Overview
This lecture explains textual aids—non-text elements like organizers, titles, and illustrations—that support understanding and retention of texts, focusing on their types and functions.
Purpose and Importance of Textual Aids
- Textual aids are non-text elements that help readers understand and recall a text’s content.
- They highlight important ideas and supplement information beyond the main text.
Types of Textual Aids
Advanced Organizers
- Advanced organizers introduce lessons and guide learners on topic structure.
- Expository organizers provide a broad overview and lesson objectives.
- Narrative organizers use storytelling to connect to new lesson material.
- Skimming involves quick review of headings, captions, or highlighted parts.
- Picture walks let learners preview stories by flipping through images.
- Graphic organizers visually structure information for easier comprehension.
Graphic Organizer Examples
- Persuasion map: outlines arguments for debates or essays.
- Sequence chart: displays order of steps or events.
- Story map: identifies elements of a story (characters, plot, themes).
- Biography organizer: details a person’s life or character traits.
- Learning map: shows key takeaways and connections in a lesson.
- Vocabulary organizer: helps learn new words and their meanings.
- Problem-solving organizer: identifies problems and possible solutions.
- Timeline: shows events in chronological order.
- T-chart: compares two aspects of a topic (e.g., pros/cons).
- Hierarchy chart: visualizes categories from broadest to narrowest.
- Star, cluster, lotus diagrams: organize or brainstorm topic attributes or ideas.
- Cause and effect organizer: illustrates causes and results of events.
- Mind map: captures and organizes free-flowing ideas.
- Double bubble map & Venn diagram: compare similarities and differences.
Other Advanced Organizers
- KWL chart: columns for what you Know, Want to know, and Learned in a lesson.
- Analogies: compare new ideas to familiar ones for better understanding.
Titles and Text Features
- Titles improve comprehension and recall by clarifying main ideas.
- Bold, colored, or italic text emphasizes keywords or important points.
- Captions, book titles, and other standout features draw attention.
Non-Linear Illustrations
- Tables arrange information in rows/columns for comparison.
- Bar graphs use bars to represent data values visually.
- Line graphs show trends or changes over time.
- Pie charts illustrate parts of a whole as percentages.
- Pictographs use symbols or images to represent data.
- Each visual aid type includes a title, labels, and sometimes a key or source.
Additional Visual Aids
- Illustrations help retain information via visual representation.
- Maps show physical or political features of places; can be physical (natural features) or political (cities, borders).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Textual aid — non-text element that aids text comprehension.
- Advanced organizer — an introductory aid for lesson overview.
- Graphic organizer — visual tool to structure and connect information.
- KWL chart — organizer for tracking knowledge before, during, and after lessons.
- Non-linear illustration — visual aid like tables, graphs, or charts.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review different types of textual aids and practice applying them to readings.
- Create your own graphic organizer for a lesson or story.
- Try making a KWL chart before your next reading assignment.