What is a DISCONTINUOUS text

The discontinuous texts are organized differently from continuous texts and to understand them you will need strategies of nonlinear reading. In these texts, the information is presented in the form of charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, maps, forms or images.

You will be able to find this type of text many times during the day to day: in an informative brochure or advertising, on the packaging of a product, an invoice, a voucher, a ticket, an invitation, a warning etc In this lesson from a PROFESSOR we want to explain to you what is a discontinuous text and examples.

Index

1. What is dashed text - examples
2. Characteristics of dashed text
3. Non-continuous text examples

The discontinuous texts are types of informational texts that have been created for support information and the content does not follow a discourse sequence. In order to understand them, we must be able to understand the concepts and relate them to each other.

For example: When we see the menu of a restaurant, on one side we are presented with a list with the names of the available dishes and on the other side a list with the corresponding prices. In this way, the reader must make the link for himself between the headline (in this case the dish) and the explanation (in this case the price).

We can find this type of texts multitude of occasions in everyday life: infographics, maps, diagrams, tables, forms, invoices, vouchers and other similar documents.

discontinuous texts are part of an image and provide us with information about it. They talk to us about a topic in a very less extensive than a continuous text would.

For example: To continue with the previous example, with a continuous text, the writer would explain the price of each of the dishes in an extensive text. So the reader should only read the text, without having to interpret any type of scheme or table.

Unlike continuous texts, discontinuous texts have a much more detailed explanation. simple and schematic that does not provide details to the reader, but, on the other hand, it is much faster to understand and read.

When we meet a continuous text that accompanies a map, a table, a table, an infographic, etc. this will be providing us with extra information about what we can already see graphically through the dashed text. As both texts are combined, we will be talking about "mixed texts".

Image: Lifeder

The word "discontinuous", in this case, refers to the fact that the text is not linear, instead, it is interrupted by images and jumps of the reader's view. It presents us with partial information that is complemented by images, tabulations, arrows and other graphic elements.

These texts are very visual and they are written so that the reader can understand the concept at a glance, avoiding the reader having to dive into a deep reading. We can find the following Characteristics in discontinuous texts:

• Are brief and only provide the absolutely necessary information.
• They are very synthetics, so they give a lot of information in as few words as possible.
• The information for each point is Independent, that is, it does not have to be linked or fit in with the previous point.
• The reader needs to be able to to understand the content
• Reading these texts is fractionalized, consequently, does not follow a line of discourse.

let's give you some discontinuous text ideas for you to imagine the examples. Keep in mind that texts are very common in everyday life, so you might have seen something similar.

Timeline of the great inventions of humanity

We can draw a temporary line showing a periodof time. For example, from the year 1 AD to the present. In the lower part of the line the time periods of the civilizations of each era can be shown and in the upper line dates can be shown from specific years in which some civilization emerged. important invention: the wheel, the telephone, the light bulb, etc.

Table with the annual income of the world population

This table will consist of three columns. The first will show the country name, in the second, the number of inhabitants and in the third column average income of the entire population. This table can be used to get an idea of ​​which are the countries with the most resources worldwide.

solar system infographic

In this infographic you will see a drawing of the solar system Each of the planets must be drawn at its corresponding distance from the sun and with the actual size to scale. Beneath each of the planets there may be a little explanation in the form of an enumeration of points, in which the name of the planet and its most significant characteristics are shown.

We hope that this article has helped you to know what is dashed text and see some examples. If you are interested in continuing to learn more about this topic, do not hesitate to consult our writing section.

Image: wordwall

If you want to read more articles similar to What is a non-continuous text and examples, we recommend that you enter our category of Writing.

• Dominguez Chavez, V. P. (2018). We elaborate a discontinuous text.
• Vargas Maguiña, R. AND. (2019). Creating a dashed text.