TEXT FEATURES
2A
TEXT FEATURES
Are parts of books, magazines, etc. besides the
main text.
 May include table of contents, introduction,
charts, sidebars, foreword, timeline, afterword,
etc.
 Are useful to the reader when he is trying to
understand the main text a little better.
 Have a purpose!


Your job is to determine that purpose! (to
verify, support, or clarify meaning)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Is in the front of the book.
 Lists the chapters (or sections) in the order
they appear.
 Usually indicates the main topic (if given a
title).


Your job will be to analyze what a chapter or
section title might include.
Example – Page 155
HEADINGS

Are a short line of text that briefly describes the
topic of material coming after it.
Usually in bold
 Easy to spot
 Usually in informative writing
 Break up the text into smaller sections
 A reader can quickly skim headings and be able
to determine information underneath them.

Example – Page 159
INTRODUCTORY FEATURES



Introduction – a paragraph (or longer) that
appears at the beginning of the main text.
The general purpose of many introductions is
to build the reader’s interest to read more.
Forwards and prologues are two types of
introductions.
INTRODUCTORY FEATURES
(CONT.)

Foreword – a type of introduction to a book that
is often written by someone other than the
author.


The purpose may be to give the author praise or to
emphasize the author’s qualifications as a writer.
Prologue or Preface – a type of introduction
written by the author.

The purpose may be to tell of an event that happened
before the story begins, or it may give part of the
story that occurs at or near the end of the story line.
Example – Page 162
SIDEBAR
Is a short text written in addition to the main
article.
 Relates to the main article in some way.
 Usually gives additional information about a
specific detail mentioned in the article.
 Is often in a box placed beside a main article.
 Often verifies, supports, or clarifies something in
the main article.

Example – Page 166
REFERENCE FEATURES

Are used when something needs further
explanation.

An asterisks(*) or dagger(†) sign may be used as
a symbol to show a footnote or an endnote.
Footnote – a note or reference placed at the
bottom of the page.
 Endnote – a note or reference placed at the end
of the document.

Reasons for using footnotes or endnotes:
To give further information or
instructions
To comment on an idea in the text
To define a word or term that may be
unfamiliar to a reader
REFERENCE FEATURES
(CONT.)


Bibliography – a list of books, articles, etc. used
as a reference for another document
 at the end of the article, essay, or research
paper
 listed in alphabetical order
The author’s purpose is to give credit for the
information he used and to verify from which
sources the information was obtained.
CONCLUDING FEATURES

Afterword – a commentary usually written by
someone other than the author that comes
after the author’s text.
Usually found in nonfiction writing
 Similar to a foreword
 Can comment either on the text or the author


Purpose is to give a sense of closure.
May answer common questions or may give
additional resources for further research.
 When written by the author, he/she may explain
underlying reasons for writing.

CONCLUDING FEATURES
(CONT.)

Epilogue – a conclusion given at the end of a
story that often tells what happens to the
characters in the future.
Usually found in after fictional stories / plays
 Often tells what happens to the characters


Purpose is to give a sense of closure.
May answer common questions.
 When written in a play, it may be a concluding
speech given directly to the audience.

GRAPHIC

Is a photo, a design, or a display of data in the
form of charts or graphs.
Charts / Graphs
 Illustrations
 Diagrams


Often used to support the text.
GRAPHIC
(CONT.)
Graph
Definition
Line Graph
A line graph uses points that are
connected to show how the numbers
change over TIME.
Bar Graph
A bar graph uses bars to
REPRESENT and COMPARE
numbers.
Circle Graph
A circle graph (pie chart/pie graph)
uses parts of a circle to COMPARE
PARTS OF A WHOLE or
PERCENTAGES of different
things.
Pictograph
Similar to a bar graph but uses
pictures instead of bars to
represent a CERTAIN NUMBER
of things (there will be an
explanation regarding HOW
MUCH a picture stands for)
Looks
Like…
*each pencil
stands for 100
pencils I have
loaned to
students
TIPS

Pay more attention to the second part of each
answer choice.
POSSIBLE TEST QUESTIONS
How would the sidebar support the information
of the passage?
 How does the sidebar support the meaning of the
passage?
 How will the inclusion of the sidebar support the
meaning of the passage?
 How does the inclusion of the timeline support
the meaning of the passage?
 Does the introduction support the meaning of the
passage?
 Which conclusion is supported by information in
the graph and the passage?

POSSIBLE TEST QUESTIONS
Under which suggestion in the passage does the
above statement appropriately fit?
 Does the proposed afterword help to verify the
information in the excerpt?
 Which statement below justifies the decision to
include or not to include the information in the
timeline?
 Which statement below justifies the author’s
decision to include or not to include the foreword?
 If presented as a sidebar to the passage, how
would the chart support the message of the
passage?

WORDS TO KNOW
Demonstrates
 Proposes
 Compassionate
 Cautious
 Indicates
 Proposes
 Isolate
 Verify
 Compliance
 Clarifies

Contradict
 Reveals
 Significant
 Elaborates
 Justifies
 Detracts
 Forthright
 Dominant
 Emphasize
 Illustrates

Mississippi SATP English II
Revised: Multiple Choice
Student Review Guide for
Vocabulary/Reading