Text Structure Lesson

Text Structure!

What is text structure & how many types of text structure are there?

Multiple Choice

Which one of the texts is written in sequence of event text structure?

• 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 home to new factories during the Industrial Revolution. Today, Pennsylvania continues to make history.

Fill in the Blank

What are three words in this paragraph that make it clear it has a compare and contrast text structure?

The cardinal and the goldfinch are two common birds. Both are brightly colored. Both are common at birdfeeders, but the birds have some differences. The male cardinal is a bright red, while the male goldfinch is yellow. Cardinals like shrubs and trees, while goldfinches prefer open meadows.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the passage is the cause?

• 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.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the passage is the effect?

• 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.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the passage describes the problem?

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 streamgages that measure water flow. These streamgages help scientists to monitor water levels in good and bad weather.

• "this flooding can be difficult to predict. "

• "the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has more than 7,000 streamgages that measure water flow."

• "These streamgages help scientists to monitor water levels in good and bad weather."

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the passage describes the 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 streamgages that measure water flow. These streamgages help scientists to monitor water levels in good and bad weather.

• "this flooding can be difficult to predict. "

• "the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has more than 7,000 streamgages that measure water flow."

• "These streamgages help scientists to monitor water levels in good and bad weather."

Multiple Choice

What type of text structure does this passage make use of?

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.

• Sequence of Events

• Compare and Contrast

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Description

Multiple Choice

What type of text structure does this passage make use of?

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.

• Sequence of Events

• Compare and Contrast

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Description

Multiple Choice

What type of text structure does this passage make use of?

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.

• Sequence of Events

• Compare and Contrast

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Description

Multiple Choice

What type of text structure does this passage make use of?

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.

• Sequence of Events

• Compare and Contrast

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Description

Multiple Choice

What type of text structure does this passage make use of?

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.

• Sequence of Events

• Compare and Contrast

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Description

Open Ended

What text structure do you find most interesting to read? Why? Answer in at least 3 complete sentences!

Open Ended

What are some questions you have about text structures?