Non-fiction text features
Look at the parts. Most good nonfiction books will have helpful features that are not a part of most fiction books. These parts include a table of contents, an index, a glossary, photographs and charts with captions, and a list of sources.
Table of Contents: Located at the front of a book, the table of contents displays a list of the big ideas within the book and where to find them.
Index: An index is an alphabetical list of almost everything covered within the book, with page numbers. Readers can use the index to look up specific terms or concepts and go right to the specific information they're looking for.
Glossary: Located at the back of the book, a glossary contains key words that are related to the topic and their definitions. These definitions provide more information about new vocabulary words.
Captions: Captions are usually right under photographs, figures, maps, and charts. Captions give a quick summary of what information is presented in the graphic.
Photos/Charts: A lot of information can be found by "reading" the charts and photos found within nonfiction text. Readers will first need to figure out what information is presented. Then they'll need to discover how to navigate the information. Some charts use clear labels, others require more careful examination. Help your reader learn more about the different ways information can be displayed.
Table of Contents: Located at the front of a book, the table of contents displays a list of the big ideas within the book and where to find them.
Index: An index is an alphabetical list of almost everything covered within the book, with page numbers. Readers can use the index to look up specific terms or concepts and go right to the specific information they're looking for.
Glossary: Located at the back of the book, a glossary contains key words that are related to the topic and their definitions. These definitions provide more information about new vocabulary words.
Captions: Captions are usually right under photographs, figures, maps, and charts. Captions give a quick summary of what information is presented in the graphic.
Photos/Charts: A lot of information can be found by "reading" the charts and photos found within nonfiction text. Readers will first need to figure out what information is presented. Then they'll need to discover how to navigate the information. Some charts use clear labels, others require more careful examination. Help your reader learn more about the different ways information can be displayed.
The Elements of THIEVES Understanding what we read.
Title
What is the title?
What do I already know about this topic?
What does this topic have to do with the preceding chapter?
Does the title express a point of view?
What do I think I will be reading about?
Headings
What does this heading tell me I will be reading about?
What is the topic of the paragraph beneath it?
How can I turn this heading into a question that is likely to be answered in the text?
Introduction
Is there an opening paragraph, perhaps italicized?
Does the first paragraph introduce the chapter?
What does the introduction tell me I will be reading about?
Do I know anything about this topic already?
Every first sentence in a paragraph
What do I think this chapter is going to be about based on the first sentence in each paragraph?
Visuals and vocabulary
Does the chapter include photographs, drawings, maps, charts, or graphs?
What can I learn from the visuals in a chapter?
How do captions help me better understand the meaning?
Is there a list of key vocabulary terms and definitions?
Are there important words in boldface type throughout the chapter?
Do I know what the boldfaced words mean?
Can I tell the meaning of the boldfaced words from the sentences in which they are embedded?
End-of-chapter questions
What do the questions ask?
What information do they earmark as important?
What information do I learn from the questions?
Let me keep in mind the end-of-chapter questions so that I may annotate my text where pertinent information is located.
Summary:
What do I understand and recall about the topics covered in the summary?
Title
What is the title?
What do I already know about this topic?
What does this topic have to do with the preceding chapter?
Does the title express a point of view?
What do I think I will be reading about?
Headings
What does this heading tell me I will be reading about?
What is the topic of the paragraph beneath it?
How can I turn this heading into a question that is likely to be answered in the text?
Introduction
Is there an opening paragraph, perhaps italicized?
Does the first paragraph introduce the chapter?
What does the introduction tell me I will be reading about?
Do I know anything about this topic already?
Every first sentence in a paragraph
What do I think this chapter is going to be about based on the first sentence in each paragraph?
Visuals and vocabulary
Does the chapter include photographs, drawings, maps, charts, or graphs?
What can I learn from the visuals in a chapter?
How do captions help me better understand the meaning?
Is there a list of key vocabulary terms and definitions?
Are there important words in boldface type throughout the chapter?
Do I know what the boldfaced words mean?
Can I tell the meaning of the boldfaced words from the sentences in which they are embedded?
End-of-chapter questions
What do the questions ask?
What information do they earmark as important?
What information do I learn from the questions?
Let me keep in mind the end-of-chapter questions so that I may annotate my text where pertinent information is located.
Summary:
What do I understand and recall about the topics covered in the summary?