Text Structures

Text Structure:

DescriptionDefinition:

Author explains a topic idea, person, place or thing by listing characteristics, features, and examples

Focus is on one thing and its components.

Signal Words:

•For example

•Characteristics are

•Such as

•Looks like

•Consists of

•For instance

•Most important

Concept Map

Text Structure:

SequenceDefinition:

Describes the order of events or how to do or make something.

Signal Words:

•First, second, third

•Next

•Then, after

•Before, prior to

•Finally

•On (date)

•At (time)

Graphic Organizer Examples:

Timeline

Cycle/Circle

The text structure of

Compare/ContrastDescription: The author explains how two or more

things are alike and/or how they are different.

Cue words:

• Differs from

•Similar to

•In contrast

•Alike

•Same as

•As well as

•On the other hand

•Both

•Either, or

•Not only, but also

•Yet, although, but

•However

•Tall, taller, tallest

The graphic organizersVenn Diagram

Different Different

Same

Event 1 Event 2

Different DifferentSame

Text Structure of

Cause and EffectDescription: The author lists one or more causes (why something happened) and the resulting effects (what happened).

Purpose is to explain why or how something happens, exists, or works.Cue words:

•Reasons why

•Reasons for

•If . . . Then

•As a result of

•Therefore

•Because of

•In order to

•Finally

•Leads or leads to

•Effects of

•Caused by

•Result

•Outcome

•Impact

•Influenced by

•Brought about by

Cause:

Why something happened; the event that made another event occur

The cause: someone

pushed the first domino

Effect:

The event that happened because of the cause: the

result

The result: the rest of the

dominoes fall down

Effect

Causes

Graphic Organizer

Effect #1

Effect #2

Effect #3

Cause

Graphic Organizer

Text Structure:

Problem and Solution

Description: The author states one or more problems and lists one or more possible solutions for the problem.

May also describe a problem with the pluses and minuses of all solutions.

Cue Words:

Problem is . . .

Dilemma is . . .

Puzzle is . . .

Solved

Question

Answer

Because

Since . . .

This led to

The main difficulty

One possible solution

One challenge

Therefore,

This led to . . .

If …. then, …..

Problem and Solution Graphic Organizers:

Fishbone

Problem

Solutions

Problem

Problem

Problem

Solution

Topic of concern:

Topic

Problem

Possible Solutions

Outcome