Guided Practice
Learn
This lesson provides guided practice in analyzing informational texts. You will work through nonfiction passages step-by-step, applying skills for identifying central ideas, evaluating evidence, and analyzing author techniques.
Key Concepts
- Active reading strategies for nonfiction
- Annotating for key information and arguments
- Distinguishing facts from opinions
- Evaluating the strength of evidence
Examples
Work through these guided examples to see informational text analysis in action.
Example 1: Analyzing a Science Article
Follow along as we identify the central idea and supporting evidence...
Example 2: Evaluating an Opinion Piece
See how to analyze the author's argument and rhetorical strategies...
✏️ Practice
Test your understanding with these practice questions.
Practice Questions
0/3 correctWhat is the main idea of a passage?
An inference is:
Context clues help you:
Check Your Understanding
Test yourself with these 10 questions.
1. What is the first thing you should do when approaching an informational text?
Show Answer
Preview the text by reading the title, headings, introduction, and conclusion to get a sense of the topic and structure before reading in detail.
2. How do you identify the central idea of an informational text?
Show Answer
Look for the main point the author wants to convey, usually stated in the introduction and reinforced in the conclusion. Ask: "What is this text primarily about, and what does the author want me to understand?"
3. What is the difference between a fact and an opinion in informational writing?
Show Answer
A fact can be verified through evidence or observation; an opinion expresses a belief, judgment, or interpretation that may be debated. Look for signal words like "should," "best," or "believe" for opinions.
4. What should you annotate when reading informational texts?
Show Answer
Mark the central idea, key supporting evidence, vocabulary, transitions between ideas, author's purpose signals, and any questions or connections you have.
5. How do you evaluate the strength of evidence in an informational text?
Show Answer
Consider the source's credibility, whether the evidence is current and relevant, if there's sufficient quantity of evidence, and whether the evidence directly supports the claim being made.
6. What are text features in informational writing, and why are they important?
Show Answer
Text features include headings, subheadings, bold text, graphics, captions, and sidebars. They help organize information, highlight key points, and guide readers through complex content.
7. How do you identify an author's purpose in informational writing?
Show Answer
Look at word choice, included evidence, organizational structure, and what the author wants readers to think, feel, or do. Common purposes include to inform, persuade, explain, or analyze.
8. What strategies help you understand difficult vocabulary in context?
Show Answer
Use context clues from surrounding sentences, look for definitions or examples nearby, consider word parts (roots, prefixes, suffixes), and use the text's overall topic to make educated guesses.
9. How do you summarize an informational text effectively?
Show Answer
State the central idea, include only the most important supporting points, use your own words, maintain the author's intended emphasis, and keep it significantly shorter than the original.
10. What questions should you ask to analyze an author's perspective?
Show Answer
Ask: What is the author's background? What evidence does the author include or exclude? What assumptions does the author make? What biases might affect the presentation? Who is the intended audience?
Next Steps
- Review any concepts that felt challenging
- Practice annotating a nonfiction article on your own
- Move on to Lesson 4: Text Analysis