Name______________________________________
Group A- 50pts
TEXT FEATURES EXHIBIT
Learning Target: I can identify text features and explain how they enhance my understanding of a text.
Instructions: You will create a KEYNOTE to display an example of each text feature and an explanation of how
it helps a reader understand a text (in your own words). You will copy/paste examples of each text feature from
reputable websites to create your KEYNOTE.
Your KEYNOTE must display the following:
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1 example of each text feature (2 pts each X 10 = 20 points)
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1 correct label that displays the name of each text feature. Use arrows if necessary. (1 pt each X 10 = 10
points)
A 1-2 sentence explanation of how this text feature helps a reader understand the text. This explanation
should show the specific ideas the text feature helped you understand in the text (such as “This sidebar
helped me understand 6 steps I can take to stop bullying at school.”) OR specific ways the text feature
increased your motivation to read the text. This should be paraphrased in your own words. (2pts each
X 10 = 20 points)
• You can look for materials from the following websites:
www.cnn.com
www.timeforkids.com
www.kids.nationalgeographic.com
www.sikids.com
www.usatoday.com
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Helpful hint: For best results, place the label and the explanation under, over, or beside the
example of the text feature. SEE EXAMPLE BELOW:
HEADING
This heading helps me
understand that this article
is going to be about the
actor Will Smith.
Materials you will need to complete this activity:
•laptop
•Text Features Notes :)
Name______________________________________
Group B-50pts - ARTICLE INVESTIGATION
Learning Target: I can analyze how an author’s use of text features enhanced my understanding of an article.
Instructions: Choose an article of interest from a newspaper, magazine, or on the internet from a reputable
source and investigate its use of text features. This article should use at least 4 different text features; if the
article you find has fewer than 4 text features, choose a different article. Remember that bold print, italics,
and colored fonts all count at ONE text feature called Font Changes.
www.cnn.com
www.timeforkids.com
www.kids.nationalgeographic.com
www.sikids.com
www.usatoday.com
You will read the article and create a chart to identify and explain how the text features used in the article
helped you understand what the article is about. Also, as a creative and critical thinker, you must create 2
original and informative text features that are NOT present in the original article you chose. An example of an
original, informative text feature would be a adding graphics like a map, timeline, graph, or table; adding photos
with captions; adding a sidebar; adding subheadings; adding a bulleted or numbered list; etc.
The following should be displayed on a KEYNOTE or in a PAGES document that can be uploaded to Ms. J.’s
website:
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Name of article, author of article, address of website
•
Insert a TABLE (3 columns, 4 rows) into your KEYNOTE or PAGES document to make a 3 column
organizer with the descriptions and explanations of 4 text features used in the article you read (6 pts
each X 4 = 24 pts.)
•
2 original text features. May include information found on the internet (photos, information) BUT must
be created on your own; it can’t be a text feature created by someone else that you found on the internet.
An acceptable example would be you making a chart to display information found in the article, even
though a chart is not on the original article. Or, perhaps you would like to create a sidebar of
information that you research on your own. If you choose to include graphics, you may find graphics
that someone else created (like finding a photograph to enhance that article) HOWEVER you must
create your own CAPTIONS to accompany those graphics. Unacceptable examples would be simply
copying graphic and captions from a website, etc. (9 pts each X 2 = 18pts)
Helpful Hint: Some text features (such as columns, certain font changes, or heading) will not be useful or
applicable to this assignment. Your best bet is to add graphics, captions, sidebars, subheadings, bulleted
lists, or numbered lists.
Materials you will need to complete this activity:
•Laptop
•Text Features Notes
Name______________________________________
Group C- 50pts TEXT FEATURE CREATION
Learning Target: I can apply my knowledge of text features and how they enhance a reader’s understanding to
an article I create on my own.
Instructions: After showing solid understanding of text features, you will act as the “designer” or editor of a
magazine. Choose a person of interest, an interesting event in history, or a topic you have interest in AND visit
reputable websites to find information about your topic (ask Ms. J. if you are unsure). Then you will write an
article about your topic that uses many original text features to go enhance your readers’ understanding of your
topic. It’s YOUR JOB to keep the reader’s interest, make the text attractive, and make clear information that is
interesting and relevant to the topic.
You will create this document in Pages and upload it to Ms. J.’s website.
Your original article must include:
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A creative heading for your piece (5pts)
1 photo/illustration with caption (5pts) *(the photo may be copied from the internet but the caption
must be original)
4 original, creatively written subheadings (5pts)
A bulleted list OR a numbered list (5pts)
A sidebar with related content (be thoughtful here, make it a useful sidebar) (5pts)
And one of these graphics: (timeline, diagram, map, graph, chart) (5pts)
Effectively used white space AND columns (if writing an article). (10pts)
Font Changes of 3 different types (5pts)
List of Sources Used (websites used) listed on paper (5 pts)
ALL TEXT FEATURES MUST BE ORIGINAL AND NOT SIMPLY PRINTED FROM THE INTERNET
Helpful Hints: Choose any topic that interests you--a favorite singer/band; favorite movie/TV star;
favorite sport, hobby, or activity; a person, place, or event from history class; a process or event you have
learned about in science, etc.
Materials you will need to complete this activity:
•Laptop
•Text Features Notes
•Brainstormed list of possible topics that may interest you. You may consult a friend who
is also working on this project to brainstorm possible topics together--BUT each person
has to do his/her own work! :)