informative Texts

Understanding Informative Texts:

• Informative texts present information to enlighten or educate the readership about specific topics or ideas. They can include non-fiction books, newspaper articles, academic articles, and more.

• The main purpose of an informative text is to provide clear and accurate information. This type of writing has a logical structure and presents facts, ideas or concepts in an organised way to help individuals understand the topic.

• Pay attention to the structure - Introduction, Body and Conclusion. The introduction should present the topic that is going to be discussed. The body should present the facts and the details related to the subject, and the conclusion should sum up the whole text and its main ideas.

• Look for key arguments or points made in the text. These might be highlighted by headings, bullet points, or by the use of emphasis in the text (like bold, underlined, or italicised words).

• Focus on factual details, evidence and argument. Informative writing doesn’t contain personal opinions or feelings of the writer, it is neutral and objective.

• Note the use of technical terms related to the subject matter - a glossary or definitions might be included to help readers understand these terms.

• Look for visuals like diagrams, charts or images that can provide additional insights about the topic being discussed.

• Review summaries or abstracts if available. This can provide a snapshot of the information contained in the text.

• Analyze how the writer presents the information. Do they use descriptive data (such as statistics or verified facts)? Or do they present the data in a more personal or anecdotal way?

• Understanding informative texts and the strategies to approach them properly is key for successfully understanding non-fiction elements, which is a vital part of the Reading: Understanding Fiction section.