Text Structures

Text Structures

Review for your Test!

What is a text structure?

• A "structure" is a building or framework.

• "Text Structure" refers to how a piece of text is built.

• Just like builders use different materials to build things; writers use different text structures to communicate their ideas.

Chronological Order/Sequence

Authors use chronological order or sequence to explain how things happen in order.

Open Ended

Why might an author use chronological order to write about this frog?

Chronological Order/Sequence

You know you are reading a text in chronological order when you see words like first, next, after, then, finally.

Chronological Order/Sequence

You will often see sequence in directions:

Have you ever made macaroni and cheese? It's simple! First boil some water and make some macaroni. Then make your cheese sauce. After the cheese sauce is ready, mix it with macaroni. Bake the entire thing in the oven. Finally, it's time to eat.

Chronological Order/Sequence

Notice the transition words that connect the events in these directions:

Have you ever made macaroni and cheese? It's simple! First boil some water and make some macaroni. Then make your cheese sauce. After the cheese sauce is ready, mix it with macaroni. Bake the entire thing in the oven. Finally, it's time to eat.

Multiple Choice

Which paragraph is in chronological order? What are the clue words?

• Pennsylvania has many historic sites. You can visit revolutionary war sites, like Valley Forge. You can also visit important locations from the Civil War, like Gettysburg. Finally , you can also see the site of the first oil well in Titusville. Pennsylvania has many neat places to visit.

• Through the ages, Pennsylvania has seen many interesting events. The state was founded in 1681 by William Penn. Later, Pennsylvania was the site of important Revolutionary War battles. After that, Pennsylvania was the site of important Revolutionary War battles. After that, Pennsylvania was home to new factories during the Industrial Revolution. Today, Pennsylvania continues to make history.

This is the paragraph in chronological order. Can you find the clue words that show this order?

     Through the ages, Pennsylvania has seen many interesting events. The state was founded in 1681 by William Penn. Later, Pennsylvania was the site of important Revolutionary War battles. After that, Pennsylvania was home to new factories during the Industrial Revolution. Today, Pennsylvania continues to make history.

Notice the clue words:

     Through the ages, Pennsylvania has seen many interesting events. The state was founded in 1681 by William Penn. Later, Pennsylvania was the site of important Revolutionary War battles. After that, Pennsylvania was home to new factories during the Industrial Revolution. Today, Pennsylvania continues to make history.

Think about it!

• What is a structure?

• What does chronological order mean?

• What are some clue words that show chronological order?

Compare & Contrast

• Suppose an author wanted to explain how these two birds are similar and different.

• Chronological order wouldn't work - there is no order of events.

• The author would need to use compare and contrast.

Compare & Contrast

The cardinal and the house sparrow are two common birds. Both have distinctive coloring. Both are common at birdfeeders. But the birds have some differences. The male cardinal is a bright red, while the male goldfinch is black, white, and gray. Cardinals like shrubs and trees, while house sparrows prefer open meadows.

Compare & Contrast

Clue words?

The cardinal and the house sparrow are two common birds. Both have distinctive coloring. Both are common at birdfeeders. But the birds have some differences. The male cardinal is a bright red, while the male goldfinch is black, white, and gray. Cardinals like shrubs and trees, while house sparrows prefer open meadows.

Compare & Contrast

Clue words?

The cardinal and the house sparrow are two common birds. Both have distinctive coloring. Both are common at birdfeeders. But the birds have some differences. The male cardinal is a bright red, while the male goldfinch is black, white, and gray. Cardinals like shrubs and trees, while house sparrows prefer open meadows.

Open Ended

What is the difference between Compare and Contrast and Chronological Order?

Cause & Effect

• Sometimes a writer wants to explain how one event leads to another.

• This kind of text structure is called cause and effect.

Cause & Effect

When authors write paragraphs to show causes and effects, they use words like cause, effect, as a result, consequently, and so.

Open Ended

What are the clue words in this paragraph?

The night’s snowstorm had many effects. People were out shoveling snow from their sidewalks. The power lines were draped with ice. Snow plows drove down every street. Children were the happiest of all. The unexpected snow caused school to be cancelled!

Cause & Effect Clue Words

The night’s snowstorm had many effects. People were out shoveling snow from their sidewalks. The power lines were draped with ice. Snow plows drove down every street. Children were the happiest of all. The unexpected snow caused school to be cancelled!

Multiple Choice

What is the cause in this paragraph?

