Multiple Genres: Analyzing Informational Text Features Such as References and Acknowledgements (TEKS.ELA.7.8.D.ii)
Help Questions
Texas 7th Grade ELA › Multiple Genres: Analyzing Informational Text Features Such as References and Acknowledgements (TEKS.ELA.7.8.D.ii)
Excerpt from a coastal ecology report: Restoring marsh edges along the Texas coast increased nursery habitat for young fish and crabs. Over two years, we compared restored and unrestored sites and recorded higher species richness at restored edges. Acknowledgments: This project was supported by a state coastal resilience grant and assisted by local volunteers who helped with shoreline plantings. We also thank university lab technicians for water-quality testing. References: Lopez, A., & Chen, R. (2022). Marsh edge recovery after living shoreline installation. Journal of Coastal Studies, 38(4), 215–227. Patel, M. (2021). Sediment dynamics in bay systems. Estuarine Science Review, 12(3), 99–118.
What is the purpose of the Acknowledgments section and how does it support the main text?
To list the chemicals and tools used during the study so readers know the exact materials
To credit funding and contributors, showing how the research was supported, which builds credibility for the report
To define technical terms from the article so readers can understand vocabulary
To summarize the results in a visual format so readers can see the data at a glance
Explanation
Acknowledgments identify funding and contributions, which helps readers trust the research process and understand who supported the work.
From a history article on Texas cattle drives: After the Civil War, ranchers moved herds north to railheads, following routes like the Chisholm Trail. Prices in northern markets made the long drives profitable, but weather, river crossings, and disease posed risks. Timeline: 1866 – First large postwar drives head north. 1867 – Major trail crossings become established. 1871 – Peak year for shipments from Texas herds. 1885 – Fencing and rail expansion reduce long drives.
What is the purpose of the timeline and how does it support the main text?
To show a map of the trail so readers can locate towns and rivers
To list every person who joined the cattle drives so readers see who participated
To give detailed descriptions of cowhand tools so readers visualize daily life
To provide the sequence of key dates so readers can see how events progressed over time, reinforcing the article's explanation of change
Explanation
The timeline organizes events in order, helping readers track how the cattle drives rose and declined, which supports the text's discussion of change over time.
From a research-based article on monarchs in Texas: Each fall, monarch butterflies funnel through central Texas on their way to Mexico. Recent surveys show a modest increase in fall counts along key Texas monitoring stations (Martinez, 2019). Conservation groups attribute gains to restored milkweed patches and reduced mowing during migration. References: Martinez, L. (2019). Trends in monarch migration counts across the southern flyway. Insect Migration Quarterly, 7(2), 41–53. Rivera, J., & Huang, P. (2020). Milkweed restoration outcomes in prairie corridors. Habitat Management Reports, 5, 12–27.
What is the purpose of the parenthetical citation (Martinez, 2019) and how does it support the main text?
It points readers to the source that supports the claim and matches the full entry in the References, allowing verification
It tells readers how to pronounce scientific names that appear later in the paragraph
It warns readers that the next paragraph is an opinion rather than a fact
It serves as an acknowledgment of the editor who reviewed the article before publication
Explanation
The citation shows where the claim comes from and connects directly to the full reference so readers can find and check the source.
From a science feature on West Texas wind energy: Wind farms near the Caprock benefit from steady breezes most of the year. As shown in Figure 2, speeds peak in spring and remain favorable through early summer. Figure 2. Average monthly wind speeds at a station near Sweetwater. Caption: Bars indicate monthly averages; the line shows the yearly mean used for comparison across months.
What is the purpose of the figure caption and how does it support the main text?
To give the title of the entire article so readers know the overall topic
To list the exact GPS coordinates of the weather station so readers can visit the site
To explain what parts of the graphic represent and connect it to the text's claim about seasonal patterns, helping readers interpret the data
To provide a step-by-step method used to collect wind samples so readers can replicate the study
Explanation
The caption clarifies how to read the graphic and ties it to the text's point about when wind speeds are highest, improving understanding.
Excerpt from a field report on coastal erosion at Padre Island National Seashore: Frequent storms since 2015 have accelerated the loss of protective dunes along the central shoreline. Our survey data show a steady decline in average dune height during peak-storm years (see Figure 2).
Figure 2. Barrier dune height changes, 2010–2020. Caption: Points represent annual mean dune height; the shaded band shows the range across five monitored sites.
This pattern supports the report's claim that storm frequency is linked to reduced dune height.
What is the main purpose of the caption for Figure 2, and how does it support the main text?
It lists the years from the study so readers can memorize the dates.
It names the beaches studied so readers know which sites to visit.
It clarifies what the figure shows and connects the data to the claim about decreasing dune heights.
It credits the scientists who collected the data, like a References section.
Explanation
A caption explains what a figure displays and how it relates to the text; here, it helps readers interpret the data that support the claim about dune height decline.
From a historical article on the rise and decline of Texas cattle drives: After the Civil War, drovers moved herds north along trails to railheads. Over time, new fencing and rail lines changed the industry's timing and routes.
Timeline (sidebar):
- 1866: First large-scale postwar drives leave South Texas.
- 1871: Peak traffic along major trails.
- 1885: Barbed wire spreads; open range declines.
- 1886–87: Severe winter devastates herds; long drives wane.
The article discusses how these shifts unfolded over two decades.
What is the purpose of the timeline sidebar, and how does it support the main text?
It describes the cattle drives in full detail so readers don't need the article.
It shows where the trails were located by using arrows like a map.
It lists the names of ranchers who influenced the period.
It organizes key dates to show the sequence and duration of changes, helping readers understand cause-and-effect in the article.
Explanation
A timeline presents events in chronological order, helping readers see sequence and duration, which supports the article's discussion of how and why changes occurred.
Excerpt from a research article on urban heat reduction in Austin: Increasing tree canopy can lower neighborhood temperatures, especially during heat waves (Lopez, 2019; Nguyen & Patel, 2021). Planting shade trees along major corridors reduced surface temperatures in pilot zones by several degrees.
References: Lopez, R. (2019). Shade strategies and heat mitigation in urban cores. Nguyen, T., & Patel, A. (2021). Tree canopy coverage and surface temperature comparisons.
These studies inform the recommendations presented in this article.
What is the purpose of the References section, and how does it support the main text?
It allows readers to verify claims and find the original studies that the article relies on.
It summarizes the article's findings one more time at the end.
It thanks funders and contributors for their assistance.
It defines technical terms used throughout the article.
Explanation
References point readers to the sources behind the article's claims, enabling verification and deeper investigation of the research cited.
From a report on wind energy output in the Texas Panhandle: Capacity factors increased after maintenance upgrades. Data logs from regional operators and equipment were essential to the analysis.
Acknowledgments: The authors thank regional utility operators for access to turbine performance data and a university lab for loaned sensors. This work was supported by a regional foundation. Any conclusions are those of the authors.
Methods and results are presented in the main sections.
What is the purpose of the Acknowledgments section, and how does it support the main text?
To provide full citations for all studies mentioned in the report.
To disclose who contributed resources and funding, increasing transparency and credibility for the report's findings.
To explain each step of the methods in detail so readers can replicate the study.
To label the parts of a figure so readers can interpret a graphic.
Explanation
Acknowledgments credit contributors and funders, which informs readers about support behind the work and builds trust in the report's process.