Practice Together
Read the following passage aloud. As you read, look for text features that the writer used to organize the text and help make it clear.
Early Days
Louis Armstrong was generous, especially toward other musicians.
Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901. He showed musical talent early. He was a street performer as a kid. He danced and sang for pennies. Then he got his first horn. He soon became known as a great jazz player.
New Jazz
After becoming famous in New Orleans, Armstrong traveled to Chicago to play jazz and then to New York City. Before long, he was playing music around the world. Armstrong was a technical master and a creative genius. No one could match his spirit, but many musicians copied his style.
Try It!
Read the following passage aloud. What text features did the writer use? How do they help guide you through the text?
Painting on Walls
Graffiti means words or pictures drawn on public buildings. It has been around since paintings were drawn on cave walls. Today, many people see graffiti as a crime. Graffiti artists often work at night to avoid being caught. They write names, messages, or symbols.
Murals decorate buildings in Philadelphia.
Murals
When does painting a building become art and not a crime? For many years, Philadelphia had a big graffiti problem. Then the city tried something new—a mural-making program. The program director invited graffiti artists to help paint murals. The program has been very successful.