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Preparing for STAARThrough Read Alouds

Narrative vs. Expository Paired Selections

Help students analyze and investigate the differences between narrative and expository text. During your Listening Comprehension Component of Balanced Literacy, we are encouraging you to “Read Aloud” two companion stories/article/books about the same topic—one narrative and one expository. Discuss text features and lead your students to conclude that the narrative (story) has characters, setting, problem, solution and the author’s purpose is mainly to entertain. Expository (informational) text uses facts to explain, describe, persuade, instruct, or retell. The author’s purpose is mainly to inform the reader rather than entertain.

August 31, 2011

Expository Text FeaturesThese “Reader Aids” help the reader navigate through text and often provide additional information to help students comprehend the content.

Lesson ActivityTeaching Text Features“Companion Stories”

Model, Model, ModelRead Alouds /Shared/Guided Reading, Interactive/Shared writing Text Feature Scavenger HuntStudents search through informational text with a partner looking for as many features as they can find. They record their findings.

Text Feature PurposeFound In

“Name or Title of Reading Material”Page Illustration

Text Feature Scavenger HuntYour job is to investigate text features and try to find examples of as many different features as you can.

Use your ISN for this activity.

Zoo Books Excerpt What features do you see?

Exploring WritingMaterials

•Located in the J-Drive•Drag the folder onto your desk-top.