ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at one way of analysing the kind of information that occurs in non-fiction texts. Using topic types is most suited to learners who are of at least intermediate proficiency. It is particularly suited to learners with academic goals. Topic type activities are well suited to group work. The topic type hypothesis says that texts on different topics but which are all of the same topic type will contain the same general kinds of information. Knowledge of topic types is useful when predicting the kind of information that will be in a text, when taking notes from a text, and when evaluating the adequacy of a text. Perhaps the greatest value of a topic type approach is in gathering ideas for writing where the topic clearly fits into a known topic type. Topic type activities are well suited to group work.
