This document provides definitions and explanations of various text features found in both fiction and non-fiction books. It discusses features such as characters, setting, and plot for fiction texts as well as tables of contents, indexes, photographs, captions, labels, cutaways, close-ups, comparisons, charts, tables, graphs, maps, types of print, glossaries, and standards for non-fiction texts. The purpose is to help readers understand and use these features to gain meaning and locate information when reading different types of books and texts.

1. Text Features

2. Table of Contents
Narrative/Fiction Text 3
Characters 4
Setting 5
Plot 6
Non-Fiction Text 7
Table of Contents 8
Index 9
Photographs 10
Captions 11
Labels 12
Cutaways 13
Close-ups 14
Comparisons 15
Charts, Tables, & Graphs 16
Maps 17
Types of Print 18
Glossary 19
Standards (classroom) 20
Standards (library) 21

3. Narrative/Fiction Text
Purpose:
Entertainment

4. Characters
People or animals
that are in the
story.

5. Setting
Where the story
takes place

6. Plot
Action, problem
and solution

7. Non-fiction Text
Purpose:
Gain information
or facts about
people, places,
things, or events

8. Table of Contents
The Table of
Contents helps the
reader identify key
topics in the book
in the order they
are presented. It
is found at the
beginning of the
book.
Table of Contents
How to choose a puppy 2
Helping your puppy adjust to
his new home 6
Feeding your new puppy 10
Potty training a puppy 12

9. Index
An index is an
alphabetical list of
almost everything
covered in the
text, with page
numbers. It is
located at the back
of the book.
Christmas 20-30
cultural traditions 21, 22,
introduction 20
presents 30
Easter 10-15
eggs 15

10. Photographs
Photographs help the
reader understand
exactly what
something looks
like.

11. Captions
Captions help the
reader better
understand a
picture or
photograph
Bison or buffalo once roamed
the Great Plains.

12. Labels
Labels help the
reader identify a
picture or
photograph and/or
its part.
stem
petals

13. Cutaways
Cutaways help the
reader
understand
something by
looking at it from
the inside. (Like
cutting a slice of
something.) http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/animals/images/bvr2.jpg

14. Close-ups
Close-ups help the
reader see details
in something small.

15. Comparisons
Comparisons help the
reader understand
the size of one thing
by comparing it to
the size of
something else.
Comparisons may
also be in the form
of charts, tables, or
graphs where you
are comparing data.

16. Charts, Tables,and
Graphs
Charts & Tables help
the reader
understand important
information by listing
it in a chart or table.
Graphs help the reader
see relationships
between things.
4
5
10
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Number of M & Ms
red yellow blue green
Color of M & Ms
M & M Graph
red
yellow
blue
green
Color of M & Ms Number of M & Ms
Red 4
Yellow 5
Blue 10
Green 3

17. Maps
Maps help the
reader understand
where things are in
the world.
http://www.oldmap.co.uk/ISLE-OF-WIGHT-old-Map.jpg

18. Types of Print
Types of print help
the reader by
signaling, “Look at
me! I’m important!”
It may be bold
print, italics, ALL
CAPS, underlined,
or larger
print.
The old dresser draw
screeched as the
children slowly
pulled it open.
Inside they found
and old document
that gave
directions to a lost
gold mine.

19. Glossary
The glossary helps the
reader understand key
words that are in the
text. It is an
alphabetical listing of
key words and their
meaning. It is located in
the back of the book.
Other names: Important
Words to Know.
captions cutaways
Captions – words describing what
is happening in a picture or
photograph
Close-ups – enlarged picture or
object to show details in
something small
Cutaways – picture or illustration
that helps the reader
understand something by
looking at it from the inside.
(Like cutting a slice of
something)

20. Classroom Standards
Standard 1: The student reads and
comprehends text across the curriculum
Benchmark 4: The student comprehends a
variety of texts (narrative, expository,
technical, and persuasive)
Indicators : 2 – The student understands the
purpose of text features (title,
graphs/charts, maps, table of contents,
pictures/illustrations, captions, boldface
type, italics, glossary, index, headings, and
subheadings) and uses such features to locate
information in and to gain meaning from
appropriate-level texts
Some of the clip art came from CDs
purchased at www.djinkers.com

21. Library Standards
Standard 1: Inquire, think
critically, and gain knowledge
1.1 Skills
1.1.6– Read, view, and listen for
iinformation presented in any
format (e.g., textual, visual,
media, digital) in order to make
inferences and gather meaning.
Some of the clip art came from CDs
purchased at www.djinkers.com