Activities

1. Create a poster with many types of informational text.  Name and explain the purpose of each type of informational text. 

2. Create a concept map that describes factors that shape an author’s perspective or how he/she feels about a topic.

3. Using two informational texts on the same topic by different authors complete a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the articles.

4. Using on-line resources study and analyze two or more non-fiction authors.  Record similarities between authors.

5. Using a T-chart, identify the text features used from two informational articles on the same subject by two different authors.  Analyze the authors’ use of text features.
   
   
6. Choose one type of informational text.  Collect multiple samples of the informational text from different authors.  Study the samples and note three to five details about the samples.  
    
7. Using two biographies portraying the same person, by different authors, compare the authors’ presentations of events.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Student creates a poster with many types of informational text.  Student names the type of texts and explains the purposes of all texts.  Students may include newspapers, brochures, magazines, instruction manuals, recipes, maps, essays on art or literature, photographs, textbooks, travel books, blueprints, diagrams, biographies, memoirs, journals, or historical, scientific, technical, technology or economic writings and expository, argumentative, functional and opinion pieces, as well as other sources of non-fiction text.

2. Student creates a concept map that correctly describes factors that shape an author’s perspective or how he/she feels about a topic.  Student understands that some factors that shape an author’s perspective includes, facts, statistics, personal experience, culture, age, social position, time period, surroundings, feelings, attitudes, and significant people in his/her life.  Student understands that the author’s perspective comes out in the tone and mood of his/her writing.

3. Student reads two informational texts on the same topic by different authors and completes a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the articles.  Student correctly recognizes similarities and differences.  Student lists an adequate number of similarities and differences. 

4. Student uses online resources to study and analyze two or more non-fiction authors.   Student correctly notes and records similarities between authors.  Some similarities student looks for could include:

• Content of writing
• Inspiration
• Beliefs
• Education
• Childhood
• Work ethic
• Accomplishments

5. Student uses a T-chart to identify the text features used from two informational articles on the same subject by two different authors.  Student analyzes the authors’ use of text features. 

• Student notes next to each text feature if the text feature supports key details in the article or the main idea. 
• Student determines if text features used are effective or ineffective in conveying the articles’ messages or supporting the main points and key details.  
• Student speaks to which author/article uses text features more effectively.
• Student speaks to why authors chose to use particular features and may have left other text features out. 
• Student addresses which text features helped them as a reader understand the information better and why.

     Student looks for the following text features:  headings, subheadings, labels, photographs, captions, comparisons, cross sections, maps, and types of
     print, close-ups, table of contents, indexes and glossaries.  Student speaks to which author/article uses text features more effectively and why
     authors’ chose to use particular features. 

6. Choose one type of informational text.  Collect multiple samples of the informational text from different authors.  Student studies the samples and correctly note three to five significant details about the samples that make them unique by author.  For example, a student may collect various journal entries.  The student may note: 

• Journal entries by different authors have a different voice. 
• Journal entries by different authors choose to portray similar life events differently.
• Topics addressed within the journal vary greatly by author.

     Student may choose to collect newspaper items, brochures, magazines, instruction manuals, recipes, maps, essays on art or literature, photographs,
     textbooks, travel books, blueprints, diagrams, biographies, memoirs, journals, or historical, scientific, technical, technology or economic writings and
     expository, argumentative, functional and opinion pieces, as well as other sources of non-fiction text. 

7. Student uses two biographies protraying the same person, by different authors and compares the authors’ presentations of events.  Student makes thoughtful and correct judgments about each author’s presentation.  Some items the student may note are:

• Life events included or excluded
• Completeness of biography
• Authors use of descriptor or adjectives
• The authors’ tone or attitude toward the subject
• The mood the authors set for the reader
• The authors’ particular craft