Informational Text Flashcards
The primary purpose of an informational text is to?
Inform the reader about the natural or social world
Informative texts appear where?
in newspapers, textbooks, reference materials, and research papers
Are informative texts fiction or non-fiction?
Always non-fiction
Informative texts: style of writing
written cues, organization, graphics, and illustrations
4 Different TYPES of Informative Texts
literary nonfiction,
expository writing,
argumentative/persuasive writing
procedural writing
instructs your audience on how to complete a specific task
(It falls into two categories, how to make something and how to do something.)
Procedural Writing
5 Basic Structures of Informational Texts
Description
Problem and Solution
Compare and Contrast
Cause and Effect
Sequence
Like an encyclopedia entry. What specific person, place, thing, or idea is being described?
Signal words: such as, for instance, in addition, also, specifically
Description
What is the problem and what is the solution?
Signal words: problem, issue, since, as a result, solution, idea, so, leads to, causes
Problem & Solution
When a text compares two or more ideas. What is being compared?
Signal words: similar, same, alike, both, as well as, unlike, as opposed to, on the other hand, in contrast, instead
Compare & Contrast
Compare - ?
Contrast - ?
Compare - Similarities
Contrast - Differences
What happened and why did it happen?
Signal words: since, because, if due to, as a result of, causes, leads to, consequently, then, therefore
Cause & Effect
Is this event taking place over time?
Signal words: first, second, third, then, next, before, after, finally, following
Sequence
Look for a topic, word, or phrase, and for synonyms.
Description
Look for the problem first, and then the solution.
Problem & Solution
How are they the same and how are they different?
Compare & Contrast
Remember, you are looking for a cause, not a solution.
Cause & Effect
Look. for steps or references to time such as dates.
Sequence
Tells how something was made or done in time order and with accuracy.
Procedural Recount
Features of a procedural recount?
- begins with a statement of what was made or done
- tells what was made in order
- written in the past tense
Examples of procedural recounts?
- documentaries
- retelling
- a science experiment and its results
retells an experience or an event that happened in the past
Recount Text
Purpose of a recount?
can be to inform, entertain, or to reflect and evaluate (doesn’t sit exclusively in any specific writing genre)
can focus on a specific section of an event or retell the entire story
A Recount
A recount should always be told in the order that things happened which is also referred to as a?
Chronological order of events
instructs your audience on how to complete a specific task
Procedural Recount
A procedural recount falls into two categories which are?
how to make something and how to do something
What are the Common Forms of Procedural Texts?
Directions
Instructions
Recipes
Rules for games
Manuals
Agendas
- How do I get somewhere?
- Very specific instructions including location names and titles.
- Formal language is required and the addition of a map will make your instructions so much easier to understand.
Directions
- How do I do something?
- Your language must meet the needs of your audience and you may need to include a diagram if there are complex elements to complete.
Instructions
- How do I cook something?
- Recipes are a universal text.
- There is a very clear expectation of the audience so never stray from the essentials.
- Ingredients, method and a few visuals are essential.
Recipes
- How do I play this?
- Be conscious of your audience and write in a style and language they will understand.
- You are required visuals in this style of writing.
Rules for Games
- How do I operate this?
- Are there any warnings I need to be aware of before proceeding?
- Be very specific in your explanation.
Manuals
- What are we doing?
- When are we doing it?
- Who is responsible?
Agendas
3 Parts in Writing a Procedural Recount
- Orientation
- List of Events
- Reorientation
ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS:
WHY?
WHEN?
WHERE?
WHAT EXPERIENCE?
Orientation
IT PRESENTS EVENTS.
IT TELLS THE EVENT CHRONOLOGICALLY.
IT USES CONJUNCTIONS OR CONNECTIVES LIKE FIRST, NEXT, THEN, FINALLY, ETC.
IT SHOWS THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS.
ANSWERS THE QUESTION: WHAT DID PEOPLE DO?
List of Events
IT DESCRIBES THE OUTCOME OF THE ACTIVITY.
IT EXPRESSES PEOPLE’S PERSONAL OPINION REGARDING EVENTS
Reorientation
Types of Recount
Personal, Factual, Newspaper/Historical, Literary, and Procedural
Recount Structure
- Title
- Specific participants
- Setting or Orientation (background information)
- Events in CHRONOLOGICAL order
- Concluding comments (personal opinion)
TRUE OR FALSE
Recount writing is written in the past tense
(she yelled, it nipped, she walked)
TRUE
