Use Captions and Headings

When you read a non-fiction book, a news article, or a science page, you will notice two helpful tools: headings and captions. Both give you important clues about what the text or image is about before you read every word.

What is a Heading?

• A heading is a title at the top of a section of text.
• It is usually written in larger or bold print.
• It tells you the main topic of that section.
• Skimming the headings gives you a quick overview of the whole article.

What is a Caption?

• A caption is a short sentence or phrase written below or beside a photograph, map, or diagram.
• It explains what the image shows.
• Captions add extra information that is not always in the main text.
• Always read captions — they often contain important facts.

How to Use Headings and Captions

1. Before reading, scan all headings to understand the structure of the text.
2. Read each heading and predict what that section will be about.
3. After reading a section, check that the heading matches the content.
4. Read every caption next to an image — it adds detail the body text may not include.