nonfiction reading strategies
BEFORE Reading
- PREVIEW the features of the text (e.g. titles, subtitles, pictures, captions, source)
- PREDICT what it will be about
- Call to mind your PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of the topic
DURING Reading
- CHUNK the text (think about which paragraphs have ideas that are related to one another)
- ANNOTATE (add notes to) the text with your reactions or questions, summarize chunks briefly, highlight important information, etc.)
- RE-READ parts that you don't understand
AFTER Reading
REFLECT on the author's intentions. Ask yourself:
- What is the author's purpose? (Persuade, inform, entertain) How do you know?
- What is the author's point of view/opinion about the topic?
- What is the article trying to show me or teach me?
identifying author's purpose
identifying main idea
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Look at the second page on the document below for an example of how to use this strategy:
identifying text structures
Click on the slides below to see different examples of structures authors use when writing nonfiction.
nonfiction authors use techniques such as...
- Visuals (cover page) & sidebar
- Comparing and contrasting
- Text structure (e.g. problem-solution, cause-effect)
- Giving historical context
- Use of data, facts, and statistics
- Asking questions
- Addressing the reader directly
- Description
- Using anecdotes
- Use of heading and subheadings
- Repetition
- Comparing and contrasting
- Text structure (e.g. problem-solution, cause-effect)
- Giving historical context
- Use of data, facts, and statistics
- Asking questions
- Addressing the reader directly
- Description
- Using anecdotes
- Use of heading and subheadings
- Repetition
