From ancient scrolls to modern e-books, reading has been a cornerstone of education for centuries. While the formats have evolved, the essential purpose remains the same: to convey knowledge and stimulate thought. Reading material, such as e-books, online articles, interactive documents, or traditional paper books, is a learning delivery method where text-based content is the main form of instruction. Nowadays, reading materials are primarily delivered through digital text-based formats, such as e-books, online articles, and interactive documents.

Key features of reading materials:
They might seem straightforward, but there's more to them than meets the eye. Here's a breakdown:
1. Organisation and Structure : they guide the reader through the text, making it easy to find specific information and understand the relationships between different concepts. Clear Headings and Subheadings: These guide the reader through the text, making it easy to find specific information and understand the relationships between different concepts.
Logical Flow: Well-written text follows a logical progression, making it easy for readers to follow the author's train of thought and build understanding step by step.
Table of Contents and Index: These features provide a roadmap to the text, allowing readers to quickly locate specific information or navigate the overall structure.
2. Content and Information:
Accuracy and Reliability: Text materials should be accurate and based on reliable sources, ensuring that learners are receiving credible information.
Relevance: The content should be relevant to the learning objectives and the needs of the learners.
Appropriate Level: The language and complexity of the text should be appropriate for the age and reading level of the learners.
Depth and Breadth: The text should provide sufficient depth and breadth of information to support the learning objectives.
3. Visual Aids and Supporting Elements:
Images, Illustrations, and Diagrams: Visuals can enhance understanding by providing concrete examples, illustrating complex concepts, or presenting information in a more engaging way.
Captions and Labels: These help readers understand the meaning and purpose of visual aids.
Charts and Graphs: These can present data in a clear and concise way, making it easier for learners to identify trends and patterns.
4. Language and Style:
Clarity and Conciseness: The text should be written in a clear and concise style, avoiding jargon or overly complex sentence structures.
Engaging Tone: The writing style should be engaging and interesting, capturing the reader's attention and motivating them to learn.
Vocabulary Support: The text might include glossaries, footnotes, or other features to help learners understand unfamiliar vocabulary.
5. Accessibility and Usability:
Font Size and Type: The text should be easy to read with an appropriate font size and type.
Spacing and Layout: The layout should be visually appealing and easy to navigate, with sufficient spacing between lines and paragraphs.
Physical Format: The physical format of the text (e.g., printed book, digital document) should be appropriate for the learning context and the needs of the learners.
Interactivity: Reading materials can include hyperlinks to other resources, allowing learners to explore related topics in more depth.

It's important to remember that the effectiveness of text materials depends on how well these features are designed and implemented. When choosing or creating text materials, educators should carefully consider the learning objectives, learner characteristics, and the overall learning context.