Informational Text
SPI 3002.6.1 Discern the stated or implied main idea and
supporting details of informational and technical passages.
SPI 3002.6.2 Use the graphics of informational and technical
passages to answer questions.
SPI 3002.6.3 Determine the appropriateness of a graphic used to
support an informational or technical passage.
SPI 3002.6.4 Identify the organizational structure of an
informational or technical text (e.g., sequential, problem-solution,
comparison-contrast, cause-effect).
SPI 3002.6.5 Synthesize information across two or more
informational or technical texts.
Finding the Main Idea
• The Main Idea or central point of any
passage can be found in two different
ways.
– Stated – Directly stated in a topic sentence.
Topic sentences can be found in the title, the
introduction, or even the beginning or ending
sentence of a paragraph.
– Implied – an author may show the main idea
by implying, hinting, or suggesting it through
details and facts.
Supporting ideas
• Supporting details give more information
about the main idea.
• Details are items of information that
answer the 5 W’s and H of journalism:
Who? What? Where? When? Why? and
How?
• These fill in information and explain the
main idea.
Tips for Finding a Stated Main Idea
1. Read the title.
2. Read the first and last sentence of each
paragraph.
3. Choose the answer that is the best
statement or restatement of the
passage’s main idea.
4. Always read the entire passage.
Discern the Main Idea
The Mockingbird
“Mockingbirds are common and popular birds in
the eastern and southern regions of the United
States. The mockingbird is the state bird of
Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and
Texas. “Mockers,” as they are affectionately
called, are known for their ability to mimic other
birds, mammals, and insects with song and
sounds. Mockingbirds often live close to human
homes, nesting in ornamental hedges.
Tips for Finding
Implied Main Ideas
1. Read the title.
2. Read the entire paragraph or passage. This
will give you a general understanding.
3. Reread the facts and details in each
paragraph. Think of the overall idea that they
have in common.
4. Choose the answer that summarizes all of the
facts and ideas in the passage. Check the
evidence in the passage one more time.
What season is it?
“Outside, the wind was bitterly cold, and the
snow was piling up quickly.”
Winter
How do you know?
QUIZ
Putting Energy Back into Your Life
Are you getting enough water? Think of your
houseplants. When they are short on water, they
droop. The same thing happens to you! Your body is
made up of millions of cells, and the principal part of
each cell is water. If your cells are low on water, you
will function at less than full efficiency. Strive for six to
eight glasses of water each day.
1. What is the implied main idea of this paragraph?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Houseplants need water to survive
Cells contain a high percentage of water
Our bodies are made up of millions of cells
Your body needs water to remain efficient
Using graphics to answer questions
• Non-print media (photographs,
illustrations, and graphics) can be a useful
and powerful tool. Images can be used
like words—to inform, to entertain, to
inspire, to prompt action, to symbolize, or
to capture a moment in history. They can
sometimes show information more clearly
than words.
Look at the diagram below.
Which factual detail belongs where the circles overlap?
a. Independent
b. must be fed
c. Need to potty train
d. funny to watch
Is the graphic appropriate for the
text?
Using visual elements helps with research
and decision making.
Understanding how various visual elements
work will help you determine the
appropriateness of each.
Line graphs
• Show how things change over
time. They often compare
trends or show how two or
more events affect each other.
What questions can we ask
about this chart? What
thesis might it support?
drug-use-chart.gif
schooldrugtesting.com
Bar
Graph
What do the
numbers on the
side represent?
What thesis
statement might
this graph
support? What
conclusions can
we make based
on this
information?
• Usually compare amounts of items
in different categories. A bar graph
can also show different quantities
or changes over time.
Pie
Charts
• Used to show
the various
parts of a
greater whole.
Many times,
they are helpful
in showing how
many people
favor each
opinion on a
given issue.
Using the 2007 Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), this report examines the characteristics of
female substance abuse treatment admissions aged 12 to 17. In 2007, of the nearly 132,000
admissions aged 12 to 17, approximately 30 percent or slightly more than 40,000 were female
admissions.
Among female adolescent substance abuse treatment admissions, 19 percent were aged 12 to 14
and 81 percent were aged 15 to 17. More than half (58 percent) were non-Hispanic White and nearly
one fifth (18 percent) were Hispanic (Figure 1). Another 13 percent were non-Hispanic Black.
Tables
• Meant to help readers easily find and
compare information. They show data
arranged in rows and columns. The rows
of a table go across; the columns of a
table go up and down. The table heading,
usually found at the top of the table,
describes what information is contained in
the table. It also tells you where you
should look to find exactly the information
you need.
Quiz
1. Hayley is looking at her class schedule
for this semester. It shows all her
classes, class times, and class locations
in separate rows. How is this information
most likely presented?
a. In a line graph b. in a bar graph
c. In a table d. in a map
• The title of Cameron’s paper is “The Inner
Workings of Formula-One Cars.” Which
graphic would be the best addition to
support the information in this paper?
