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Magazine

Magazine

Definition:

A magazine is a periodical (published regularly) containing short, miscellaneous pieces (articles, stories, poems, pictures, and other entries) on single themes or specialized topics connected to the disciplines, such as, science, social studies, the arts, math, or English language arts.

Purposes:

• To focus attention on facts
• To elaborate ideas and principles related to the physical, biological or social world
• To help students understand, comprehend, and increase awareness and appreciation of focus topics
• To explain, inform, express opinion or report
• To engender interest or response
• To provide up-to-date information

Characteristics:

• Collection of short inspiring articles or stories
• Authentic mediums for connections between the classroom and world
• Variety of perspectives
• Appropriate writing models
• Current or republished pieces that are linked to focus or theme of the magazine
• Nonfiction texts with informational text features/organizational patterns linked to the magazine’s theme
• Narrative (fiction and nonfiction) texts encompassing the range of genre and their features
• Various perspectives from various authors
• Short-term or current interest (specialized) topics
• Volume or issue with consistent format and approach
• Author may be a regular contributor to the periodic publication
• Uses content area literacy, text density, specialized vocabulary, and informational text formats (e.g. case studies, interviews, memoirs, biographies, research reports, abstracts, etc.)
• Nonfiction methods: moving from simple to complex, from familiar to unfamiliar, from early to later development
• Style
• Voice; point of view
• Tone; attitude (scientific, artistic, investigatory, etc.) appropriate for the topic and purpose
• Columns
• Variety of types
• Vivid, complementary illustration
• Objectivity; factual accuracy
• Evidence that builds to prove the point
• Color, illustrative material, diagrams, graphs, photos, timelines
• Layout
• Key points
• Cover provides main topics or focus, publication date, issue, volume, key topics, and/or theme
• Contents could contain: table of contents; index; pagination; publication staff; publication information; subscription information; editorial; reviews; letters to the editor; profiles; feature articles; articles; advertisements; achievements and milestones; forthcoming events or issues; latest news; latest research; interviews; regular features, e.g., puzzles, recipes, snippets, reports
• Author’s purpose, stance or message
• Abstracts
• Writing models
• Scale diagrams
• Sidebars
• Close-ups
• Graphs
• Overlays
• Timelines
• Photos to extend understanding

Grade Level Instructional Scope for COMPREHENDING the Genre and Text of a Magazine:

Booklists:

• Grade 1
• Grade 2
• Grade 3

Access to the Documents:

Complete K-8 Genre Project
From the Michigan Department of Education

Complete K-8 Genre Booklist
From Kent Intermediate School District