Chart of Text Features, Forms, and Genres

Text Features Text Forms Genres

(Design/presentation) (Physical forms and functions) (Literary or thematic categories)
Structural elements and Narrative (fiction or informational) Adventure
navigation aids such as: such as: Epic
Table of contents stories told in poetry, novels, Fable
Index short stories, picture books Fairy tale
Title and topic Fantasy
Headings Recount (fiction or informational) Folk tale
Preface or Foreword first-person accounts such as: Historical fiction
Epilogue diaries, journals, short stories, Horror
Captions novels, memoirs Humour and satire
Footnotes and endnotes Legend
Glossary Procedure such as: Mystery
Bibliography recipes, rule books, directions Myth
Pull-down menus and maps, instruction manuals, Poetry
Hyperlinks “how to” books and posters, Realistic fiction
experiments Science fiction
Typographical or design Autobiography
elements such as: Exposition such as: Biography
Font or type style essays, position papers, Memoir
Bold and italic print articles, advertisements Diary or journal
Colour Travel book
Layout Explanation such as: Atlas
textbooks in science, social Textbook
Illustrations such as: studies, history, geography Reference text
Inlays and cross-sections
Pull quotes Report such as:
Sidebars magazine and newspaper
Photos reports, letters, editorials,
Graphs and charts critical reviews, essays,
Timelines posters
Maps
Electronic text such as:
multimedia texts, e-mail,
blogs, websites, broadcasts

Functional text such as:

lists, memos, notes, pamphlets,
brochures, flyers, print
advertisements, CD cover inserts,
invitations, announcements,
programs, business letters, scripts,
minutes of a meeting
A Guide to Effective Literacy Instruction, Grades 4 to 6: A Multivolume Resource from the Ministry of Education
(2006), 1:37.

Active Learning – Literature Circles © Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2006