Non-Fiction Text Types and Features

Non-Fiction Text Types and Features

Multiple Choice

What is Non-Fiction writing?

• True facts about science, history, and the world around us.

• Made up stories with characters and conflict created by an author.

These notes will focus on Non-Fiction

• Text Structures (how texts are organized)

• Text Features (how authors help readers visualize, stay organized, and find information quickly).

5 Non-Fiction Text Structures

• Description

• Problem/Solution

• Cause/Effect

• Compare/Contrast

• Sequence/Order (1, 2, 3)

Description

This text structure provides details and characteristics of a topic.

Clues: Adjectives, Characteristics, Examples, Mental image

Ex: Cats are also known as felines. They have strong, flexible bodies, sharp teeth and claws, and are good hunters. Cats also possess quick reflexes and excellent night vision.

Description

This text structure provides details and characteristics of a topic.

Clues: Adjectives, Characteristics, Examples, Mental image

Ex: Cats are also known as felines. They have strong, flexible bodies, sharp teeth and claws, and are good hunters. Cats also possess quick reflexes and excellent night vision.

Problem/Solution

This test structure is organized by giving information about a problem, then providing and explaining many possible solutions.

Ex. Cats are known to be very curious creatures. Because of this, they have a tendency to invade their owner's space, causing problems. For example, cats will intrude on their owner's keyboard and press buttons or prevent work from being done. To prevent this, cat owners may try blocking access to the keyboard. Try shutting your cat in its own room, or placing the keyboard in a drawer. Another solution is to make the keyboard a place that your cat does not enjoy. Try making jerky, unpredictable arm movements while typing. Make a noisy rattle by putting coins in a jar to discourage the cat from being on the desk. These should solve the keyboard cat problem quickly

Problem/Solution

This test structure is organized by giving information about a problem, then providing and explaining many possible solutions.

Ex. Cats are known to be very curious creatures. Because of this, they have a tendency to invade their owner's space, causing problems. For example, cats will intrude on their owner's keyboard and press buttons or prevent work from being done. To prevent this, cat owners may try blocking access to the keyboard. Try shutting your cat in its own room, or placing the keyboard in a drawer. Another solution is to make the keyboard a place that your cat does not enjoy. Try making jerky, unpredictable arm movements while typing. Make a noisy rattle by putting coins in a jar to discourage the cat from being on the desk. These should solve the keyboard cat problem quickly

Sequence/Order

This text structure explains chronological events or a list of steps in a process.

Clues: Order of events, History, Instructions, Steps, First, Second, Next, Then

Ex. To make this cat toy, first take a cardboard tube and fold the edges of one end in to the center. Next, drop 5-10 dry cat treats into the tube's open end. Then, fold the edges of the open end in to the center, and allow your cat to try it out! Once the cat gets the food out, you will need to refill it occasionally.

Sequence/Order

This text structure explains chronological events or a list of steps in a process.

Clues: Order of events, History, Instructions, Steps, First, Second, Next, Then

Ex. To make this cat toy, first take a cardboard tube and fold the edges of one end in to the center. Next, drop 5-10 dry cat treats into the tube's open end. Then, fold the edges of the open end in to the center, and allow your cat to try it out! Once the cat gets the food out, you will need to refill it occasionally.

Multiple Choice

Read the following text. Then decide which structure is used to organize it.

Although it is safer for students, online learning is causing many issues. One such problem is group work. Students have reported that their partners don't participate or get off topic easily. Giving groups a collaborative challenge to work on together can help motivate bored students. Another solution is for teachers to assign each group member a role, so that they need to complete a specific task and can be held accountable.

• Problem/Solution

• Sequence

• Cause/Effect

• Compare/Contrast

• Description

Multiple Select

Which of these answers show(s) that the text structure is PROBLEM AND SOLUTION? Although it is safer for students, online learning is causing many issues. One such problem is group work. Students have reported that their partners don't participate or get off topic easily. Giving groups a collaborative challenge to work on together can help motivate bored students. Another solution is for teachers to assign each group member a role, so that they need to complete a specific task and can be held accountable.

• ...safer for students

• ...causing many issues

• One such problem...

• Another solution is...

Cause/Effect

This text structure describes an event (cause) and the effects that follow.

Clues: If/then, Because, As a result

Cats use their tongues to groom their fur. During grooming, tiny hooks will catch dead fur and pull it along. As a result, the cat's fur will be sleek and clean. An undesired effect of this cleaning can be heard when the cat coughs up a hairball. Usually, if a cat gets better at grooming as it grows up, then it will produce hairballs more often.



Cause/Effect

This text structure describes an event (cause) and the effects that follow.

