Reading · 4 min read
Informational Text Analysis
Informational texts present facts, explanations, and ideas about real subjects. These include textbooks, articles, essays, biographies, historical documents, and technical materials.
Text Structures
Authors organize informational text using specific patterns. Recognizing these structures aids comprehension.
| Structure | How the text is organized | Signal words |
|---|---|---|
| Chronological order | Events or steps in time order | first, next, then, finally, before, after |
| Cause and effect | Why something happens and what results | because, so, therefore, as a result, due to |
| Compare and contrast | How two things are alike and different | both, similarly, however, unlike, on the other hand |
| Problem and solution | A problem and ways to solve it | problem, solution, solve, one answer is |
| Description | Details about the features of a topic | for example, such as, includes, characteristics |
Text Features
Informational texts use features to organize information and help readers find it quickly.
| Text feature | How it helps the reader |
|---|---|
| Headings and subheadings | Divide the text into sections and tell the topic of each part |
| Bold or italic words | Mark key vocabulary or important ideas |
| Captions | Explain a photograph, illustration or diagram |
| Sidebars | Give related information set apart from the main text |
| Glossary and index | Define special words; list topics with page numbers |
| Table of contents | Shows the chapters or sections and where they begin |
| Charts, graphs and tables | Show numbers visually: bar graphs compare, line graphs show change over time |
| Maps, diagrams and timelines | Show where things are, how something works, or when events happened |
Main Idea and Supporting Details
The main idea is the central point or most important concept in a passage or paragraph. It answers the question: What is this mostly about?
Supporting details are facts, examples, reasons, descriptions, or explanations that develop, explain, or prove the main idea. Major details directly support the main idea. Minor details support or explain major details.
To identify main idea: read the entire passage, identify the topic (subject), determine what the author says about the topic, and check that supporting details connect to your identified main idea.
Author's Purpose
Authors write for specific reasons. The three primary purposes are to inform (provide information or explain), to persuade (convince readers to think or act a certain way), and to entertain (engage readers through enjoyment, humor, or emotional response).
Additional purposes include to describe (create a picture through sensory details), to express (share feelings or personal perspective), and to instruct (teach how to do something).
Clues to author's purpose include text type, word choice, inclusion of opinions versus facts, and target audience.
Author's Point of View and Perspective
In informational text, point of view refers to the author's attitude, opinion, or position on a topic. Authors may present information objectively (neutral, balanced) or subjectively (reflecting personal opinions or bias).
Identifying author's perspective involves examining word choice (positive, negative, or neutral connotations), what information is included or omitted, how evidence is presented, and direct statements of opinion.
Fact and Opinion
A fact is a statement that can be verified as true or false through observation, research, or evidence. Example: Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
An opinion is a statement that expresses a belief, feeling, judgment, or preference. Opinions cannot be proven true or false. Example: Winter is the best season.
Signal words for opinions include believe, think, feel, should, best, worst, beautiful, and terrible. However, opinions can appear without signal words, so readers must evaluate whether statements can be verified.
Making Inferences
An inference is a logical conclusion based on evidence from the text combined with prior knowledge. Authors do not state everything directly; readers must "read between the lines."
To make inferences: identify what the text states directly, consider what you already know, combine text evidence with prior knowledge, and draw a logical conclusion.
Inferences must be supported by textual evidence. Readers should be able to point to specific details that support their conclusions.
Drawing Conclusions
Drawing conclusions involves using multiple pieces of evidence to make judgments about information in the text. Conclusions should be logical, supported by evidence, and consistent with all information presented.
Summarizing
A summary is a brief restatement of the most important ideas in a text. Effective summaries include only main ideas and essential details, are significantly shorter than the original, use the reader's own words, maintain the original meaning, and present ideas in logical order.
To summarize: identify the main idea, select key supporting details, eliminate minor details and examples, and combine information into a concise statement.
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