Identifying the features of a non-fiction text with 'Crazy about Cats' | English

Starter quiz

What is the purpose of a non-fiction text?
- to engage readers with poetic language and artistic expression
- to inform, explain, or provide factual information to readers ✓
- to immerse readers in imagined worlds, characters, and compelling narratives
- to entertain through fictional drama or suspense
What features or elements would you expect to find in a non-fiction text?
- subheadings ✓
- dialogue
- captions ✓
- an index ✓
- imagined settings
In what ways could the following text be considered as part of the non-fiction genre?
- It is a picturebook.
- It contains beautiful illustrations, which bring the story to life.
- It is a biography about Gwendolyn Brooks. ✓
- It contains factual information about Gwendolyn's achievements. ✓
What do you think is the purpose of this text?
- to convey emotions, thoughts, or personal experiences
- to present and support a specific argument or point of view
- to inform and engage readers in learning about different festivities ✓
- to tell a fictional story in a structured manner
Match the following terms to their definitions.
- author
  
  ⇔
  
  responsible for crafting the words in a text ✓
- illustrator
  
  ⇔
  
  responsible for creating the pictures or artwork in a text ✓
- inference
  
  ⇔
  
  using clues from within the text to draw conclusions ✓
- retrieval
  
  ⇔
  
  finding key details or information in the text ✓
True or False? Non-fiction texts can only be presented in picturebook form.
- True
- False ✓

Exit quiz

Match the keywords to the most appropriate definition.
- features
  
  ⇔
  
  refer to distinctive characteristics that belong to a text ✓
- peritext
  
  ⇔
  
  elements around a book, including its cover, title and blurb ✓
- purpose
  
  ⇔
  
  refers to the reason it was written and the desired impact ✓
- paratext
  
  ⇔
  
  elements within the text, including index and glossary ✓
- layout
  
  ⇔
  
  refers to the way the information is organised on the page ✓
Which of the following are usually found within a non-fiction text, displayed on a page?
- a character's story arc
- title ✓
- captions ✓
- headings and subheadings ✓
Who is the author and illustrator of 'Crazy About Cats'?
- 'Owen Davey' ✓
Which of the following are usually considered examples of peritext?
- front cover ✓
- glossary
- text title ✓
- blurb ✓
- index
Which of the following are usually considered examples of paratext?
- the author
- the index ✓
- a glossary ✓
- text title
What elements or features are usually included in an index?
- alphabetical order ✓
- opinions
- page numbers ✓
- full text or paragraphs

Worksheet

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Presentation

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

The purpose of a non-fiction text is to inform, explain, or provide factual information about a particular topic/subject
There are several features that non-fiction texts have in common.
An index in a non-fiction text allows readers to quickly locate specific topics, terms, or concepts.

Common misconception

Pupils may use the terms peritext and paratext interchangeably.

It can be helpful to think of the peritext as everything on the ‘outside’ of the book, the paratext as extra information 'inside' the book.

Keywords

Features - The features of a text type refer to distinctive characteristics that belong to it.
Peritext - The peritext is the elements around a book, including its cover, title and blurb.
Paratext - The paratext is the elements within the text, including index and glossary; they are not part of the main text.
Purpose - The purpose of a text refers to the reason it was written and the desired impact.
Layout - The layout of a text refers to the way the information is organised on the page.