Baby painted turtles spend all winter in their nests. They have special chemicals in their blood that can keep their blood from freezing. As a result, baby painted turtles can survive freezing temperatures!

• Baby painted turtles sped all winter in their nests.

• They have special chemicals in their blood that can keep their blood from freezing.

• As a result, baby painted turtles can survive freezing temperatures!

Multiple Choice

What is the effect in this paragraph?

Baby painted turtles spend all winter in their nests. They have special chemicals in their blood that can keep their blood from freezing. As a result, baby painted turtles can survive freezing temperatures!

• Baby painted turtles sped all winter in their nests.

• They have special chemicals in their blood that can keep their blood from freezing.

• As a result, baby painted turtles can survive freezing temperatures!

Multiple Choice

Which text structure tells about how things are similar and different?

• cause and effect

• chronological order

• compare and contrast

Multiple Choice

Which picture shows chronological order?

Problem & Solution

• Sometimes an author will want to explain a problem and then show one or more solutions.

• This kind of text structure is called problem and solution.

An Example of Problem & Solution

Heavy rains can cause flooding in small streams. For weather forecasters and local authorities, this flooding can be difficult to predict. Fortunately, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has more than 7,000 stream gages that measure water flow. These stream gages help scientists to monitor water levels in good and bad weather.

Multiple Choice

What is the problem in this paragraph?

Heavy rains can cause flooding in small streams. For weather forecasters and local authorities, this flooding can be difficult to predict. Fortunately, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has more than 7,000 stream gages that measure water flow. These stream gages help scientists to monitor water levels in good and bad weather.

• Heavy rains can cause flooding

• stream gages measure the water flow

• flooding can be difficult to predict

Multiple Choice

What is the solution in this paragraph?

Heavy rains can cause flooding in small streams. For weather forecasters and local authorities, this flooding can be difficult to predict. Fortunately, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has more than 7,000 stream gages that measure water flow. These stream gages help scientists to monitor water levels in good and bad weather.

• Heavy rains can cause flooding

• stream gages measure the water flow

• flooding can be difficult to predict

Problem & Solution Clue Words

• Problem: difficulty, struggle, uncertainty, worry, threat, and trouble

• Solution: possibility, hope, bright side, answer, and future

Multiple Choice

What is the problem in this paragraph?

Brown marmorated stinkbugs have caused many problems since they were accidentally introduced to North America. They damage fruit, bother people, and harm crops. Scientists are trying to find a solution. One promising possibility is a species of wasp that originally comes from Asia. This wasp is a predator of stinkbugs. Scientists hope that this wasp could solve the stinkbug problem.

• Stinkbugs damage fruit, bother people, and harm crops.

• Stinkbugs were accidentally introduced to North America.

• The Asian wasp is a predator of stinkbugs.

Multiple Choice

What is the solution in this paragraph?

Brown marmorated stinkbugs have caused many problems since they were accidentally introduced to North America. They damage fruit, bother people, and harm crops. Scientists are trying to find a solution. One promising possibility is a species of wasp that originally comes from Asia. This wasp is a predator of stinkbugs. Scientists hope that this wasp could solve the stinkbug problem.

• Stinkbugs damage fruit, bother people, and harm crops.

• Stinkbugs were accidentally introduced to North America.

• The Asian wasp is a predator of stinkbugs.

Fill in the Blank

The _____________ text structure uses the following clue words: however, similarity, like, on the other hand.

Fill in the Blank

The _______________ text structure uses the following clue words: as a result, consequently, therefore, so, and because.

Fill in the Blank

The _______________ text structure uses the following clue words: threat, difficulty, hope, answer, possibility.

Description

• This text structure is used to describe a location, idea, person, event, or thing.

• The author always uses lots of adjectives.

• The author creates a visual picture in our head.

Description Example

The pond was a beautiful place to visit. The falling leaves, all different colors, decorated the surface of the water. At the edges of the pond, small wildflowers grew. The golden forest glowed faintly in the distance. 

Description Example

The pond was a beautiful place to visit. The falling leaves, all different colors, decorated the surface of the water. At the edges of the pond, small wildflowers grew. The golden forest glowed faintly in the distance. 

All the other sentences support the central idea by describing the pond.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of this paragraph?

The pond was a beautiful place to visit. The falling leaves, all different colors, decorated the surface of the water. At the edges of the pond, small wildflowers grew. The golden forest glowed faintly in the distance.

• Wildflowers grew next to the pond.

