Portuguese Year 5: Reading narrative and expository texts: what for and how
Portuguese, Year 5 (Portugal): Tell narrative from expository texts, link them to a purpose (play, beauty, information) and choose how to read: aloud, silently or on your own.
Two kinds of text, three ways of reading
A narrative text tells events with characters, time and place. An expository text explains or informs about a subject, with facts and data. You read for purposes: playful (to have fun), aesthetic (to enjoy the beauty of words) or informative (to find something out). And there are three ways of reading: aloud (for others, with pauses and intonation), silently (for yourself, focused on meaning) and independently (you choose what to read, when, and how to deal with difficulties).
Not everything is read the same way
A story is read to follow what happens; an expository text is read slowly, stopping to hold on to data. Reading aloud makes you read every word and give meaning with your voice; silent reading lets you concentrate on meaning; independent reading is what makes you a reader: you choose, you keep going and you look up what you do not know. The purpose you read for tells you which way to read.
A mouse in two texts
Text A: «O Rui abriu a mochila, o rato saltou e a turma gritou.» (Rui opened his bag, the mouse jumped and the class screamed.) Text B: «O rato é um mamífero pequeno, com pelo e cauda comprida.» (The mouse is a small mammal with fur and a long tail.) Step 1: A has characters (o Rui, a turma) and events in order: narrative, playful purpose. Step 2: B gives facts about an animal: expository, informative purpose. Step 3: A is read aloud, pausing before «o rato saltou»; B silently, slowly, noting the facts.
Fast is not good, and eyes are not reading
Reading aloud well is not reading fast: whoever rushes trips over words and nobody understands. Read at a calm pace, pause at full stops and use intonation for questions and exclamations. Another mistake is thinking silent reading means letting your eyes run over the page. If at the end you cannot say what it was about, you have not yet read it: stop, go back and look up the words you do not know.
Where you read like this
You read a comic or a novel for fun (playful purpose), a poem you like (aesthetic), the rules of a game or an article about an animal (informative). You read a news item aloud to the class, and the textbook silently before a test. Independent reading is the book you pick yourself at the library and keep going with at home.
Test what you learned
You read: «O Rui abriu a mochila, o rato saltou e a turma gritou.» (Rui opened his bag, the mouse jumped and the class screamed.) What kind of text is it, and why?
- a) Expository, because it talks about an animal
- b) Narrative, because it tells events with characters
- c) Expository, because it gives information
Correct answer: b) Narrative, because it tells events with characters — Yes: there are characters (o Rui, a turma) and events in order (abriu, saltou, gritou).
You have to read a story for fun and a textbook page for a test. What is the best way to read each one?
- a) Both quickly, without stopping
- b) The story slowly, noting facts; the textbook for pleasure, without stopping
- c) The story at your own pace, following what happens; the textbook slowly, pausing to note the data
Correct answer: c) The story at your own pace, following what happens; the textbook slowly, pausing to note the data — Yes: playful purpose asks to follow the story; informative purpose asks for slow reading and notes.
You finish reading a text silently, but you cannot say what it was about. What should you do?
- a) Stop, go back and look up the words I do not know
- b) Nothing: I read with attention, so it is the text's fault
- c) Read it aloud again, even faster
Correct answer: a) Stop, go back and look up the words I do not know — Yes: reading is only done when you understand. Going back and clearing up words is part of reading.
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