Language and Text Features progression

Readers recognise that phrases and other groups of words are important elements in sentences. They use this knowledge to understand where important content is located. Readers also use this knowledge to help their chunking of words, which leads to later fluency. Areas of study can include:

• finding the words that carry meaning in a simple phrase or sentence
• reading phrases and simple sentences aloud to show understanding of the grouping of the words.

Readers recognise simple sentences and compound sentences (for example, two simple sentences joined by a conjunction). They use their knowledge of simple punctuation and of common grammatical constructions to understand written texts. They understand how written texts include particular language features (such as the past tense) and/or particular visual language features (such as a table to present information) that suit the writer’s purpose. The purpose for writing determines the text type and specific text types have typical features. Readers can identify such features in the texts they read and view. Areas of study can include:

• finding the simple sentences within a compound sentence
• reading texts aloud with expression to show understanding of the use of punctuation
• identifying the typical features of some common text types (for example, reports generally use the past tense and descriptions the present tense).

Readers recognise a wider variety of punctuation features and grammatical constructions. They use this knowledge to comprehend vocabulary, sentences and paragraphs. They understand the specific language features characteristic of some text types, including instructions, reports and explanations. Readers can identify language features that make a text more cohesive, or that clarify the links between ideas. They understand some ways in which writers use visual text forms to enhance the effectiveness of written text (for example, by using tables to present data, by using hypertext to help readers make links to related material, or by using bilingual letterheads).
Areas of study can include:

• analysing the language and visual features of some text types (for example, the use of description in a report, the use of a flow chart in an explanation)
• exploring the ways in which hypertext can be used when searching for information.

Readers are familiar with the structures of long, complex fiction and non-fiction texts. They can identify ways in which language features are used to create shifts in meaning (for example, through a change of tense).
They recognise the purposes of the language features associated with more specialised text types (for example, the detailed descriptions in many academic texts and the rhetorical questions commonly used in argument texts).