Academic Language Terms for Nonfiction

Question 1

Central idea/ main idea

Answer 1

One sentence that tells what the text is about, or what the text is trying to teach the reader.

Question 2

Setting

Answer 2

The time period. Can also include the mood of a place.

Question 3

Key details

Answer 3

Important pieces of information that supports the main idea.

Question 4

Fact

Answer 4

A detail that can be proven true.

Question 5

Opinion

Answer 5

a statement that expresses a feeling,an attitude, a value judgement, or a belief.

Question 6

Text features

Answer 6

Components of a book or article that are not part of the main body of a text. These text features are for non-fiction.

Question 7

Table of contents

Answer 7

A list of chapters or sections given at the start of the book.

Question 8

Heading

Answer 8

A title at the head of a page or section of a book.

Question 9

Caption

Answer 9

a title or explanation of an illustration or picture to help the reader understand.

Question 10

Illustration

Answer 10

A drawing.

Question 11

Index

Answer 11

An alphabetical list of keywords and topics that appear in a document.

Question 12

Glossary

Answer 12

A list of terms and definitions that are specific to a document or a field of study.