COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES- I ENGLISH READING SKILLS 23. UNDERSTANDING TEXTUAL FEATURES The focus of Unit Four has been on the skill of reading. After learning about how to get the most out of our reading, Extensive and Intensive reading, let us now learn how to get information quickly based on the structure and characteristics of our text. You will learn steps on how to find different text features, to preview text and a strategy to read text for specific information.
23.0 Objectives By the end of this lesson you will: i. ii. iii.
Understand the use of various text structures Understand the use of basic referencing skills Continue to skim and scan reading material to extract specifically required information iv. Use an index effectively v. Use the Table of Contents appropriately
23.1 Introduction There are many different kinds of texts available. Each text is organized in a different way. We usually work with informational text when we need to get specific information. When we have a task on hand, we usually do not have the luxury of time. We need to get our information quickly and effectively. Searching informational text involves use of text characteristics. Text characteristics include signalling devices (e.g., headings, subheadings, titles), typography (e.g., fonts, boldface or italic text), and structural features (e.g., organization, graphics, paragraphing). Lessons five and six of this unit will help you identify different text features so you may use them effectively.
23.2 Understanding Textual Features You have already learnt that it is important to know why you are reading and what you will read. Knowing the purpose of your task helps you remain on the task and use your time effectively.
1
Different types of printed material give us information in many different ways. For example the front page of a newspaper generally provides us with facts while magazine articles are more opinionated. Depending on what we are looking for, the most effective way of getting information from magazines is to scan the contents tables or indexes and turn directly to the segments that concern us. You will need to use the skimming and scanning methods to help you through this task. The first step is to know what you are going to read. You will then identify how the text is organized so that you can begin your actual task as soon as possible. The following excerpt has been taken from the ReadWriteThink Educational website. It explains the way nonfiction or informational texts are organized. Organizational Features Of Nonfiction Texts Organizational Feature Description
Headings Usually found at the top of the page or paragraph; usually printed in a larger or coloured font; describes the topic or paragraph in a one- or two-word phrase Font Can be different styles or sizes; used to highlight important or key information; adds variety to the page Sidebars Boxed information on the side of the page; usually has a border or coloured background; often provides text or illustrations that add to the information in the main text Borders Designs or lines of colour that surround the two-page spread; adds visual appeal and often fits the topic Backgrounds Blocks of colour or illustrations behind the text or photographs; adds visual appeal and usually supports the text Captions One to two sentences that describe an illustration or photograph; usually appears underneath the picture, but sometimes above or to the side of it Labels Often added to photographs or illustrations to provide more information to the reader Diagrams, charts, graphs, tables Used to show written or additional information in a different and simple way; provides visual appeal to a two-page spread
2
Did You Know facts One to two sentences that provide a hook to the two-page spread; usually provides interesting or fascinating facts that will grab the reader's attention Photographs and illustrations Adds visual appeal to the page; provides support for the written text Copyright 2004 IRA/NCTE. All rights reserved. ReadWriteThink materials may be reproduced for educational purposes.
When you are given a specific task, you need to begin with previewing the text. Follow the following steps to preview the text. 1. What is the title? 2. Who are the authors? 3. How many pages are there in the book? 4. What are the chapter titles? 5. In what colour is the title of the chapter printed? 6. In what colour are the headings printed? 7. How are the important terms marked? 8. Are there any visual aids? 9. Is there a glossary or dictionary? Where? 10. Are there any other special sections in the back of the book? Once you have previewed the text, identify your specific task. That is, know what specific information you are looking for. Steps to follow when previewing text: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Read the title Read the headings Identify the section you need to read Look at the visual aids Scan for special terms Skim the sections you have identified Text feature
Title Page
What it looks like
Purpose–how does it help you read and understand the information?
The first printed It gives you the full title of the book page of the book. along with the name of the author and publisher. It also gives you the place where it was published.
3
Copyright Page
This is the page that It tells you the year in which the comes immediately copyright was issued. (The after the Title Page. copyright date is usually in the same year of the publishing date)
Preface (also called This comes before This gives you an idea about the foreward, introduction the Table of subject that is covered in the book. or acknowledgement) Contents. It can also sometimes tell you why the book was written. Table of Contents
It is in tabulated This provides you with a list of form. It has a list of information included in the text in the chapter headings order of their appearance. with the corresponding page numbers listed on it.
Body of the Book Headings
Bold words
4
or
Headings of You can read a brief phrase that chapters (may be in tells you what information you will a font that is different find in the paragraph below it. from the rest of the text). italicized Bold or words
italicized These are important terms that you must be able to define so you can understand the information.
Graphics/illustrations
Pictures or visual aid A picture, graph, or chart that provides you more information OR arranges the information in a visual format so you might understand it better.
Glossary
Alphabetical listing of Helps you understand the meanings technical terms, of important words and phrases in foreign words or the book. special words in the book with explanation or definition for each.
Bibliography
List of books or articles that have been used by the author when the book was written.
It provides you with a list of resources you can use if you want to learn more about the subject matter covered by the book.
