Text Structures

This type of writing considers similarities and differences.

• description

• compare & contrast

• chronological/sequence

• cause & effect

This type of writing gives information step-by-step.

• cause & effect

• problem & solution

• sequence/chronological

• compare & contrast

This type of writing includes many adjectives, examples, or characteristics.

• description

• compare & contrast

• chronological/sequence

• problem & solution

What text structure explains why/how something occurred because of something else?

• Problem/Solution

• Sequence

• Compare/Contrast

• Cause and Effect

What text structure has an issue that is solved?

• Cause/Effect

• Compare/Contrast

• Sequence

• Problem/Solution

Ice-cream comes in a many different colors and flavors. Two of my favorite flavors are strawberry and chocolate. Although both of these flavors are delicious, strawberry may contain pieces of fruit while chocolate usually will not. Even though more chocolate ice-cream is sold across the country annually than strawberry, each flavor tastes great inside of a milkshake.

• Cause and Effect

• Chronological

• Problem and solution

• Compare/Contrast

Wild chimpanzees are rapidly disappearing. Some people are trying to solve this problem. Otherwise, chimpanzees may one day exist only in zoos. People are trying to save the rain forests and woodlands where the chimps live from being cut down. It will take many people working together to solve this problem

• Compare/Contrast

• Chronological

• Problem/Solution

• Sequence/Order of Importance

Choose the clue words that indicate cause and effect.

• next, after, then, first, last

• struggle, promise, problem, solution

• consequently, as a result of, so, therefore

• similar, common, compare, contrast

Choose the clue words that indicate compare and contrast.

• therefore, cause, effect, consequently

• later, then, next, Monday

• similar, different, in common, on the other hand

• possibility, struggle, hope, problem

Choose the clue words that indicate chronological order.

• first, next, finally, 8:30, after

• cause, effect, as a result of, because

• problem, solution, promise, struggle

• compare, contrast, similar, different