Third Grade English: Reading Comprehension: Informational Text - Text Features: Headings, Maps, and Captions
Text features are visual and organizational design tools built into nonfiction books, magazines, and websites to help readers locate information quickly, visualize abstract concepts, and understand complex real-world topics. Unlike works of fiction that are meant to be read continuously from the first word to the last, informational texts are structured so that you can navigate directly to the specific facts you need. In this chapter, you will explore the full toolkit of nonfiction text features—including headings, subheadings, diagrams, maps, captions, sidebars, and glossaries—and discover how to use them before, during, and after reading.
Why Nonfiction Uses Text Features
Imagine walking into a massive grocery store where all the signs, aisle labels, and price tags have been stripped away. Finding a can of soup would take hours of frustrated searching! Text features act like the aisle signs and labels in an informational book, guiding your eyes straight to the answers you seek.
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| THE NONFICTION TEXT FEATURE MAP |
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| |
| TABLE OF CONTENTS --> Locates chapters and starting pages |
| HEADINGS --> Identifies major topic sections |
| SUBHEADINGS --> Breaks topics into smaller bites |
| CAPTIONS --> Explains photographs and artwork |
| DIAGRAMS & LABELS --> Shows how parts fit together |
| MAPS & KEYS --> Shows where things are located |
| SIDEBARS --> Highlights bonus facts and trivia |
| GLOSSARY & INDEX --> Defines terms and finds key words |
| |
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Reading Nonfiction Differently Than Stories
When reading a novel, you start on page one and read every sentence in order. If you skip ahead, you ruin the surprise ending. But in informational text, you are encouraged to skip around! If you are writing a report on how honeybees make honey, you use headings and the index to skip directly to the "Honey Production" section without reading about bee anatomy or hive building.
Navigational Text Features: Finding Your Way
Navigational text features help you organize your reading path and find specific sections effortlessly.
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| TEXT FEATURE | PURPOSE |
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| Table of Contents | Found at the front; lists chapter titles & pages. |
| Heading | Large bold title at the start of a major section. |
| Subheading | Smaller bold title dividing a section into subparts|
| Index | Alphabetical list of topics & page numbers at back.|
| Glossary | Mini-dictionary at the back defining bold terms. |
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Headings and Subheadings
- Heading: Announces the overarching subject of several paragraphs (e.g., "The Solar System").
- Subheading: Zooms in on one specific detail of that broader subject (e.g., "The Rocky Inner Planets" or "The Gas Giants").
- Active Reading Strategy: Turn headings into questions! When you see the heading "How Volcanic Eruptions Occur," ask yourself: "How do volcanic eruptions occur?" Then read the paragraphs to find the answer.
Visual Text Features: Pictures That Teach
Visual features allow your brain to process spatial relationships, sizes, locations, and mechanisms instantly.
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| ANATOMY OF A SCIENTIFIC DIAGRAM |
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| |
| THE PARTS OF A FLOWER |
| |
| Petal ----> [ \ / ] |
| | | |
| Pistil ---> [ || ] |
| | | |
| Stem -----> [ || ] |
| / \ |
| Roots ----> [====] |
| |
| Caption: Petals attract pollinators like bees, while the |
| roots anchor the plant in soil and absorb water. |
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Photographs vs. Illustrations
- Photograph: Shows real-life objects, animals, and historical artifacts exactly as they appear in reality.
- Illustration: A drawing that can show things cameras cannot capture, such as the inside of a volcano, the layers of Earth's mantle, or extinct dinosaurs.
Captions: The Unsung Heroes of Nonfiction
A caption is a short explanation placed directly beneath or beside a picture. Never skip captions! Authors often put their most fascinating facts, statistics, and historical context inside captions.
- Example Caption: "A worker bee visits up to 1,500 flowers in a single foraging flight to gather nectar for the colony."
Diagrams and Cutaways
- Diagram: A labeled drawing that explains how something is built or how a process works.
- Cutaway (Cross-Section): Shows what an object looks like if you cut it in half, revealing hidden internal layers (such as the inside of an ant hill or a submarine).
Graphic Text Features: Maps, Charts, and Timelines
Graphic features organize data and geography so you can see trends, compare quantities, and understand chronological progression.
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| TYPES OF GRAPHICS |
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| Maps : Visual representation of geography, showing |
| borders, rivers, habitats, and routes. |
| Map Key : Box explaining what symbols and colors mean. |
| Timelines : Horizontal or vertical line showing dates |
| and historical events in sequential order. |
| Bar Graphs : Uses bars of different heights to compare |
| quantities and numbers visually. |
| Tables : Rows and columns that organize facts neatly. |
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How to Conduct a "Nonfiction Text Walk"
Before reading an informational chapter, spend two minutes taking a "Text Walk" to preview the material.
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| THE 2-MINUTE TEXT WALK |
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| 1. Read the Main Title and Think: What do I already know? |
| 2. Read each Heading and Subheading. |
| 3. Examine all Photographs, Diagrams, and Maps. |
| 4. Read every Caption carefully. |
| 5. Notice boldface vocabulary terms. |
| 6. Now, dive in and read the main body text! |
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Practice Exercises and Feature Analysis
Apply your text feature detective skills to these exercises.
Exercise 1: Match the Feature to Its Purpose
Match each feature to its primary function.
1. Glossary
2. Caption
3. Diagram with labels
4. Timeline
A) Shows events in the exact order they occurred over time. B) Explains the parts of an object and how they connect. C) Explains what is shown in a photograph or illustration. D) Alphabetical list defining specialized words used in the book.
Exercise 2: Text Feature Scavenger Hunt
Read the scenario and decide which text feature you should use.
1. You are reading a science chapter on earthquakes and come across the bold word "fault line." Where should you turn to find its definition?
2. You want to know which page discusses Abraham Lincoln's childhood. Where at the back of the book should you look?
Answer Key and Explanations
- Exercise 1: 1 matches D (Glossary defines specialized terms). 2 matches C (Caption explains a photo). 3 matches B (Diagram shows parts and connections). 4 matches A (Timeline shows historical order).
- Exercise 2:
- Turn to the Glossary at the back of the book (or look for a pronunciation sidebar).
- Turn to the Index at the very back of the book and look up "Lincoln, Abraham - childhood."