Informational Genre Peculiarities - Essay Example

Informational genre. Genre is a stylistic category especially literature or other artworks. Informational genre is one type of genre. It is non-fictious build on current and accurate knowledge found in the universe and its content is verifiable. Informational genre are meant to stir reader’s interest in a particular subject but not meant to present data. A good informational genre should capture the following literary elements. These are; first, attractive design. This is meant to be eye-catching or appealing by use of either photographs or illustrations to capture readers mind within first minutes. Second, little known facts. This are meant to spike readers mind and create interest into certain subject. Third, unusual viewpoints. Little known facts these reach out and grab the readers mind. Example can be use of common and un- noticed things in the world to try to create curiosity among the readers. Fourth, fascinating comparison. This creates instant and powerful images communicating clearly to the same degree as simile and metaphor. Since informational books are informative and aimed to be educative, use of comparisons help to clarify the issues to the reader and build from known to unknown. Fifth, first person account. This make it to be real such that when the writer ,writes about an experience he has gone through; as he develops the story both the writer and the reader seem to discover together but not a recount of the information. This carries the reader into first person account role i.e. he assumes the role of main character. Lastly is accuracy. Informational books should be factual and dependable as they introduce the reader to the world or present something about it. Teachers should avoid anthropomorphism and hyperbole. Informational books fall into the following categories determined by format: Traditional chapter books- this maybe a general survey of an enormous topic. Informational picture books –present accurate and appealing content aimed at awakening the reader’s interest. It serves the same purpose as informational chapter books though they are more heavily illustrated. They present an idea in sufficient depth to pique curiosity as it increases understanding. Activity books-this book invite the readers to engage into an activity beyond reading which makes them develop skills in a particular subject. Concept books- are simplified picture books that present basic knowledge about one topic in a way both understandable and interesting to a small child beginning to learn the world. Its normally the first informational book the child is introduced to as he develops the skills to learn. Often invites the reader to engage into certain activity to reinforce a topic which being taught. Journals and interviews – are based on primary sources and present information to the reader with minimum author alterations. Photo essays- employ use of photographs in essays to capture emotions and to verify the information. Pop-ups-books are movable books or three dimensional to help the reader to understand shapes, objects etc. Reference books-are informational books that are referred to by young readers for isolated bits of knowledge. Series- are sequence of informational of books that have certain characteristics in common that are used to build on concepts sequentially. Having access to books that are preferred can affect a child’s interest in books and in reading this affective response is related to a child’s reading success which makes sense because children who are interested in books read more and develop greater reading skill. Since this book are meant to be informative, teachers should use books that will create interest to the reader to nurture the child’s reading skills. Books with illustrations, short succinct with clear chapters, controlled vocabulary, with factual information will help capture the reader’s interest. In addition children are not vessels to be filled with junks of information rather integrated conceptually developing one idea at a time. Teachers should adhere to this because it’s been observed that informational books are of boring nature, they are not used for pleasure reading and children will rarely visit the informational library section. Blown away by Rob Biddulph picture book was this year’s (2015) winner of Waterstones children’s book prize. Waterstones books prize champions new and emerging talent in fiction (5-12 years), illustrated books and teen books. In blown away the author employs attractive and illustrated pictures, vocabulary, rhyming text, tonal variation and activity which indeed captures the readers and gets them immersed. This makes it relevant to be informative picture book. The frog red-eyed tree frog indeed it’s an informational genre that employs literary elements of the genre. The minimal text explains enough progression with well-illustrated pictures allows children to be immersed into pictures and the adventure. It also uses comparisons accurate and first-hand experience into adventure of frog and its environment. Annotated Bibliography Joy C. (2006).Red eyed tree frog. Scholatic paperback In the book red eyed tree frog is book on a red-eyed frog that lives in a tree rain forest Central America. The author use comparison to let the learner understands the frog’s living condition, green forest environment. The author also employs attractive photograph design and illustration, factual information that educates the reader about green forest characteristics e.g. canopy, frog life cycle and survival. Lola M. (2003).Pick, pull snap, where once a flower bloomed. Greenwillow books The book introduces the reader to the flowering plant (berry patches, cornfields, orchard, peanut and pumpkin patch). The text details how different produce grow with gatefold flaps on every sheet that unfolds to show the harvest. Through the examples of plants mentioned the reader gets to understand the lifecycle of flowering plants; from flower to fruits to seeds. Beautiful art (well-illustrated expanding pictures) and scientific vocabulary supported by a glossary make clear the lifecycle. Deborah H. (2006). Sky boys, How they built the empire state building. Schwartz and Walebooks. The author introduces us to the main character (a boy) that is living during the time of great depression where many people are jobless. It is during this time the boy lives to see construction of the tall empire state. The boy is interested to see the construction because his father among many others provides the services. The reader gets the firsthand experience as is taken through every stage of building brick by brick from clearing the debris to the completion. The interesting pictures tell the story of the building of state empire. The view of sky boys (men who walked around to provide services) brings the tension and the adventure of the story. An actual picture that “grows” with the building captures the reader’s interest. Read More