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Interpreting Information in Diverse Formats

Key Term

 media: the format in which information is presented, such as books,

magazine articles, films, and photographs

Instruction

Information can be presented in a number of formats. It can be presented in a

written format—such as a book, magazine article, or newspaper article—or in a
visual format, such as a picture, graph, or video. Each format conveys
information in a different way. Therefore, the use of multiple types of media
often gives the audience a deeper understanding of a particular topic or text.

For example, many nonfiction articles are paired with an image, graphic, or
video that helps the author explain the topic. The following is an excerpt from
an essay on the working conditions of scientists in Antarctica.

Despite the difficult conditions, more than 4,000 people work on the continent
in the summer, and 1,000 brave the dark winter. A few of the 40 or so
permanent research stations feature private rooms and many modern
conveniences. Some, though, are little more than huts offering only the most
basic shelter for scientists and support personnel.

Early investigators in Antarctica were primarily concerned with mapping the

continent and monitoring the weather. Modern-day researchers engage in
activities across diverse scientific fields. In addition to high-profile studies of
the ozone layer and global warming, other subjects are being examined. For
example, buried under a sheet of ice that in some places is three miles thick are
geographic features similar to those of other continents. They include mountain
ranges, canyons, high plateaus, and lowland plains. The ice itself contains a
climate record dating back 500,000 years or more. Mountaintops rising through
the ice can expose fossils dating back 200 million years. At that time,

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Antarctica was still a central part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwanaland.

The work comes with its share of dangers. In addition to the extreme cold,
snow kicked up by wind can easily disorient field researchers. What's more,
large regions of ice sheets, called ice streams, move so fast that friction causes
large cracks, or crevasses, to open up in the ice. The crevasses can be 50 feet
wide and more than 100 feet deep. Snow-covered crevasses can easily swallow
up people and the equipment they operate.

The written excerpt includes:

 facts about the continent
 a description of the areas of research that scientists study
 a description of the harsh working conditions that the scientists face

While the information is detailed, some readers may not be able to picture the
landscape of such an environment. Using a different type of media can help
readers gather more information about the topic.

Watch the following video, which shows the activities of a research team on
Antarctica:
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ess05.sci.ess.earthsys.dangers/ant
arctica-a-challenging-work-day/

The video offers some additional information that helps bring the text to life,
including:
 live-action visuals of the difficult conditions of Antarctica
 a narrator who explains the scientific mission
 interviews with scientists working in Antarctica

The essay and the video content vary in the details given, and each provides
unique information about the overall topic of living and working in Antarctica.
In the essay, the author includes specific information such as quantitative data
and historical facts. The video puts that information into context, allowing the
viewer to experience the information firsthand.

©PBS LearningMedia, 2015 All rights reserved.

Activity #1

Read the following article and look at the map. Then, answer the questions
below.

The Monarch Butterfly in North America

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is among the most recognized,

studied, and loved of all of North America’s insects. Children study monarchs in
school. Researchers and citizen scientists track their migration and breeding.
Conservationists and government agencies are concerned about threats to
breeding, migration, and wintering habitats.

The annual migration cycle of the monarch butterfly has been described as the
most spectacular in the insect world. It has been called an “endangered natural
phenomenon.” This species and its migration are dependent upon conservation
of habitats in all three North American countries: Canada, the United States,
and Mexico.

Awareness of the monarch butterfly’s life cycle and habitat requirements is

essential for their survival and an important step in the conservation of this
animal. Many government agencies, organizations, and individuals across North
America are working on projects to conserve monarch habitats and their
migration.

Source: United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service

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Fall Migration Patterns of Monarch Butterflies

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

1. In your own words, describe the relationship between the content of the
article and the information in the map.

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2. How does each format contribute to the overall topic of monarch butterflies?

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Activity #2

Write a brief response to the following prompt:

Besides the article and map, what other types of media could be included to
help explain the topic of monarch butterflies? Choose at least two. How would
using these media help readers better understand the topic?

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©PBS LearningMedia, 2015 All rights reserved.