Organizational Structure of a Text

Randall is reading an essay about exercise in elementary schools. The essay thesis states, "By making small changes, schools could help students get more exercise.” Which type of essay is Randall most likely reading?

• cause and effect

• problem and solution

• compare and contrast

• summary and sequence

Jose is writing a compare-and-contrast essay about the French Revolution and the American Revolution. Which thesis would best match his chosen text structure?

• The American Revolution and the French Revolution shared many similar goals.

• The French government sent money and support during the American Revolution.

• Some soldiers fought in both the French Revolution and the American Revolution.

• The American government disagreed over whether to support the French Revolution.

Read the passage.

As many as one half of all middle school students say they have trouble getting to class on time. It is difficult to move through the crowded halls to get from class to class, and students are expected to use the restroom or meet with their school counselors during this time. One way to fix this issue is to add one more minute to the breaks between classes.

Which organizational structure does the writer use in this passage?

• cause and effect

• problem and solution

• compare and contrast

• sequence and summary

Reyhan is writing an essay about climate change. His thesis is, "The Earth’s climate is different from 100 years ago, though there are some similarities.” Which organizational pattern is the best choice for his essay?

• cause and effect

• problem and solution

• summary and review

• compare and contrast

Lalita is writing a problem-and-solution essay about ways to improve school lunch choices. Which sentence is the best thesis for her essay?

• School lunches can be healthier and tastier with just a few simple changes.

• Schools are not responsible for making sure students eat healthy food during every lunch.

• School lunch breaks are a chance for students to practice social skills with their peers.

• School lunches are unappealing because fresh food is too expensive for schools to afford.

Read the passage.

(1) Social media is a part of many people’s lives. (2) Often, teens post to social media without considering who can see their information. (3) The popularity of social media sites means that almost anyone can see public profiles and information. (4) Teens must learn how to safely use social media so they can protect their private information.

Which sentence should be highlighted to show the main idea of the paragraph?

• sentence 1

• sentence 2

• sentence 3

• sentence 4

Alicia writes this thesis for her essay: "Global warming is a growing issue. However, we can take steps to help slow down or reverse the damage.” Which organizational structure would she most likely use?

• cause and effect

• problem and solution

• summary and review

• compare and contrast

Which statement best describes the structure of a cause-and-effect essay?

• It presents the challenges of a situation and explains how to solve them.

• It discusses similarities and points out differences between two or more topics.

• It summarizes an event and explains why it is important to understand that event.

• It shows the reasons an event occurred and describes the outcome of the situation.

Read the passage.

Working at an after-school job can teach students good time-management skills. When young adults have to balance work, school, and personal responsibilities, it teaches them how to make schedules and use time wisely. Young adults who have jobs while in high school are better at planning ahead. The added responsibilities create more capable and accountable citizens.

This passage is an example of which text structure?

• cause and effect

• problem and solution

• summary and review

• compare and contrast

Reyhan is writing an essay about climate change. His thesis is, "The Earth’s climate is different from 100 years ago, though there are some similarities.” Which organizational pattern is the best choice for his essay?

• cause and effect

• problem and solution

• summary and review

• compare and contrast