What Are Non-Fiction Text Features? A reader’s theater written by Lee-Anne T. Spalding, M. Ed. 11-09

Character Student playing the character Narrator 1 Table of Contents Headings Photograph Map Timeline Bold Print Glossary Index ALL

Narrator 1 Non-Fiction text features are parts of informational books that help you understand what you are reading. Let’s learn about some text features and how they help you read! ALL What is the table of contents? Table of I list the chapter titles or headings and their page numbers that Contents appear throughout the text. If you want to read a certain section of the book, use me as your guide! ALL What is a heading? Heading I am the title of a certain chapter or section of text. I am usually bigger than the body of the text and may even be printed in another color. I can help you understand what the main idea of the text is all about! ALL What are photographs? Photograph I am the pictures in a book that truly show you what something looks like. Photographs are taken by a camera unlike illustrations which are drawn or created by a computer. Some say a “picture is worth a thousand words”. ALL What are maps? Map I am the text feature that shows you where something might be located; like in the United States, on one of the seven continents or even in an ocean. ALL What is a timeline? Timeline I am a “line” in the book that represents important events in the order in which they occurred. I help you understand dates and when specific events happened! ALL What is bold print? Bold print I am included in the text when the author wants the word or phrase to stand out! If a word is in bold print that means it is very important to understand. If you don’t know the word or phrase, the meaning may be in the glossary! ALL What is the glossary? Glossary I am usually located at the back of the book. I am like the dictionary for that text. I am a list of words and their meanings that help the reader make meaning out of what they are reading. ALL What is the index? Index I am the alphabetical list of words at the end of a book. I list important words and the page number in which they can be found. ALL WOW! Everyone should use us to be sure they understand what they read! We are really helpful tools when reading nonfiction! THE END!