A. a table of winning Formula-One racers
B. a cutaway that shows the engine parts
C. a map showing the race track
D. a sidebar of racing terms
Read the following magazine advertisement.
Do you dread doing the dishes? Harsh dish
detergent can dry out your hands and nails,
leaving your skin rough and cracked. Save your
hands and use Luv Doing Dishes instead. Luv
Doing Dishes promises to be tough on dishes,
but gentle on hands.
Which image would be the best addition to the
advertisement?
A. a photograph of a woman’s manicured hands
B. a photograph of a sink full of dirty dishes
C. a line graph showing the product’s sales
D. a map showing where the product is sold
Assignment
Choose something in this room. Write an
advertisement for it. Describe a graphic
that would support this advertisement.
Now, write an article about the object. Show
the product over time: sales, deterioration,
usage, etc. You choose. Draw a graphic
that would support this article.
Link to text structure
• text-structure power point.ppt
Identify the organizational structure
of a text
• It is important that you understand how an
author is communicating his or her ideas.
Knowing how a text is organized can tell you a
lot about what an author is saying
• When organizing an essay, look for a clear
progression of ideas. The most effective order
of sentences may be according to the time they
happened, the best sequence of actions to take,
which points are most important, or a causeeffect relationship.
Sequential/
chronological
• Starts from the first, then
second, then third, etc.
Moved
Fell in
MetinGirl
• Also used
expository
Away
Love
writing, which sometimes
explains how something
works.
Which graphics
might support this
organization?
•Key words:
Born•first Married
in 1882
in 1906
•third
•before
•then
•next
•finally
•second
•when
•after
•last
•until
•between
•now
•later
•afterwards
•most important
Died
in 1948
Problem/solution
• Writers will often explain a problem
then pose solutions that they hope
the audience will accept and
support.
Problem solution order begins
with the problem.
• What are the details of the
situation?
• Who is affected by the
problem?
• Why should an audience care
about this particular dilemma?
Which
organizational
chart would help
you to prepare for
writing this type of
essay.
• As a writer, you must present
the problem and support your
claims with details that explain
why a solution is necessary.
Otherwise, you’ll lose
audience support before you
get a chance to offer
solutions.
Order of Importance
• Some details need to stand out.
Emphasize certain ideas by placing them
at the beginning or the end of a paragraph.
• Sometimes you will want to start with the
most important idea. Other times you will
want to save the best idea for last.
Example of Order of Importance
Dear Aunt Jenny,
I really would likeWhat
to spend
the summer
would
be awith you because I have never
Why?
spent much time in Oregon. Also, I am interested
in earning some
better
waysavings,
to
extra money for
my college
and many jobs are available in
your area. Most importantly, I really enjoy our short visits when we
organize
this?
get together over
the holidays,
and I want to spend more time with
you so we can be closer.
Please write back soon, and let me know what you think.
Love,
Sandra
Be
persuasive
Comparison/contrast order
• Sometimes in writing you will need to
choose one side of
an
issue
and
convince
Apples &
the reader of the validity
Oranges of your position.
• Comparing your ideas with other popular
ideas can help you accomplish this.
• Another wayFruits
to convinceColors
readers to agree
Have Seeds
Tastes your position
with your views
is to contrast
Healthy pointing
Locations
with its opposite,
out differences
and showing why your position is better.
Example
• Household pets suchQuiz:
as catsChoose
and dogscat
can bring families
ORpeople
dog. prefer
Writeone
a or the other, I
a lot of joy. While many
think that both cats andparagraph
dogs make that
excellent family pets.
Cats and dogs are very
playful, the
especially
contrasts
other when they are
kittens and puppies. They provide their owners with
to emphasize
your
endless entertainment,
performing silly
tricks and setting
off on many household adventures.
position. Cats and dogs also
bond with family members, seeking out attention and
affection
from
What isMost
the families
What
is their
the human companions.
with cats and dogs find that their pets
enrich their lives
author’s
everymain
day. idea?
position/view?
Cause/effect Order
is the
• Cause – Reason for anWhat
event
effect?
• Effect – result of the event
What is –the
• Example
Last night you stayed up late
What chain of
cause?
finishing a project for school.
This
events might
morning you were so tired happen
that you didn’t
hear your alarm clock. because of the
cause?
Practice
Deviled Eggs
Pop out (remove) the egg yolks to a small
bowl and mash with a fork. Add mayonnaise,
mustard powder, vinegar, salt and pepper and
mix thoroughly. Fill the empty egg white shells
with the mixture and sprinkle lightly with paprika.
Cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for
up to one day before serving.
2
Sports at Ericson
There are two popular sports played at
Ericson, basketball and volleyball. Both take
place inside of the gym at Ericson. Also, each
sport has two teams of people. In basketball,
however, the ball can be played off of the floor,
and in volleyball, the ball cannot touch the floor
or it is out of play. Basketball and volleyball are
popular sports at Ericson.
