Chapter 9: Promoting Comprehension: Text Factors
I: Overview
Teachers should be aware of the structure of text so that they can help students become more
successful readers and writers. Chapter 9 addresses three types of text: stories, informational
books, and poems. The unique structure of each type of text is discussed. Terms are defined and
classroom examples are given.
Chapter 9 Objectives
After reading chapter 9, students should be able to:
1 Describe the ways in which stories are organized.
Chapter 9 Outline
Vignette: Mr. Abrams’s Fourth Graders Learn About Frogs
Introduction
TEXT FACTORS OF STORIES
• Formats of Stories
TEXT FACTORS OF INFORMATIONAL BOOKS
• Nonfiction Genres
TEXT FACTORS OF POETRY
• Formats of Poetry Books
• Poetic Forms
• Poetic Devices
• Looking at the Text Factors in a Book of Poetry
TEACHING STUDENTS ABOUT TEXT FACTORS
• Minilessons
• Comprehension Strategies
II: Teaching Suggestions
Preview Questions
Chapter 9 introduces three types of literature: stories, informational books, and poetry. The
following questions can be used to initiate a discussion on text structure.
1. How do stories differ from informational text?
Focus Questions
Pre-service teachers should consider the questions which follow as they read chapter 9.
1. How are narrative texts organized?
Class Activities
1. Graphic Organizers Figure 9-6 in the text shows 5 expository text structures and graphic
2. Poetic Forms Poems for children and adolescents assume a variety of forms such as rhymed
verse, narrative poems, haiku, free verse, odes, and concrete poems. Divide your college
students into groups and assign one of the aforementioned poetry forms to each group. Ask
each group to compose a poem in their assigned form. After the poems have been written,
After Class Activities
1. Graphic Organizers Struggling readers and writers often need assistance in learning how to
use graphic organizers to improve their comprehension of informational trade books and
2. Poetic Forms Students in the elementary grades may need encouragement and support to
write poetry. Often it is helpful for children to start with a form. Review poetic forms in the
college classroom. Then invite the college students to visit an elementary classroom and use
one of the forms to help children write poems.
III. Resources
Related Readings
Encourage students to explore the topics presented in chapter 9 in more depth by reading the
following book and articles.
Fisher, D., Frey, N., & Lapp, D. (2008). Shared readings: Modeling comprehension,
Online Resources
A World of Readers: Libraries Around the World
This lesson plan, published on the Read Write Think website, helps students understand the
Discovery School’s Puzzlemaker
Using their own vocabulary lists, teachers can create word searches and other types of puzzles at