How to “Get” What You Read

--Dr. Suess

Writing comes in many textual forms; this means reading needs to happen in just as many ways.

ELA 20 Reading Texts:

• Essays• Poetry• Fiction• Non-fiction• Script• Instructions/procedural text

So how does one comprehend or “get” each of these forms of text?

The first thing to do is break the reading formats into two types of text: informational and literary.Informational texts (e.g., reports, essays, feature articles, editorial, documentary films, websites, texts of work, family, and community life) use language to “transact and negotiate relationships, goods, and services, report on people, things, events, and issues, and to explain, analyze, argue, persuade, and give opinions” (Queensland Studies Authority, page 18).

Literary texts (e.g., novels, plays, poetry, short stories, feature films) use language in “aesthetic, imaginative, and engaging ways to entertain and move, reflect and express emotions, and shape and explore cultural values and identity” (Queensland Studies Authority, page 18).

https://www.edonline.sk.ca/webapps/moe-curriculum-BBLEARN/index.jsp?view=teaching&lang=en&subj=english_language_arts&level=20

therefore…ELA 20 texts fit:

Informational• Instructions/

procedural text• Essay

Literary• Poetry• Fiction• Non-Fiction• Script

Both informational and literary texts have things in common that need to be understood in order to be able to comprehend either one.

First is that both types of text, in fact all texts, are written with or for a specific purpose. If we as readers can figure out the purpose of a text, it becomes thatmuch easier to comprehend that text.

Second is that all texts are written for a specific audience, although sometimes that specific audience may just be the general population.

These first two conventions of writing lend themselves to the next faction of writing that while generally common, is very text specific, and that is the organization of the text format.

Let’s look at some examples of these writing conventionsfor both types of text.

Audience: who was this text written for?

The audience for a piece of writing can be extremely specificor simply for a general audience that speaks (reads) the language.If you can relate to it, identify with it, understand the language, and make connections, you are probably part of the intended audience.

Purpose: why was this text written?

Literary Text• To entertain the audience• To share a story• To attempt to move the audience emotionally• To communicate a life message or big idea

Informational Text• To provide the audience with factual information• To provide the audience with instructions to complete a task• To provide the audience with ideas, theories and opinions • To attempt to persuade the audience to an idea, theory, or opinion

Format: how was this text written?

All written texts have unique characteristics in how they areorganized. Knowing how texts are constructed allows the readerto then figure out the purpose and consequently the audience.

Literary Text• Conversational style• Dialogue• Use of imagery

Informational Text• Paragraph format• Numbered steps• Quotations/references• Use of factual information

As a reader, once you have figured out the purpose, audience, and format you should be able to tell what type of text you havejust read.

But, did you really “get” it?

If you have a good understanding of informational text, you should be able to compose an interpretation of the text.

An interpretation is basically an explanation of a piece of text.This explanation consists of the key ideas of the piece with textual evidence to support these key ideas. The key ideas with support should then lead to the big idea or message in the textthe author has intended for the audience to “get”.

The following slide has an example of a During strategy to help organize the key ideas and support while reading aninformational text.

A key idea I am reading is…

Supporting textual evidence for this key idea:

Another or further key idea I am reading is…

Supporting textual evidence for this is…

So the author seems to be trying to make the reader understand…

If you have a good understanding of literary text, you should be able to compose an analysis of the text.

An analysis is a breaking down and understanding of the smallerelements of a text and how they work together to form the text as a whole.

Literary text has some elements common to all types andsome elements unique to specific types.

Common elements to analyze literary text:

• Author’s intention for writing• Characters• Point of view• Setting• Plot • Conflict/resolution• Theme

By understanding these smaller elements, if you truly comprehendthe text, the big idea of it should become evident.