Non-Fiction Text Features

Text Feature

Example What is it? How does it help us?

Bold Print Type that is larger and darker than other words on the page.

Helps the reader to understand the importance of a word.

Bullets Marks, like a dot, that call attention to a certain word or words.

Helps the reader to understand facts, and read information easily

Caption A word or words used to explain an illustration, drawing, or photograph.

Helps you better understand a picture or photograph.

Close Up An enlarged part of a drawing or photograph.

Gives you a visual representation of information. This helps you to understand what the author is trying to tell you.

Coloured Print

Type that is a different colour than black. Helps the reader to understand the importance of a word.

Cross Section

A drawing or diagram that shows an inside view of something.

Gives you a visual representation of information. This helps you to understand what the author is trying to tell you.

Diagram A drawing that shows the parts of something.

Gives you an organized and visual representation of information. This helps you to understand what the author is trying to tell you.

Fact Box A special section that gives you more information than the text.

Gives you an organized way to look at information. This helps you to understand what the author is trying to tell you.

Glossary An alphabetical list of important words from the text and their meanings.

Helps you define words that are in the book.

Graph A visual representation of data. It might be a bar graph, a line graph, or a picture graph.

Gives you an organized and visual representation of data and information. This helps you to understand what the author is trying to tell you.

Guide Words

The words at the top of a page that help you know what can be found on the page.

If you are having trouble with the words in the text, you are able to locate words in the glossary easier

Heading A title that tells you what is on a page of text.

Helps you to know what the next section will be about.

Illustration

A drawing of something. Helps you to know exactly what something looks like.

Index An alphabetical listing of items, people, places, or subjects found in a text.

Helps you to easily find an idea in the book.

Italic Print

Type that is slanted. Helps the reader to understand the importance of a word.

Label A word or phrase that identifies something in a drawing or photo.

Helps you to better identify a picture and its parts.

Map A picture or drawing that shows the location of something.

Helps us to visualize a location related to what we are reading.

Photograph

A picture created with a camera. Giving the reader an accurate representation of what the text is talking about. Helps you to know exactly what something looks like.

Subheading

A smaller title within a text. Helps you to know what the next section will be about.

Table A table is a chart showing additional information.

Gives you an organized and visual representation of data and information. This helps you to understand what the author is trying to tell you.

Table of Contents

Gives you section titles and page numbers on which to find the sections.

Helps you to identify key topics in the book in the order they are presented. Helps you locate key information.

Timeline A chart that shows you events in a specific order.

Gives you an organized and visual representation of data and information. This helps you to understand what the author is trying to tell you.

Title The name of a text, chapter, or section. Helps the reader to know what the text is about.