3
The Lazy Student
When Tim woke up, he didn’t want to
go to school. His mom took him anyway.
So, he went to school, but he didn’t do any
work. The days passed, and Tim still
didn’t do any work. Mr. Morton called
Tim’s house, but Tim still wouldn’t do any
work. Finally the report cards came out,
and Tim failed his classes. Tim was sad.
4
Failing Classes
Lots of students fail classes. Some
students fail because the work is too hard
for them. Other times they may fail
because they are lazy, and don’t do any
work. Another reason why students may
fail is if they don’t go to school. If you’re
not in class you may miss a lot. Many
students fail classes every quarter.
5
Passing Classes
A lot of students have been failing
classes. These students wouldn’t be
failing classes if they studied more, asked
questions, tried harder, and came in for
extra help. Even though a lot of students
fail classes, they have many options if they
want to pass.
6
Gail Denvers
Devers experienced the highlight of any sprinter’s
career, as she stood on the huge platform in the giant
stadium and received an Olympic gold medal.
Eighteen months earlier she wasn’t thinking about
running. She was hoping that she would be able to walk
again.
Just four years earlier, in the summer of 1988, as
Devers was training for the Olympic Games, to be held
in Seoul, South Korea, she began to feel very tired all
the time and failed to make the Olympic finals.
7
» Three Types of Circus Clowns
»
Generally, there are three categories of circus
clowns—whiteface, august and character. Each has a
specific makeup style and costume. Each has a typical act
as well.
»
The neat whiteface is usually a strict, in-charge
character who sets up the punch line for the joke with a
partner His facial features are neatly detailed in red or
black.
Circus legend has it that the august clown got his
name from a German nickname for someone who is
clumsy. The august wears light-colored makeup, but white
is used around the mouth and eyes, and there’s a big red
nose. This clown performs a great deal of slapstick humor.
Character clowns perform as different
personalities—cowboys, scarecrows, grandmothers or
symphony conductors. The most famous character clown,
however, is the tramp. Tramps wear different styles of
makeup and costumes that are torn or shabby. Some
tramp clowns are happy-go-lucky. Others are extremely
sad. Still others act like gentlemen who just happen to be
out of money.
8
HOW TO USE THE MICROSCOPE
1. Plug in the lamp.
2. Place a sample of what you wish to observe on a
slide.
3. Adjust the mirror so it reflects light from the room up
into the objective lens.
4. Place your slide with the specimen directly over the
center of the glass circle on the stage.
5. With the LOW POWER objective lens placed over the
slide, use the coarse focus knob.
6. Look through the eyepiece with one eye while closing
the other eye.
7. Use the fine focus knob to fine
9
Fewer Toads
Though toads are still around, they no longer
are as common in some areas as they were a
few decades ago. The growing use of
insecticides has reduced their numbers. The
chemical sprays usually do not harm toads, but
cut down the animals’ food supply. Thereby, the
toads do not have enough food to survive.
There are fewer toads in many areas populated
by humans.
10
Restoring the Toad
Dr. Knapp doesn’t want people to sit back and
let the toad vanish. He believes that everyone is
responsible for restoring the toad species. Dr.
Knapp thinks we could help restore the toad
population if we stop mowing parts of our lawns and
let the grass grow wild to reserve space for the toad.
He also believes we need to stop using pesticides
and fertilizers. The chemicals kill the insects that
toads eat. If we preserve some spaces in our lawns
and stop using fertilizers, Dr. Knapp believes we can
save the toads.
Answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Sequence
Compare and Contrast
Chronological
Cause and Effect
Problem and Solution
Chronological
Compare and Contrast
Sequence
Cause and Effect
Problem and Solution
Synthesize Information
• When you are trying to understand a
concept or working on a research project,
you often use material from a variety of
sources. In the end, you must decide how
these sources will fit together to create a
whole, complete idea.
Steps to synthesizing information
across texts/graphic
1. Identify the main idea of each
text/graphic
2. Identify similarities – What do each have
in common?
3. Identify differences – How do they differ?
4. Draw conclusions – How will you use this
information to support your own
theories/ideas or to simply answer
questions?
See page 181-185 in purple book for practice
Synthesize
When trying to find your way around town, you
must SYNTHESIZE information from maps,
instructions, and time schedules.
Rover
Let’s take a look. How would you find your way
down town?
Honors assignment
• Read 5 articles from the 5 main Republican candidates
in the 2012 election campaign. Each article discusses
jobs and the economy. I have omitted the names of the
campaigners so that you have may view their ideas more
objectively.
• Take notes on each article
–
–
–
–
–
Write the number of the article.
What is the main idea?
Which organization structure is used?
How are they similar and different from each other?
What are the pros and cons of the ideas? What do you
like/dislike? What do you think will work/not work and why?
• Synthesize the information in a paragraph that discusses
which candidate you would most likely vote for (if you
could) based solely on these articles. Use the articles
and your own ideas to support your main idea. *You
may not say none of them. Sorry, just choose.