First, I discussed how starting with a
question can help writers come up with a focused topic, which allows for more
engaging and creative writing. Then I focused on why writing tends to be
stronger when we make a personal connection to the topic we choose and the
approach we take. Last week, I wrote about the importance of an irresistible hook. You can scroll down
to read those posts.
Today, I’m going to shift gears and talk
about text format. Why is breaking up fact-filled expository writing into
distinct chunks a good idea? Because it makes the text easier to read and
understand. It encourages children to pause briefly, giving them time and
(white) space to digest the ideas and information.
The Dorling Kindersley designers and editors
who developed the Eyewitness Books series back in the 1980s were the first to
understand the incredible benefits of combining lavish illustrations with
heavily formatted expository text. These books contain an astonishing amount of
visual and written information, and yet the reader feels excited to explore
rather than overwhelmed.
In addition, the standard design of
Eyewitness Books and the many other browseable
books and series they’ve inspired is
comforting to young readers, allowing them to easily locate and access information.
The consistency also helps children compare similar content from page to page
and book to book.
The layered text we now see in many expository
literature titles offers the same benefits—time to pause and ponder and
a comforting consistency that helps young readers organize ideas and
information in their minds.
To understand how
different authors utilize layers and get a sense of the range of possibilities
available to writers, let’s take a look at six expository literature books
about birds:
Birds of Every Color by Sneed B. Collard, III
A Nest Is Noisy by Dianna Aston Hutts
Feathers: Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart
Bird Talk: What Birds Are Saying and Why by Lita Judge
Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer Ward
A
Place for Birds by
Melissa Stewart
All of these books include
two layers of text on each double-page spread. The short, simple main text,
which is set in larger type to let children know they should read it first, can
stand on its own and provide a general overview of the topic. It also captures
the imagination of young readers, inspiring them to continue reading.
In the first four
books listed above, the main text presents main ideas, while secondary text
provides supporting details. In Mama
Built a Little Nest, the main text is a charming, tightly-construct poem
that conveys interesting information, while the secondary text reinforces the
main text with a more straightforward explanation.
In A Place for Birds, the two layers of
text have different text structures. The main text has a cause and effect
structure that lets young readers know how thoughtful human actions can help birds
survive and thrive. The secondary text has a problem-solution text structure
that presents a specific challenge a bird population faced and describes how
scientists and citizens worked together to protect those birds.
While the main text
in Birds of Every Color is clear and straightforward,
the main text of the remaining three books use language devices that enrich the
writing. A Nest Is Noisy features
intriguing personification, while Feathers:
Not Just for Flying includes thought-provoking similes and Bird Talk: What Birds Are Saying and Why
utilizes fun exclamations and invitations to the reader.
The
next time your students are working on a nonfiction writing project, encourage
them experiment with format. They can use some of the books included in this
post as mentor texts and let their imaginations soar, or for a more structured
lesson, try this activity developed by Fran Wilson (@mrswilsons2nd) for grades 2 and 3 or this activity developed by Amanda Schreiber (@MsAPlusTeacher) for grades 4 and 5.
Posts
Hooray for birds :)
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