Clues: If/then, Because, As a result

Cats use their tongues to groom their fur. During grooming, tiny hooks will catch dead fur and pull it along. As a result, the cat's fur will be sleek and clean. An undesired effect of this cleaning can be heard when the cat coughs up a hairball. Usually, if a cat gets better at grooming as it grows up, then it will produce hairballs more often.



Multiple Choice

Read the following text. Then decide which structure is used to organize it.

In the fall, you may see squirrels gathering acorns. They do this so that they can have food supplies in the winter and spring, as acorns only form in the fall. As a result of burying the acorns, many acorns are lost. Because they were not eaten, these acorns can begin to grow in the spring, creating forests full of mighty oak trees.

• Problem/Solution

• Sequence

• Cause/Effect

• Compare/Contrast

• Description

Multiple Select

Which of these answers show(s) that the text structure is CAUSE AND EFFECT?

In the fall, you may see squirrels gathering acorns. They do this so that they can have food supplies in the winter and spring, as acorns only form in the fall. As a result of burying the acorns, many acorns are lost. Because they were not eaten, these acorns can begin to grow in the spring, creating forests full of mighty oak trees.

• As a result...

• In the fall...

• Because...

• creating forests full...

Compare/Contrast

The text will talk about similarities and differences between people, places, etc.

Clues: Same/different, Both/neither, In contrast, On the other hand

Ex. While both dogs and cats make wonderful pets, there are some noticeable differences between them. Cats are very independent, meaning that they enjoy spending time exploring on their own. On the other hand, dogs are very social and loving. Owners wanting to pet an animal may choose a dog over a cat.

Compare/Contrast

The text will talk about similarities and differences between people, places, etc.

Clues: Same/different, Both/neither, In contrast, On the other hand

Ex. While both dogs and cats make wonderful pets, there are some noticeable differences between them. Cats are very independent, meaning that they enjoy spending time exploring on their own. On the other hand, dogs are very social and loving. Owners wanting to pet an animal may choose a dog over a cat.

Non-Fiction Text Features

help readers to:

-find information in a text.

-organize information in a text

-visualize information in a text

​What does this table of contents do that helps readers?

​It shows the topics in the text in the order they appear.

​It shows the sections, or chapters, of the text.

​It is easy to find at the beginning of the book.

​What does this index do that helps readers?

​It shows the topics in the text in alphabetical order.

​It helps readers quickly find the page (or pages) that contain the information they need.

​It is easy to find at the very end of the book.

Multiple Choice

On which page could readers find information about Bumblebee Weed?

• 14

• 36-38

• 67

• 89-91

​What does this glossary do that helps readers?

​It shows key words in the text in alphabetical order.

​It helps readers quickly find the definition for words related to the text.

​It is easy to find at the end of the book.

Multiple Choice

What is debt?

• a plastic card that uses the money in the cardholder's checking account to fund purchases

• money that is owed as the result of borrowing

• the rate at which interest is charged or paid

• the glossary does not have this information

​What do bulleted lists do that helps readers?

​They list key information, quickly.

​What do headings and sub-headings do that helps readers?

​They divide the text into sections.

​They label what the section will be about (main idea).

​What do sidebars do that helps readers?

​They divide the text into sections, visually.

​They help separate extra information from the main text.

​What do captions do that helps readers?

​They add extra information that may help readers better understand the text or photo.

​They explain in words what is being sown in the picture or photograph.

​What do diagrams do that helps readers?

​They give visual representations of key ideas from the text, like cycles.

​They explain the parts of a topic, with a labeled picture or photograph.

​What do graphs do that helps readers?

​They help readers visualize the information from statistics, numbers, and other sources.

​They show numerical information visually.

Multiple Select

Which text features help readers to visualize in this article from Time For Kids?

• Photograph in top left

• Diagram in the top right

• Graph at the bottom

• All of these are correct

​What do timelines do that helps readers?

​They give visual pictures, or extra information about the events on the timeline.

​They help show the order that events happened in, letting readers visualize the order.

Multiple Choice

According to the timeline, when did the first hot air balloon ride take place?

• 1730

• 1752

• 1783

• 1810

Which of these features help readers visualize?

Which of these text features organizes what each section in this article will be about?

Multiple Select

Which of these text features organizes what each section of the article will be about?

• Photographs

• Headings

• Table of Contents

• Captions

Poll

How are you feeling about this info? Will you be ready for our Non-Fiction Test?

• I need lots of help!

• This is new to me, but I sort of understand.

• I remember hearing these before and think I'm beginning to understand.

• I have heard these before and use them all the time! I know this!