INFORMATIONAL TEXT

3 Pages 864 Words

What is Informational Text?

Informational text provides ideas, facts, and principles that are related to the physical, biological and social world. Informational texts may take many different forms: picture books, photo essays, chapter books, articles and essays, letters, diaries and journals, factual books including almanacs and statistics, brochures and manuals. The primary purpose is to communicate information. (www.scholastic.com)



How does is differ from fiction?
Fiction is generally defined as a narrative that is imagined rather than real compared with non fiction which is based on fact. Fiction is a large category that includes many kinds of literary works. It includes historical fiction, realistic stories, plays, fantasies and folklore. A fictional text may be a novel, short story or play. The purpose of fiction is to entertain and involve readers in stories of life. (Fountas and Pinnell, 2001, p 401)

Why is it important to teach children how to read it?
It is important to teach children how to read informational text because:
„_ Provides success in the later years of Schooling.
As children progress they are faced with content area text books as well as informational passages on tests. Introducing the children to informational text early on allows them to better handle the information. ¡§Children learn to read and read to learn¡¨ (www.Scholastic.com)
„_ Prepares children to handle real life reading.
Children need to be prepared to read newspapers, non fiction magazines and web based materials. To prepare children for the real world we need to teach them how to apply their knowledge effectively.
„_ Develops vocabulary and other types of literacy knowledge.
When reading informational text there is a stronger emphasis on vocabulary. Students are introduced to new concepts and there are many teachable moments. Learning to read diagrams, tables and other types of graphic organizers...