Text Structure in Literature

Poll

Who do you feel in regards to the skills we have practice up until now?

Main Idea

Poll

Who do you feel in regards to the skills we have practice up until now?

Citing Evidence

Poll

Who do you feel in regards to the skills we have practice up until now?

Making Inferences

Text Structure Questions

How does the text structure develop the central idea?

How does the author use the text structure to communicate the purpose of the text?

How does the paragraph/section contributes to the ideas?

How does paragraph/section contributes to the text as a whole?

What is the effect/ impact of the structure?

How does the structure impact the effectiveness?

Evaluate the effectiveness of the structure.

ELA.11.R.2.1: Evaluate the structure(s) and features in texts.

Authors use different structures to enhance the reader’s understanding of different concepts and ideas.

​How does the author use the structure to communicate the purpose?

If you wanted to examine the life of a famous scientist, it would be helpful to know when he or she first became interested in science, when and where they went to college, and what discoveries they made after that, so it would be helpful if the information was presented in Chronological Order.

​How does the last column contributes to the ideas?

If you wanted to decide between an iPhone or a Galaxy for your next cell phone, it would help to know what features they have in common, but also what makes them different from one another, so you would Compare and Contrast the different phones.

If you’re examining a global issue, like world hunger, you might propose some solutions such as food donations and improvements in agriculture, so the information should be organized in the Problem and Solution structure.

Remember, it’s important for any text to be structured in a way that best helps the reader understand the content.

If you wanted to write a paragraph about the life of Abraham Lincoln, you wouldn’t want to write about which presidents were similar to Lincoln. It would make more sense to write about his life in Chronological Order.

​How does the heading contributes to the text as a whole?

How does the structure impact the effectiveness?

Evaluate the Effectiveness of the structure.

Multiple Choice

Look at both of the passages. Choose the passage that seems easier to read.

• A

• B

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct text structure

• problem solution

• cause and effect

• sequence

• compare and contrast

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct text structure

• problem solution

• cause and effect

• sequence

• compare and contrast

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct text structure

• cause and effect

• problem solution

• sequence

• compare and contrast

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct text structure

• problem solution

• cause and effect

• sequence

• compare and contrast

Multiple Choice

Problem Solution

• Lists steps or events in

  chronological order

• Presents an issue and one or

  more ways to solve it

• Explains why something

  happened, or explains its effects

• Shows how certain things are alike and different

Multiple Choice

Cause & Effect

• Lists steps or events in

  chronological order

• Presents an issue and one or

  more ways to solve it

• Explains why something

  happened, or explains its effects

• Shows how certain things are alike and different

Multiple Choice

Compare & Contrast

• Lists steps or events in

  chronological order

• Presents an issue and one or

  more ways to solve it

• Explains why something

  happened, or explains its effects

• Shows how certain things are alike and different

Multiple Choice

Sequence

• Lists steps or events in

  chronological order

• Presents an issue and one or

  more ways to solve it

• Explains why something

  happened, or explains its effects

• Shows how certain things are alike and different

Multiple Choice

Signal words for Problem Solution

• because, since, so, therefore,

  as a result

• first, next, then, last, finally

• issue, challenge, dilemma,

  answer, solution, solve

• like, unlike, different, as

  opposed to, on the other hand

Multiple Choice

Signal words for Compare and Contrast

• because, since, so, therefore,

  as a result

• first, next, then, last, finally

• issue, challenge, dilemma,

  answer, solution, solve

• like, unlike, different, as

  opposed to, on the other hand

Multiple Choice

Signal words for Cause and Effect

• because, since, so, therefore,

  as a result

• first, next, then, last, finally

• issue, challenge, dilemma,

  answer, solution, solve

• like, unlike, different, as

  opposed to, on the other hand

Multiple Choice

Signal words for Sequence

• because, since, so, therefore,

  as a result

• first, next, then, last, finally

• issue, challenge, dilemma,

  answer, solution, solve

• like, unlike, different, as

  opposed to, on the other hand

Extreme Jigsaws

Avid fans of jigsaw puzzles—known as puzzlers—love a challenge, so the world of puzzles has changed. Try to imagine, for example, putting together a puzzle that was all one color, with no picture to go by. Or how about a puzzle that isn’t square-shaped, or has no flat edges or corners? As a result of demand, puzzle makers all over the world have tried to create puzzles that are enormous, unusual, or just plain unique.

A common dilemma facing puzzlers is the lack of new challenges: they’ve completed all the typical 1,000-piece puzzles and want something new. One answer embraced by puzzle makers is to create larger and larger puzzles. There is a healthy competition for the title of “World’s largest jigsaw puzzle.” For a while, the title was held by Life: The Greatest Puzzle, which consisted of a whopping 24,000 pieces! But a newer and bigger candidate has made its debut: Double Retrospect, based on the artwork of Keith Haring. This 32,256-piece monster measures six feet wide by seventeen feet long! Problem solved?

