Think Like a Writer. How do Authors Organize Informational Texts?

Transcription

1 Think Like a Writer How do Authors Organize Informational Texts? Learning Target: I can analyze the structure an author uses to organize a text, including how the major sections contribute to the whole and to the development of the ideas.

2 Question How is writing like building a house? 1) Think about it for 3 minutes--no writing...just think about as many ideas as you can. Don t worry about whether they are right or wrong or if they sound goofy. 2) For 5 minutes, write down your ideas in paragraph OR list form. 3) Share with a partner.

3 Ways Writing Is Like Building a House to generate a class list: I need a helper!

4 Blueprints Builders don t show up one day and start constructing rooms wherever they want. There has to be a plan--to allow for plumbing, to allow for closets & storage, etc., to put rooms in an appropriate order, to have appropriate hallways between sections of the house. In the world of construction, blueprints are the plans used to organize ROOMS into a HOUSE.

5

6 Dècor Once the house is built according to the blueprints, then rooms can be decorated with furniture, paint, lighting, pictures, pillows, posters, etc. to make the rooms comfortable for those who live and visit there.

7 Text Structures & Text Features Similarly, a writer must decide what the writing will look like before he/she writes it. What main idea should be covered in each paragraph? In what order should the paragraphs go? In what order should the paragraph s ideas be presented? What transitions will I use between ideas and between paragraphs? In the world of writing, writers use text structures. These are blueprints used to organize IDEAS into PARAGRAPHS and to organize PARAGRAPHS into a whole WRITING PIECE. Once the piece is written, the writer can go back to add text features. These are the decorative items that make the piece comfortable for the reader.

8 Text Structures vs Text Features To begin our unit on Informational Reading, we will familiarize ourselves with the common text structures and text features that non-fiction writers use to build their articles. First, however, we need to address a common misconception.

9 Text Structures vs Text Features TEXT STRUCTURES are not the same as TEXT FEATURES. Just like furniture is not the same as the foundation of a house.

10 Text Structures vs Text Features Text Structures are the blueprints. They organize ideas about a topic in a way that makes sense for readers. Just like the way builders make sure that the stairs leading to the 2nd floor of a house are not found in the middle of someone s bedroom. AWKWARD! Text Features are the dècor. They separate and place ideas on the page so they look inviting, comfortable, and organized for a reader. That s why your couch is probably facing the TV; it may even have some throw pillows or a small blanket across the back.

11 Text Structures vs Text Features Examples of some Common Text Structures: cause & effect compare & contrast chronological order problem & solution description Examples of some Common Text Features: headings subheadings bold print italics columns

12 Text Structures vs Text Features Examples of some Common Text Structures: cause & effect compare & contrast chronological order problem & solution description These text structures show HOW the author organized his/her sentences and paragraphs. This lets the reader know the author s PURPOSE. It also lets the reader know what main ideas to be looking for.

13 Text Structures vs Text Features Examples of some Common Text Features: headings subheadings These text features are used to arrange the final draft into a format that looks organized for the reader and is easy to read. bold print italics These let the reader find information quickly. columns

14 Putting It in Our Own Words To summarize your learning, you will engage in Partner Teaching with the person sitting next to you. The person whose birthday comes first will teach his/her partner about TEXT STRUCTURES. What are they? What are they used for? Describe how TEXT STRUCTURES relate to building a house. The person whose birthday comes last will teach his/her partner about TEXT FEATURES. What are they? What are they used for? Describe how TEXT FEATURES relate to building a house. If there is an odd number and you have 3 in your group, the third person will describe how WRITING is like BUILDING A HOUSE. You have 3 minutes to look at your notes before you teach WITHOUT them!!

15 Exit Slip Think of all you have learned today about text structures and text features. In your own words, describe the difference between TEXT STRUCTURES and TEXT FEATURES. Identify any questions you have about each one. This will help me as we explore these techniques more in-depth in the days to come.