Text Structure/ Organizational Patterns

The author tells how two things are alike and how they are different. 

• cause and effect
• compare and contrast
• fact and opinion
• description (main idea)

The author describes a series of events or steps. 

• sequence
• cause and effect
• problem and soltuion
• description

The author describes a topic by listing its characteristics, features, and examples. 

• cause and effect
• chronological order
• description
• fact and opinion 

The author shows the relationship between an event and how or why it happened. 

• fact & opinion
• descriptive (main idea)
• cause and effect
• chronological order

The author states a problem and lists one or more possible solutions to the problem. 

• sequence
• chronological order
• fact and opinion 
• problem and solution

Some signal words and phrases for this text structure/organizational pattern are: after, before, then, next following, initially, then, until, when, while, prior to

• sequence
• description (main idea)
• problem & solution
• compare & contrast

Some signal words and phrases for this text structure/organizational pattern are: alike, both, however, same, on the other hand, even though

• problem & solution
• cause & effect
• compare and contrast
• descriptive (main idea)

Some signal words and phrases for this text structure/organizational pattern are: for example, for instance, in addition, including, specifically, such as, also

• fact or opinion
• chronological order
• sequence
• description (main idea)

Some signal words and phrases for this text structure/organizational pattern are: as a result, because, so, due to, consequently, in order to, reason why, led to, brings about, caused by, thus, therefore

• fact or opinion
• cause and effect
• problem & solution
• sequence

Some signal words and phrases for this text structure/organizational pattern are: answer, concern, difficulty, dilemma, future challenge, one option, question, so that, solve 

• chronological order
• sequence
• description (main idea)
• problem and solution