Double Retrospect is such a massive puzzle that its makers have a few suggestions for those who wish to attempt it. First, puzzlers need to find a huge area of clean floor space to complete the puzzle. Next—get help! This puzzle is more than one person can handle and should be completed in sections. Then, open the eight bags, each of which contains over 4,000 pieces, and get to work. Finally, don’t give up! The puzzle is a major undertaking, but its makers promise that it is not impossible.

Size isn’t the only way to make an “outside the box” jigsaw puzzle: other puzzle makers have found other ways to add unique twists to this classic pastime. These extreme puzzles are alike in that they have fewer than 1,000 pieces, but they are different in the specific challenges they offer. Some puzzles have no picture on the box to refer to or are all one color. A brand of puzzles called “Impossibles” adds to this challenge by having no edge pieces or corners, and including extra, leftover pieces that don’t fit any other piece! On the other hand, “Wasgij” puzzles (that’s “jigsaw” spelled backwards) aren’t particularly difficult to assemble, but the picture displays a mystery scene with clues you need to solve. So putting the pieces together is only the first half of solving this puzzle.

Clearly, puzzles have transformed because puzzlers insist on new and unusual challenges. Therefore, the world of puzzles is more diverse and interesting now than ever before. Next time you’re bored or not quite sure what to do with your friends on a rainy weekend, try a puzzle! You’ll be glad you did.

Multiple Choice

A common dilemma facing puzzlers is the lack of new challenges: they’ve completed all the typical 1,000-piece puzzles and want something new. One answer embraced by puzzle makers is to create larger and larger puzzles. There is a healthy competition for the title of “World’s largest jigsaw puzzle.” For a while, the title was held by Life: The Greatest Puzzle, which consisted of a whopping 24,000 pieces! But a newer and bigger candidate has made its debut: Double Retrospect, based on the artwork of Keith Haring. This 32,256-piece monster measures six feet wide by seventeen feet long! Problem solved?

• Compare & Contrast

• Sequence

• Cause & Effect

• Problem & Solution

Multiple Choice

Double Retrospect is such a massive puzzle that its makers have a few suggestions for those who wish to attempt it. First, puzzlers need to find a huge area of clean floor space to complete the puzzle. Next—get help! This puzzle is more than one person can handle and should be completed in sections. Then, open the eight bags, each of which contains over 4,000 pieces, and get to work. Finally, don’t give up! The puzzle is a major undertaking, but its makers promise that it is not impossible.

• Compare & Contrast

• Sequence

• Cause & Effect

• Problem & Solution

Multiple Choice

Size isn’t the only way to make an “outside the box” jigsaw puzzle: other puzzle makers have found other ways to add unique twists to this classic pastime. These extreme puzzles are alike in that they have fewer than 1,000 pieces, but they are different in the specific challenges they offer. Some puzzles have no picture on the box to refer to or are all one color. A brand of puzzles called “Impossibles” adds to this challenge by having no edge pieces or corners, and including extra, leftover pieces that don’t fit any other piece! On the other hand, “Wasgij” puzzles (that’s “jigsaw” spelled backwards) aren’t particularly difficult to assemble, but the picture displays a mystery scene with clues you need to solve. So putting the pieces together is only the first half of solving this puzzle.

• Compare & Contrast

• Sequence

• Cause & Effect

• Problem & Solution

Multiple Choice

Size isn’t the only way to make an “outside the box” jigsaw puzzle: other puzzle makers have found other ways to add unique twists to this classic pastime. These extreme puzzles are alike in that they have fewer than 1,000 pieces, but they are different in the specific challenges they offer. Some puzzles have no picture on the box to refer to or are all one color. A brand of puzzles called “Impossibles” adds to this challenge by having no edge pieces or corners, and including extra, leftover pieces that don’t fit any other piece! On the other hand, “Wasgij” puzzles (that’s “jigsaw” spelled backwards) aren’t particularly difficult to assemble, but the picture displays a mystery scene with clues you need to solve. So putting the pieces together is only the first half of solving this puzzle.

• Compare & Contrast

• Sequence

• Cause & Effect

• Problem & Solution

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the article you read?

• All jigsaw puzzles are really difficult.

• Jigsaw puzzles have lost much of their popularity.

• The variety of challenging, unique jigsaw puzzles is greater today than ever before.

• Jigsaw puzzles are great to do with a bunch of friends.

​Now that you know that the text structure of the entire article is Cause and Effect, and you have determined the central idea, put the pieces together.

​Explain how the Cause and Effect structure reveals the central idea of the article and Evaluate if it is used effectively. Write at least a paragraph and use no less than one specific quote from the article to support your answer.