found at the top of the page or paragraph; usually printed in a larger or colored font; describes the topic or paragraph in a one- or two-word phrase” readwritethink.org
Another example of heading. Read the bold type. What can we predict about the information underneath based on this heading?
Example of font. Font can “Can be different styles or sizes; used to highlight important or key information; adds variety to the page” What do we notice about this page? Do all the words look alike? How does the bold font help us find information we need?
Here’s another example of font. Here it’s a different color. Does the different font highlight different information or add variety to the page?
Example of an index. An index is usually found in the back of a book. If you are looking for something specific, and want to know if there is information about this in the book, you could look in the index. Can we tell from looking at this index if Florida is mentioned in this book? An index lists the subjects, people or places mentioned in a book in alphabetical order.
Example of table of contents. A table of contents lists the chapters or sections in a book.
Another example of a table of contents. Why might this be helpful in a book?
Example of picture and caption Pictures: Adds visual appeal to the page; provides support for the written text” Captions:One to two sentences that describe an illustration or photograph; usually appears underneath the picture, but sometimes above or to the side of it