Characteristics of Texts, Conclusion

Introduction

Clearly, the sample texts in the previous pages contained a lot of differences, even though they had some overlaps in topic. Let’s review what they all were in more detail.

Part 1, Passage #1

“Music Education” comes from Wikipedia, the well-known online encyclopedia.

The full story demonstrates some features common to reference material:

  • Wikipedia logo, showing sphere made up of puzzle pieceshighly structured and organized text, using headings and sub-headings
  • factual content
  • includes in-text citation (or footnotes) and a list of References at the end
  • embedded links to related sources
  • historical information
  • images to help illustrate the topic
  • formal tone
  • clear and easy to read
A reference work’s primary goal is to inform readers.

Part 1, Passage #2

“Why Music Lessons Need to Keep Up with the Times,” by Clint Randles, comes from The Conversation, an online news source.

The full article demonstrates some features common to journalism:

  • The Conversation logomost important information appears near the opening of the article
  • reports facts
  • quotes and interviews from experts on the topic
  • no in-text citations, no citations at the end
  • embedded links to related sources
  • images to help illustrate the topic
A news article’s primary goal is to inform readers.

Part 2, Passage #1

“Making a profit” comes from the chapter “Role of Business” in an Introduction to Business course textbook.

The full source demonstrates some features common to textbooks:

  • Cover of Introduction to Business Fall 2015 online text, with image of empty conference roomclearly stated learning outcomes for each section
  • formal tone
  • direct language
  • definitions of key terms
  • no in-text citations, though references may be included at the end of a chapter
  • images to help illustrate the topic
A textbook’s primary goal is to educate readers.

Part 2, Passage #2

“The Ant King: A California Fairy Tale” is a short story available in the collection The Ant King and Other Stories by Benjamin Rosenbaum.

The full story demonstrates some features common to literature:

  • "The Ant King and Other Stories" title pageintroduces characters
  • follows a narrative sequence of events, revealing a plot
  • includes description to set scene
  • may use first-person, second-person, or third-person voice
  • uses dialogue to convey what characters say to one another
  • no in-text citations, no citations at the end
A work of literature’s primary goal is to entertain readers.

Part 3, Passage #1

“Nutrition and Health The Association between Eating Behavior and Various Health Parameters: A Matched Sample Study” by Nathalie T. Burkert, Johanna Muckenhuber, Franziska Großschädl, Éva Rásky, and Wolfgang Freidl, came from PLoS One, an online academic journal.

The full article demonstrates some features common to reference material:

  • PLoS One logohighly structured and organized text, using headings and sub-headings
  • describes an experiment or an analysis, including the authors’ findings and interpretations
  • includes in-text citation (or footnotes) and a list of References at the end
  • advanced vocabulary, specific to the field of study
  • images to help illustrate the topic

Further Examination

Of all the types of texts used in these examples, academic journals are typically the most different from other reading material students may have encountered before entering college, and the most difficult to read.  This video offers helpful strategies for how to read through an academic journal article most effectively:

An academic journal article’s primary goal is to distribute new ideas to readers.

Part 3, Passage #2

“The Science Behind Healthy Eating Patterns” is an excerpt from the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a publication from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The full article demonstrates some features common to government publications:

  • USDA logostructured and organized text, using headings and sub-headings
  • presents research and findings made possible through publically-funded programs or agencies
  • can be either highly specialized, for a specific target audience, or highly generalized, for a broad American readership
  • may originate from any level of government: local, state, national, or global
A government publication’s primary goal is to record and share information produced by government agencies.