LECTURE: WHAT ARE TEXTUAL AIDS?
Textual Aids
• are visual aids that help readers to better understand the texts they are reading
• help readers enhance their learning as they read through the material
• may include table of contents, glossaries, index/ indices, key words, diagrams, graphs/charts/tables, maps, timelines, illustrations,
bold print, italics, titles, headings, subheadings, captions and sidebars.
Purposes of Textual Aids
• to reproduce some major text materials in visual or spatial format
• to give an overview of important information
• to show relationships of different text elements
• to add numerical information to some given verbal data
• to provide a summary of the main points
• to provide visual variety on the page
Different Types of Textual Aids
• Table of Contents
This is a section of the book where its major parts are listed along with their page numbers. It is used to locate information and the
book's main topics.
• Glossaries
Glossaries are used to quickly find key terms and their definitions in the book. The key terms in the glossary are alphabetically arranged.
• Index/Indices
This section of the book contains a list of key information together with the page numbers where they can be found.
• Key/Guide Words
These are terms with definitions located within the page where they are discussed. This is for the reader to highlight and remember the
important idea in a selection.
• Diagrams
A diagram is used for readers to better understand detailed information in a simplified manner. It allows readers to better understand
steps, information in the text and how certain things are made.
• Graphs/Charts/Tables
These are used to organize large amounts of information within a small space. These also help the readers to better understand the
relationship of the different information available to them. At the same time, graphs/charts/tables compare and summarize information.
• Maps
These are representations, usually on a flat surface, of a whole or a part of something.
• Timeline
This allows relevant information to be understood by the readers in a chronological order. This helps the readers understand the order
of certain events and how a particular event leads to another.
• Illustrations
Illustrations are used so that readers can visualize information. They help readers to understand texts that are not clear.
• Bold Print/Italics
Bold print are thicker in appearance and italics are slanted letters. These are used to show readers that words written in these ways are
important.
• Titles
These allow the readers to identify the different topics within the text. It allows them to better understand the main idea discussed in
the material.
• Headings
These make readers identify the different topics discussed within the material as readers skim and scan its contents. Headings divide
the text into different sections.
• Subheadings
Subheadings help the readers navigate through the different sections of the text and help them better understand the main idea of each
section.
Online Course Material in G10 English 1
• Captions
Captions help readers to better understand a photo or illustration by giving additional information that cannot be readily seen in the
photo or illustration.
• Sidebars
Sidebars create interest among readers as important information are emphasized in the sidebars. They allow readers to pay attention
to interesting facts.
Online Course Material in G10 English 2
