Read me a story is something that parents of young children tend to hear a lot, especially at bedtime. As people get older, though, they realize that other types of writing are just as much fun as stories.
For example, you turn to informational texts if you want to learn about ghost ships that "sail" from place to place with no one on board or about the deepest, darkest caverns in the world or about the most recent discoveries regarding Mars.
You probably know an informational text when you see one, but do you know how it is different from fiction, poetry, and other forms of literature? Study the tabs below to learn more.
Stories and novels are written to entertain readers, even if they include some factual information. Informational texts, though, are written to explain an idea or provide information about a topic―even if they're also entertaining. People read informational texts to learn something new.
You may have read the article "A Garden Together" in an earlier lesson. Read or reread its first paragraph and look for clues that reveal the article's purpose.
Perhaps you've noticed those little paper packets that show up in hardware and department stores every spring. They hold all kinds of fruit and vegetable seeds―from watermelon to green beans to fancy kinds of lettuce like arugula. With some good dirt and a steady supply of water, those seeds will turn into large, leafy plants that can take up lots of space. While some city dwellers manage to grow gardens in their yards, on their patios, or even on the roofs of buildings, others simply do not have an ideal space―or any space at all―for a garden. That's why more and more cities are encouraging the use of community gardens.
Question
Why was this article written?
Informational texts may use words that are unfamiliar to many readers, but they often also provide easy-to-understand definitions. If readers expect to learn something new, they're not experts yet. Therefore, writers of informational text usually take the time to define important terms in a way that non-experts can understand.
As you read this paragraph from "A Garden Together," notice how the writer helps readers understand a term that they might not fully understand.
While some city dwellers manage to grow gardens in their yards, on their patios, or even on the roofs of buildings, others simply do not have an ideal space―or any space at all―for a garden. That's why more and more cities are encouraging the use of community gardens. As the name suggests, community gardens are gardens that are shared by the people of a community. They help city residents with no suitable garden space enjoy all the benefits of gardening, such as tastier food, regular exercise, and a relaxing hobby.
Question
What term is defined in this paragraph?
Informational texts usually sound different from fiction or poetry or personal essays. Reading a novel might seem like listening to someone you know well. When you read informational text, though, it sounds more like a teacher or news reporter giving a speech on a topic.
See if you can identify what makes the tone of this paragraph formal and less like a conversation.
At the same time, another kind of community garden was also becoming quite popular―the school garden. The first American school garden was created in 1891 at the George Putnam School in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Soon, though, gardens began to appear in schools throughout the country. Fannie Griscom Parsons was a well-known promoter of the trend during the early 1900s. Parsons wanted to do more than feed people, though. She also hoped to inspire students to contribute to the greater good, while learning to be honest, hardworking, productive citizens. According to the USDA, by 1906 there were more than 75,000 school gardens in the United States.
Try answering these questions about the tone of this passage. When you think you know the answer, click the question to see a sample response.
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It doesn't use slang words or contractions often used in speech, and it uses complete sentences and correct grammar. |
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Perhaps you might say, "Hey, did you know that the first school garden was started in 1891?" |
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It probably sounds more formal to you than the way that most people talk to each other. |
As you learned earlier in the lesson, writing can be objective or subjective. Most informational texts are quite objective―the details they provide focus solely on the facts and leave out the writer's opinions or feelings. Read one more excerpt from "A Garden Together" and notice how much of the paragraph simply delivers facts about community gardens.
Throughout the first half of the 1900s, the nation faced two world wars and the Great Depression. During World War I, the US was called on to help supply food to European countries that served as battlefields and, therefore, were unable to grow crops. Both school gardens and community gardens―often called Victory Gardens, helped fill this need. In 1917, the Federal Bureau of Education launched the United States School Garden Army to address the ever-growing need for food worldwide.
Question
What facts are provided in this one paragraph?
