How to Read How to Read Informational TextsInformational TextsOregon City High Oregon City High

SchoolSchool

What are informational What are informational texts?texts?

Newspaper and Newspaper and magazine articles, magazine articles, online articles, etc.online articles, etc.

Science, medical, and Science, medical, and other journals other journals

History and non-fiction History and non-fiction literatureliterature

Science, Health, Math, Science, Health, Math, and other text booksand other text books

Any type of writing Any type of writing that is primarily meant that is primarily meant to deliver information to deliver information to the reader.to the reader.

Why is it important to learn Why is it important to learn how to read informational how to read informational

texts?texts? It could be argued that It could be argued that

informational reading is the informational reading is the most important reading people most important reading people do, as it relates to their career.do, as it relates to their career.

In every profession, one of the In every profession, one of the primary ways in which primary ways in which information is disseminated, is information is disseminated, is through informational text.through informational text.

By reading newspapers, By reading newspapers, magazines, and generally magazines, and generally keeping up on information, one keeping up on information, one can live a richer, more well can live a richer, more well informed life.informed life.

Evaluate, Interpret, and Evaluate, Interpret, and AnalyzeAnalyze How is the following statement valid or invalid:How is the following statement valid or invalid:

““By reading newspapers, magazines, and generally keeping By reading newspapers, magazines, and generally keeping up on information, one can live a richer, more well up on information, one can live a richer, more well informed life.”informed life.”

Headlines, Bolds, and ItalicsHeadlines, Bolds, and Italics One thing authors of One thing authors of

informational texts do informational texts do to get a reader’s to get a reader’s attention is to put attention is to put information in the information in the headline, or in bolded headline, or in bolded or italic font.or italic font.

A headline is a short A headline is a short summary of the text—summary of the text—some texts will have some texts will have sub-heads, which sub-heads, which summarize the text the summarize the text the are directly above.are directly above.

Authors also use bold Authors also use bold and and italic italic fonts to call fonts to call a reader’s attention to a reader’s attention to an important an important word/term, phrase, or word/term, phrase, or quote.quote.

Data, Statistics, Ratios Data, Statistics, Ratios and Percentagesand Percentages Pay particular attention to numbers Pay particular attention to numbers

when you are reading an when you are reading an informational text.informational text.

Finding key pieces of data help to Finding key pieces of data help to illustrate the author’s overall point, illustrate the author’s overall point, or may help to clarify something.or may help to clarify something.

If a text does not contain any data, it If a text does not contain any data, it may take away from the author’s may take away from the author’s assertions or credibility.assertions or credibility.

Think critically about the kinds of Think critically about the kinds of data an author uses—always ask data an author uses—always ask yourself why the author might have yourself why the author might have chosen a particular statistic, ratio, chosen a particular statistic, ratio, number, or percentage.number, or percentage.

Finally, look for a source of the Finally, look for a source of the information—where does this data information—where does this data come from—is it reliable, or come from—is it reliable, or unreliable…why?unreliable…why?

Analyze, Evaluate, InterpretAnalyze, Evaluate, Interpret

Think about the accuracy of the following statements Think about the accuracy of the following statements using data:using data: 67% of Oregon Students graduate from High School.67% of Oregon Students graduate from High School. About 1/3 of all High School students in Oregon don’t graduate.About 1/3 of all High School students in Oregon don’t graduate. More than 67% of all students in Oregon are proficient learners.More than 67% of all students in Oregon are proficient learners. 2/3’s of Oregonians have their high school diploma.2/3’s of Oregonians have their high school diploma.

QuotesQuotes Informational texts often use quotes from experts, eye-Informational texts often use quotes from experts, eye-

witnesses, other texts, or someone of particular importance.witnesses, other texts, or someone of particular importance. Pay particular attention to what the people who are quoted Pay particular attention to what the people who are quoted

have said:have said: Is it valuable?Is it valuable? What was the question or prompt they were responding to?What was the question or prompt they were responding to? How does this relate to what I’ve been reading?How does this relate to what I’ve been reading? Is the quote true—do I agree with what has been said, or not?Is the quote true—do I agree with what has been said, or not?

VocabularyVocabulary One of the biggest difficulties students have One of the biggest difficulties students have

with informational texts is the use of with informational texts is the use of technical or unfamiliar vocabulary.technical or unfamiliar vocabulary.

Tips deciphering new vocabulary:Tips deciphering new vocabulary: Use context clues to guess what the word might Use context clues to guess what the word might

mean.mean. Look for root terms, prefixes, or suffixes.Look for root terms, prefixes, or suffixes. Use the glossary if it’s a text book—it will usually Use the glossary if it’s a text book—it will usually

be in the back of the book.be in the back of the book. Look in the margins (sides) of the text—some Look in the margins (sides) of the text—some

publications include the definition of technical publications include the definition of technical terms on the same page.terms on the same page.

If all else fails, look the word up in a dictionary If all else fails, look the word up in a dictionary (cell if your teacher allows), or ask a teacher, (cell if your teacher allows), or ask a teacher, parent, classmate or friend.parent, classmate or friend.

Evaluate, Interpret, AnalyzeEvaluate, Interpret, Analyze The wind was starting to The wind was starting to

howl. The rain began to howl. The rain began to spit out of the sky. In spit out of the sky. In the distance, a thunder the distance, a thunder clap echoed in the hills. clap echoed in the hills. The clouds, marching The clouds, marching west, looked west, looked ominousominous..

Next, place the pen on Next, place the pen on the the daisdais..

The days of the The days of the telegraphtelegraph are pretty are pretty much over.much over. (final hint: see if any of (final hint: see if any of

the picture provided help the picture provided help to explain the word)to explain the word)

Questions, comments, Questions, comments, concerns?concerns?

Dais:Dais: raised raised platformplatform

Ominous:Ominous: dark, dark, forebodingforeboding

Telegraph:Telegraph: typed, typed, transmitted transmitted messagemessage