Information from images - Wales Essential Skills

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Information from images

Literacy Entry 3

Introduction

Images include photographs, drawings, graphics, maps and symbols. You'll see images in written information all the time, for example, you might see images on road signs, on computer toolbars, on web sites, in newspapers and magazines.

As well as helping a text look better, images usually add to, or support, the meaning. You can use the images in a text to help you find important information or to help you follow instructions.

This activity looks at how images support written information. You will learn: how to use images to find information in a text how to use images to help you read and understand a text.

You will need Resources 2, 3 and 4. You will find them at the end of this activity.

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Information from images

Literacy Entry 3

Finding information

It may sound odd to say that you can read images but you can. You don't read them in the same way as you read words but you can get meaning from them or use them to help you find information.

These photos come from the beginning of four different sections in a travel guide book. You can guess what sort of information each section contains from the section title and its photograph. For example, the photograph with the first section tells you that you can expect information about beaches or places to visit.

Key sights

Section 1

Section 3

Section 2

Section 4

Practice 1

a. Match the photographs for Sections 2, 3 and 4 with these section titles. Nightlife Eating out Shopping

b. Discuss with a partner what sort of information you think the sections will include.

It is quicker to spot images than words because they stand out more. You can use the photographs to quickly find a section that interests you without having to read all of the information.

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Information from images

Literacy Entry 3

Symbols

You can get a lot of information from photographs but symbols give you more specific information. Symbols give information quickly and simply.

Here is a section from an information page in the travel guide book. It is under the heading `Driving Laws'.

Drive on the left. The speed limit is 80kph on highways and 60kph on main roads and minor roads. The speeding laws are very strict and can lead to heavy fines.

Seat belts must be worn at all times. This includes rear seat belts where they are fitted. By law all hire cars should have rear seat belts in the front and rear.

There are no specific limits on drinking and driving but you may find that your insurance cover is not valid for accidents due to alcohol.

Even before you read the information, the symbols give you an idea of what information is covered. The information covers these three specific areas: l General rules of driving on main roads l Wearing seat-belts l Drinking and driving laws

You can use the symbols to go straight to the information you want to check rather than reading the whole page.

In the travel guide these symbols are with the information on `health'. The meaning of the first symbol isn't as clear as the meaning of the other two symbols. However it is a well-known and commonly used symbol for first aid or other medical services.

Practice 2

What information do you think is in this health section? Tick your answers.

n How to be safe in the sun n How to swim safely n Whether the water is safe to drink n Information about health services such as doctors n Information about dentists n Information about poisonous insects

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Information from images

Literacy Entry 3

Adding more meaning

Images are often used in instructions and information to: l make the instruction, or information, quick and easy to understand l give extra information. These symbols are from labels and packaging on products. Have you see them before? The first one is from the side of a box. It shows you which way up to hold or store the box. The second is from a washing label. It shows you what setting to turn your iron to. The cross through the third symbol makes it into a negative instruction: do not.

This way up

Iron on a low heat

Do not microwave

Photographs and drawings are also useful for illustrating instructions:

Draw carefully round the shape.

Put one piece of wood

Cut a hole in the centre and

across the other two and bolt push the pole firmly into it.

into place.

A series of photographs or drawings are often used to illustrate the steps in a set of instructions, for example, making something or putting something together. They help you to follow the instructions by showing you how to do an action or what something should look like.

Practice 3 a. Look at Resource 3 ? find the symbol that illustrates the instruction `Do not freeze'.

b. This symbol is from Resource 4. Which instruction does it help you to follow and how does it help?

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Information from images

Literacy Entry 3

This table of information is from a travel guide. It gives information about the typical weather at different months of the year in a holiday destination. The symbols in the table give information without using any words at all. They are a very quick way of giving a lot of information quickly and easily.

Annual weather chart for Camalba

26?C 26?C 18?C 17?C 23?C 20?C 21?C 20?C 19?C 20?C 22?C 25?C Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

The five different symbols show you in which months of the year the weather in the holiday destination of Camalba is likely to have: l sun l rain l mixed showers and sunny intervals l mixed cloud and sun l lightning storms.

You will find symbols similar to these used on weather maps, on television weather forecasts or in newspapers.

Practice 4

Use the symbols in the table to answer these questions:

a. Krista is going to Camalba in July. Will she need to pack any clothes suitable for wet weather?

b. Jamila wants to go somewhere hot. Which months are sunniest in Camalba?

c. Leo hates storms. Which month should he definitely not book to go to Camalba?

d. Petri wants to avoid rain and storms. Which months should he choose from?

Here's a reminder about the use of images in texts:

? Images can help you find and follow the information and pick out main points. ? Images can make instructions and information clearer by illustrating words or actions

and adding further detail.

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Information from images

Literacy Entry 3

Check your skills

1 These diagrams are from a medicine bottle and show you how to open it.

Put these instructions in order using the diagrams to guide you. Twist top in a clockwise direction. Line up the arrows. Push down firmly. 2 This symbol is from a bottle of cleaning fluid. Which warning does it go with? Tick your choice.

This fluid is toxic. If swallowed, seek medical advice immediately. This fluid is corrosive. Avoid direct contact with skin or wooden surfaces. The fluid is dangerous to the environment. Do not pour down drain. This fluid is flammable. Keep away from naked flame. 3 In Resource 3, what written information does this symbol support?

4 This picture is from Resource 4. Which part of the instruction does it help you follow and how does it help?

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Information from images

Answers

Practice 1 a Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Literacy Entry 3

Eating out

Nightlife

Shopping

b. You may have said:

Section 2 includes information about restaurants, cafes or other places to eat out.

Section 3 includes information about nightclubs or discos.

Section 4 includes information about places to shop for gifts.

Practice 2 The information given in the `health' section is: How to be safe in the sun (shown by the second symbol). Whether the water is safe to drink (shown by the third symbol). Information about doctors (shown by the first symbol).

Practice 3 a.

b Press the money return button. (The symbol shows you what the money return button looks like so you know which one to press.)

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Information from images

Literacy Entry 3

Answers

Practice 4 a. Yes b. January, February, May c. December d. January, February, May, August or November

Check your skills 1 Line up the arrows.

Push down firmly. Twist top in a clockwise direction. 2 This fluid is corrosive. Avoid direct contact with skin or wooden surfaces. 3 Suitable for vegetarians. 4 The symbol supports the instruction `Replace the receiver firmly on the hook'. It shows you what the hook looks like and where it is.

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