How to identify texts that inform and explain
The aim of informative texts is to pass on knowledge and facts to the reader. These types of texts contain facts, figures and statistics, so that the information presented is balanced and without bias or opinion.
What types of texts inform?
News reports
Reports
Fact sheets
Encyclopaedia entries
Leaflets
What types of texts explain?
School textbooks
Instruction manual
Any non-fiction text that answers the questions ‘How’ and ‘Why?’
Example of informative and explanatory texts
Inform
This Georgian house is located in Faversham. It was built in 1820 and is 1.5 miles from Faversham train station.
Explain
This Georgian house is located in Faversham. It was built in 1820 and is 1.5 miles from Faversham train station. Due to years of neglect and disrepair (how), the property needs major renovation works and is currently valued at an under-market price (why).
How to identify texts that inform and explain
Structure
Information and explanation texts follow a logical structure, in chronological order to make it easier for the reader to understand. Connectives or linking words such as, ‘firstly’, ‘secondly,’ ‘in addition,’ ‘consequently,’ ‘in conclusion’, are used to structure the points and information so the reader knows the direction the ideas are taking.
Informative texts such as factual newspaper reports tell the audience about something and will use the W and H questions, who, where, what, why and how to structure the text and to make sure the reader has all the important information in the first paragraph, so they can decide whether they want to continue to read the rest of the article. Once the writer has answered the W and H questions, the remainder of the article provides further detail.
Example
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/adhd-women-gender-differences-b1993364.html
Who is the article about? Women.
What has happened? There has been an increase in the number of women who have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Where did this happen? In the UK.
When did this happen? Last year.
Why did this happen? More women have been testing themselves.
How did this happen? The women took an online test.
W and H questions for writing and reading
This is a useful technique to use when you are writing your own essays or articles, and for understanding what you read. If you can answer these questions, you have understood the text, and it will help you to remember what you have read too. You also can try to summarise a text by using the W and H questions to help you understand the main points.
Language and Tone
Like all texts, the language will be targeted to the audience, for example, a text aimed at children will use simple language, which is appropriate to their level of understanding. They will usually use a formal serious tone and register and use the third person (he, she, they) to remain unbiased, authoritative and reliable.
However, some texts do use informal language to appeal to their intended audience, e.g., a blog aimed at teenagers will tend to use a chattier tone and slang to engage the audience.
Facts and statistics
These types of texts use facts and statistics to support their purpose to inform and explain. By using facts and statistics, they give the impression that the information is trustworthy and reliable. However, facts can be used to support the biased opinion of a writer by only presenting one point of view.
Newspapers, for example, are known for supporting particular political parties and their bias is evident from the use of language and what they choose to cover.
Although we assume that news is an unbiased reliable source, most news reporting is biased in some way, in that the text is influenced by the opinion of its author.
A text is biased if the writer does not provide a balanced view and their opinions affect the writing and its message, and ultimately, it is persuading the reader to agree with a particular point of view.
How to identify if a text is biased?
1. The writer chooses to omit information - they do not provide the full picture.
2. They do not mention something that opposes their point of view
3. Sometimes they exaggerate information that supports their point of view.
4. They use generalisations that do not apply in all situations.
5. Facts can be used to support the biased opinion of a writer by only presenting one point of view.
6. Practice looking out for bias in non-fiction texts like newspapers articles, autobiographies and reviews.
7. Biased writers may use hyperbole (exaggeration) if they are trying to convince you about something.
8. When a writer confidently makes a claim or statement about something but does not provide evidence. This weakens their argument because they can make claims about anything.
9. Look for emotive language, opinions, hyperbole and decide whether a text is biased or not.
You need to be able to recognise bias, so that you do not mistake opinion or fact.
Sometimes journalists use emotive language to persuade readers to take a particular point of view on a subject. For example, the journalist in The Sun article below uses emotive language that will encourage us to form a negative opinion of Shamima Begum and Muslims.
Example
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8473707/isis-bride-shamima-begum-rod-liddle-opinion/
Emotive language uses specific words and phrases to create an emotional response in the reader
This text is filled with strong emotive language, hyperbole and opinions which is clearly biased. It has a scathing and angry tone, which shows how the writer feels about Shamima Begum and Muslims. There are no facts or an alternative point of view.
If you compare this article to the previous text about women and ADHD, you will notice the difference between the two.
For the full article, click on the above link. See if you can identify any further examples of biased language.
