Song library

Common Types of Texts

Common Types of Texts Definition: A Common Type of Text is any type of writing that is seen regularly or frequently throughout your life. For example a few would be stories, poems, dramas, and literary non-fiction. Everyday Use: We use and see common texts everyday when we read a book, write a story, or study for our next test.

Fiction/Non Fiction

DEFINITION: “Fiction” refers to literature conceived by the imagination. The main goal of narrative text is to tell a story. Narrative text includes a beginning, middle and end, characters, storyline or conflict, and setting. “Nonfiction” refers to literature built on fact. It is the most extensive category of literature. The main purpose of this text is to describe or provide information. HOW TO: Fiction genres are dramas, mysteries, romance, science fiction, fantasy, chick flicks, and crime thrillers. Examples of classic fiction include To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, 1984 by George Orwell and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Nonfiction has many categories such as, newspaper stories, editorials, personal accounts, journal articles, textbooks and legal documents. Other examples of non-fiction writing are writing about biography, business, cooking, health and fitness, pets, crafts, home decorating, languages, travel, home improvement, religion, art and music, history, self-help, true crime, science and humor. Informational text is characteristically found in magazines, science or history books, autobiographies, and instruction manuals. They are written in way that helps the reader to easily locate vital information, and understand the main topic. The authors accomplish this by providing headers over particular sections, bold powerful vocabulary, and use graphic depictions with captions. Everyday Use: Fiction and Non-fiction are used every day in the books you read, movies and TV shows you watch, and even songs you listen to.

Patterns and Organization

Text Features

Definition: Parts of a book or textbook that have been created to help you locate and learn information. HOW TO: These include the table of contents, index, glossary, headings, bold words, sidebars, pictures and captions, and labeled diagrams.