Language Arts: Nonfiction Text Features
Using headings, captions, glossaries, and more to understand informational texts
Language Arts: Nonfiction Text Features
Using headings, captions, glossaries, and more to understand informational texts
Language Arts - Grade 2-3
- 1
A book about ocean animals has a page at the beginning that lists chapter names and page numbers. What text feature is this, and how does it help readers?
This feature is usually near the front of a book.
This text feature is a table of contents. It helps readers find chapters and topics in the book quickly. - 2
Read the heading: How Bees Make Honey. What do you think the section will mostly be about?
The section will mostly be about the steps bees use to make honey. - 3
A photograph shows a penguin standing on ice. Under the photograph, the words say, Penguins have thick feathers that help keep them warm. What is the text feature under the photograph called?
This text feature is often printed below a picture.
The words under the photograph are called a caption. The caption explains what the photograph shows or gives more information about it. - 4
In a book about plants, the word roots is printed in bold. Why might an author make a word bold?
Bold words are darker or thicker than the other words.
An author might make a word bold to show that it is important. The reader may need to learn or remember that word. - 5
A diagram of a flower has arrows pointing to the stem, leaves, petals, and roots. What text feature is being used, and how does it help?
The text feature is a labeled diagram. It helps readers see the parts of the flower and learn the names of each part. - 6
A book has a list at the back that says: habitat, a place where an animal lives. What text feature is this?
This feature works like a small dictionary for one book.
This text feature is a glossary. A glossary gives the meanings of important words in the book. - 7
You want to find every page in a book that talks about frogs. At the back of the book, you see a list of words with page numbers. What text feature should you use?
You should use the index. An index lists topics and tells the pages where you can find them. - 8
Look at this chart title: What Three Animals Eat. The chart lists bears, rabbits, and frogs with their foods. How does a chart help a reader?
A chart puts information into rows and columns.
A chart helps a reader compare information in an organized way. It can show what different animals eat without using many sentences. - 9
A page about weather has the subheading Types of Clouds under the main heading Weather in the Sky. What does a subheading do?
A subheading names a smaller part of a section. It helps readers know what the next part of the text is about. - 10
A map in a nonfiction book shows where gray wolves live in North America. How can the map help readers?
Maps help readers understand places.
The map can help readers see the places where gray wolves live. It shows location information in a visual way. - 11
A timeline shows these events: 1903, first airplane flight; 1969, first moon landing; 2000, people live on the space station. What does a timeline help readers understand?
A timeline helps readers understand the order of events. It shows when important events happened. - 12
A small box on the side of a page says, Fun Fact: An octopus has three hearts. What is this kind of text feature often called?
This feature is usually set apart from the main paragraphs.
This kind of text feature is often called a sidebar or fact box. It gives extra information that connects to the main text. - 13
Read this sentence from a nonfiction text: The desert is very dry, and many animals sleep during the day to stay cool. Which text feature would best show a picture of this idea: a captioned photograph, an index, or a glossary?
A captioned photograph would best show this idea. It could show a desert animal resting and explain what is happening. - 14
You are reading a page about sharks. The page has a close-up picture of shark teeth with labels. What can the labels help you learn?
Labels are words that point to parts of a picture or diagram.
The labels can help me learn the names or parts of the shark teeth. They point to important details in the picture. - 15
Choose the best text feature for this job: You need to find the meaning of the word migrate in a book about birds. Explain your choice.
Think about where word meanings are listed in a nonfiction book.
The glossary is the best text feature for this job. It gives the meanings of important words used in the book.