• There were many falling leaves of all different colors.

• The pond was a beautiful place to visit.

Clue Words for Description

• One reason

• For example

• also

• looks like

• appears to be

Multiple Choice

What's the text structure?

Daniel Sullivan was the first to notice the flames coming from the O’Leary barn at around 8:30 pm on October 8. A problem with the alarm box made it impossible for the people in the area to call for the fire department. By 9:30 pm, the entire block was blazing. In another 3 hours, there were fires all over Chicago. The heavy wind coming from the lake only made the fire bigger. It would be another day before the fire would be completely out. By that time, 17,500 buildings had been burned.

• Chronological Order

• Compare and Contrast

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Description

Notice the clue words...

Daniel Sullivan was the first to notice the flames coming from the O’Leary barn at around 8:30 pm on October 8. A problem with the alarm box made it impossible for the people in the area to call for the fire department. By 9:30 pm, the entire block was blazing. In another 3 hours, there were fires all over Chicago. The heavy wind coming from the lake only made the fire bigger. It would be another day before the fire would be completely out. By that time, 17,500 buildings had been burned.

Multiple Choice

Which text structure is the paragraph?

Why was the Great Chicago Fire so disastrous? After all, Chicago had fire departments and fire alarms. One reason for the terrible fire is that the alarm malfunctioned. The local fire company noticed the fire by accident as it was returning from another fire. As another problem, a watchman who saw the flames directed other fire companies to a location that was nearly a mile away from the fire. Because of these two problems, a fire that could have been controlled rapidly spread across the city.

• Compare and Contrast

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Chronological Order

• Description

Notice and Causes and the Effect...

Why was the Great Chicago Fire so disastrous? After all, Chicago had fire departments and fire alarms. One reason for the terrible fire is that the alarm malfunctioned. The local fire company noticed the fire by accident as it was returning from another fire. As another problem, a watchman who saw the flames directed other fire companies to a location that was nearly a mile away from the fire. Because of these two problems, a fire that could have been controlled rapidly spread across the city.

Multiple Choice

What text structure is used?

After the fire, thousands of people were left homeless. Many escaped the fire with nothing except the clothes on their backs. Providing all of these people with food, clean water, and shelter was a huge task. Luckily, the city quickly formed a Relief and Aid Society. This group started giving out the food donations that were pouring in from other cities. The society built places for people to live, gathered the tools that people needed to rebuild their houses, and even vaccinated 64,000 people against smallpox.

• Chronological Order

• Compare and Contrast

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Description

Notice the problem and the solution...

After the fire, thousands of people were left homeless. Many escaped the fire with nothing except the clothes on their backs. Providing all of these people with food, clean water, and shelter was a huge task. Luckily, the city quickly formed a Relief and Aid Society. This group started giving out the food donations that were pouring in from other cities. The society built places for people to live, gathered the tools that people needed to rebuild their houses, and even vaccinated 64,000 people against smallpox.

Multiple Choice

What text structure is used?

Chicago changed in many ways after the fire. Before the fire, most of the buildings were less than five stories high. The buildings that were constructed after the fire, however, were some of the first skyscrapers in the country. Before the fire, most of the houses were made of wood. After the fire, people chose to build their houses out of stone or brick. There were changes in where people lived, as well. The poor people in the city lived close to the center of the city before the fire. After the fire, they moved into neighborhoods that were farther away from the downtown area.

• Chronological order

• Compare and Contrast

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Description

Notice how this paragraph is comparing Chicago BEFORE the fire to Chicago AFTER the fire...

Chicago changed in many ways after the fire. Before the fire, most of the buildings were less than five stories high. The buildings that were constructed after the fire, however, were some of the first skyscrapers in the country. Before the fire, most of the houses were made of wood. After the fire, people chose to build their houses out of stone or brick. There were changes in where people lived, as well. The poor people in the city lived close to the center of the city before the fire. After the fire, they moved into neighborhoods that were farther away from the downtown area.

Multiple Choice

What text structure is used?

By Monday night, the town of Chicago was burning. People described it as terrible, but amazing. The flames were brighter than anything people had ever seen. The harsh winds swept the fire across the city with terrible speed. For many who watched, it was a sight to remember for the rest of their lives.

• Chronological Order

• Compare and Contrast

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Description

Open Ended

Usually authors use many different text structures in one text. Can you explain an example of how two text structures could work together?

Open Ended

What other questions do you have about text structures?