Informational Text
Understanding Text Structures: A Textbook
Text Structures
The adventures of Rikki-tikki-tavi occurred in India, a
country with a unique history and culture.
If you want to know
more about India, a
geography textbook
would be a good place
to start.
Text Structures
To get the most out of your textbooks, make sure that you
understand their structure—the features of textbooks that
help you learn.
• Table of contents
• Section heads
• Boldface type
• Section previews
• Reading checks
• Review questions
• Captions
• Insets
Text Structures
Some textbook features help you locate information
quickly.
Table of Contents
Section Heads
Boldface Type
Text Structures
Other features of textbooks help you learn and review
information.
Section Previews
Reading Checks
Review Questions
Text Structures
The photographs and artwork in textbooks can lead you to
investigate a subject further.
Captions
Insets
Text Structures
How well do you understand the structure of textbooks?
Answer these questions using Elements of Literature.
1. Which collection in Elements of Literature will help you
learn about point of view?
Hint: Look in the Table of Contents.
2. On what page would you find more information about
point of view?
Hint: Look at titles in the Table of Contents.
Text Structures
3. Go to page 348 in your textbook. What is different
about the type used to present examples?
Hint: The essay provides an example story.
4. How many different points of view are explained in the
essay beginning on page 348?
Hint: Look for boldfaced words.
5. What section of the essay is meant to help you review
what you read about points of view?
Hint: Find a heading that means “Try it.”
Text Structures
6. Go to page 84 in your textbook. What two pieces of
literature are being compared in the feature that begins
on this page?
Hint: Look for a list of titles.
7. What kinds of stories are these?
Hint: Read the section headings.
8. When do these stories take place?
Hint: Look at the photograph on the page.
Text Structures
9. Flip through the pages of “Zoo,” beginning on page 85.
What four reading skills will you practice using?
Hint: Look in the margins.
10. Go to page 88. What elements in these two stories
will you be asked to compare?
Hint: Find a comparison chart.
Text Structures
In your textbook there
are four pages from the
geography textbook
People, Places, and
Change.
See how well you
understand the structure
of a textbook as you
answer questions about
these pages.
Text Structures
The End