Expository Text Features Booklet

Writing Trait/Strategy:

Organization; text features

Mentor Text Suggestions:

• nonfiction picture books

• Ranger Rick magazine

• National Geographic for Kids magazine

• Kids Discover magazine

• Time for Kids magazine

Description:

Once students are aware of the differences between narrative and expository text, it is important for them to be exposed to the text features nonfiction writers use to most effectively communicate their information. I introduce these text features during a series of reading workshop minilessons to prepare them for a writing unit on nonfiction feature articles. After each text feature is introduced, students are asked to complete a page in their Text Features Booklets (see directions below).

On some pages they glue in an example that I provide:

On other pages they search their independent reading books for examples of that feature and draw or write them into the booklets.

To make text features booklets download the file below:

 Text Features Booklet

Photocopy one for each student and bind.  As each text feature is studied, have students glue or draw an example in the box. The following lists the information on each page of the booklet:

• Table of contents: A table of contents gives the heading and beginning page number of each section in a book.

• Heading: A heading tells you what the section is about.

• Photograph: A photograph is a picture made with a camera that shows how things look in real life.

• Label: A label is a word that tells about a picture.

• Caption: A caption is a sentence that tells about a picture.

• Bold Print: Bold print shows you new or important words.

• Colored Print: Colored print shows you new or important words.

• Glossary: A glossary lists new or important words and shows or tells what they mean.

• Index: An index tells you what page to find information in a book. It is in ABC order.

• Diagram: A diagram is a labeled picture that shows the parts of something.

• Size Comparison Diagram: A size comparison is a diagram that compares the size of one thing to another.

• Pictograph: A pictograph is a graph that uses pictures to show and compare information.

• Bar Graph: A bar graph is a graph that uses bars to show and compare information.

• Map: A map is a picture that shows the location of things or places.

• Table: A table is a chart of information used to compare things.

• Timeline: A timeline is a chart that shows events in order.