Faktatext

Faktatext is a non-fiction text that aims to convey factual information about a topic in a clear, neutral manner. It presents facts, definitions, data, dates, and explanations, while avoiding subjective opinions or persuasive aims.

Typical features include a concise overview or lead, followed by a logically organized body that develops the topic through distinct aspects such as background, key facts, figures, and definitions. The text may employ subheadings, lists, or numbered sections to aid clarity, and it often cites reliable sources. A concluding summary may restate the main facts and their significance.

Language in a faktatext is objective and impersonal. The author uses precise terms, minimal evaluative language, and a consistent point of view, frequently employing present tense when describing general facts. Data and claims are supported by evidence, with references or a bibliography when required.

Purpose and contexts: faktatexts are common in school assignments, textbooks, encyclopedias, and informative articles. They are designed to inform readers efficiently, not to persuade them of a position. They differ from opinion texts and argumentative essays in that they emphasize facts over arguments, and from narrative reports in that they prioritize description of general knowledge rather than chronology of events.

Related concepts include broader factual or informational texts (Sachtexte in German), which cover a range of non-fiction genres devoted to presenting information.