Index
Alphabetical listing of all the important topics appearing in the book. It is usually found at the back of the book.
Because it is more detailed than the table of contents it is extremely useful when you are looking for specific information in the book. It first tells you whether the information you are looking for is available in the book. It then tells you the exact page(s) where the information is available.
23.3 Examples of Glossary and Index Here is an example of a glossary and index. Study it carefully.
Another Example Page from an Index (Please remember: topics/words are arranged alphabetically. In this case the topics/words start with the letter T in The Complete Guide to Microsoft Word)
5
Tab key, tables, creating,170-171 Table Auto-Format, 175,177 Table Grid,171 Table Menu Commands, 181-183 Tabs,363 Taskbars, 10
23.4 Using a Table of Contents The Table of Contents in a book lists the title, number and page numbers of all the chapters in a book. They can be used to find information quickly. Let us look at the following table of contents. Use the Table of Contents below to answer the questions: TRANSPORTATION 1. Modes of Transportation
18-36
2. Transportation of People
37-59
3. Transportation of Goods
60-75
4. Transportation of Services
76-92
5. How Transportation Differs from Place 93-108 to Place 6. Factors Affecting Transportation
109-123
7. Glossary/Index
123
1. How many chapters are in this book? a. 5
b. 6
c. 3
d. none of these
2. What is the title of the third chapter? a. Transportation of b. Transportation of Services Goods c. Factors Affecting Transportation
d. none of these
3. On what pages can you find information about the various kinds of transportation there are in different places?
6
a. 109-123
b. 60-75
c. 37-59
d. 93-108
4. What chapter may have information on different problems that may occur with transportation? a. chapter 3
b. chapter 6
c. chapter 1
d. chapter 5
5. On what page would you find exactly where a specific word is used? a. page 65
b. page 23
c. page 120
d. page 123
Let us check the answers now: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
b. 6 a. Transportation of Goods d. 93-108 b. Chapter 6 d. page 123
Self-Check Questions Match the following: 1. Headings
A. It first tells you whether the information you are looking for is available in the book. It then tells you the exact page(s) where the information is available.
2. Borders
B. This provides you with a list of information included in the text in the order of their appearance.
3. Bibliography
C. Used to show written or additional information in a different and simple way; provides visual appeal to a two-page spread.
4. Diagrams
D. Boxed information on the side of the page; usually has a border or coloured background.
5. Sidebars
E. List of books or articles that have been used by the author when the book was written.
6. Table of Contents
F. Usually found at the top of the page or paragraph; usually printed in a larger or coloured font; describes the topic or paragraph in a one- or two-word phrase.
7. Captions
G. Can be different styles or sizes; used to highlight important or key information; adds variety to the page.
7
8. Font
H. Designs or lines of colour that surround the two-page spread; adds visual appeal and often fits the topic.
9. Index
I.
10. Glossary
J. This gives you an idea about the subject that is covered in the book. It can also sometimes tell you why the book was written.
11. Title Page
K. One to two sentences that describe an illustration or photograph; usually appears underneath the picture, but sometimes above or to the side of it.
12. Preface
L. Helps you understand the meanings of important words and phrases in the book.
It gives you the full title of the book along with the name of the author and publisher. It also gives you the place where it was published.
23.5 Summing Up In this lesson, you learnt steps on how to read informational material. You learnt how informational/nonfiction material is organized and how you may understand textual features. It is important to continue practicing the skills you have learnt thus far. As you can see, you need to start using all the learnt strategies more often so as to become comfortable with them. Remember these important steps: • • • •
You must first identify your purpose of reading. Then you must begin with identifying the different textual features of the text. Thereafter, you must begin with skimming and scanning. Finally, you will pick out the information you need. The more you use these strategies, the easier your reading task will become.
23.6 Answers to Self-Check Questions 1. F 2. H 3. E 4. C 5. D 6. B 7. K 8. G 9. A 10. L 11. I
8
12. J
23.7 References 1. Broukal, Milada. Weaving It Together. Massachusetts: Heinle & Heinle Publishers A Division of Wadsworth, Inc., 1994 2. Vacca, Richard T, and Jo Anne L Vacca. Content Area Reading. United States of America: Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., 1999 3. Ferreira, Linda A. Beginnings 1. United States of America: Newbury House Publishers, Inc., 1985 4. Nagaraj, Dr. Geetha. Comprehend & Compose. New Delhi: Foundation Books, 2003
23.8 Glossary •
• •
•
Index: Something that serves to guide, point out or otherwise facilitate reference, especially: an alphabetized list of names, places, and subjects treated in a printed work, giving the page (or page numbers), on which each item is found. It is usually placed at the end of a book. Glossary: A list of often difficult or specialized words with their definitions, often placed at the back of a book Table of Contents: Sometimes also headed simply ’Contents,’ is an organized list of parts of a book or a document. Besides chapter titles, they may often list section titles within the chapters or subsections. The Table of Contents is found at the beginning of a book, usually after the Preface. Visual Aids: charts, illustrations, diagrams and tables that help us understand texts better
9