Most types of informational writing include typographical text features of some kind. That means you're very likely to recognize most of them, based on your previous experience with reading. Use the list below to remind yourself how each feature works. Click each feature to learn its purpose or function.
| Text Feature | Function |
| Titles and headings | announce the main idea or topic in the text |
| Subtitles, subheadings | break the main idea or topic into smaller sections |
| Bold print | emphasizes words likely found in the glossary |
| Italics | highlight words that may be foreign, technical, or unfamiliar |
| Table of contents | lists the names and pages of the chapters in the text |
| Index | lists the key words in alphabetical order and the pages where they appear in the text |
| Glossary | lists the important vocabulary words in alphabetical order and each word's definition |
| Illustrations and photographs | provide a visual supplement to the main points in the text |
| Captions | explain what is happening in the visual images in the text |
If you were reading a piece of informational text and came across a bold print word you didn't understand, what text feature would help you the most?
- captions
- index
- glossary
- italics
The words in bold are usually found in the glossary, which is where the definitions are listed.
The words in bold are usually found in the glossary, which is where the definitions are listed.
The words in bold are usually found in the glossary, which is where the definitions are listed.
The words in bold are usually found in the glossary, which is where the definitions are listed.
Summary
Questions answered correctly:
Questions answered incorrectly:
