Text Structure and Main Idea

Which of the following paragraphs are written to convey a compare and contrast text structure?

• In a rural community, there are not many lights from buildings to block the stars. As a result, you can see many stars when you look up at the night sky.

• Urban and suburban communities both have stores, schools, banks, libraries and buildings. However, these things are more spread out in the suburbs than they are in urban communities.

• The tallest skyscraper in the world is Burj Khalifa in a city called Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Its had 163 stories and us 2723 feet tall.

• People may move to the suburbs so that they can have more space but still enjoy the city. Suburbs are usually so close to a city that you can get to the city and back in the same day.

What is the best question to ask yourself when you are trying to find the main idea?

• Who is the main character?

• What is the main event?

• What is one important detail?

• What did I learn from this text?

What is text structure?

• Information organized by time

• How the information within a written text is organized

• A difficulty described and an answer is offered

• Hints found near a word that can help you determine the meaning

What are supporting details?

• Discussions about an action and its results

• Words that connect ideas in a text; these words are determined by the structure

• The information throughout the text that helps explain the main idea

• A statement that defines what the text is saying

Analyze the text structure of a passage that compares the diets of herbivores and carnivores.

• Sequence

• Compare and contrast

• Cause and effect

• Problem and solution

Tags

DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

I can't wait until this weekend! We’re going to my grandparents’ house and my entire family will be there. I will spend most of my time playing games with my cousins. We always have such a good time together! The day goes by so fast, and by the end we are all exhausted... but we still don’t want to leave!
What is the main idea?

• Weekends are times to travel.

• The author enjoys spending time with her family.

• The author's grandparents live far away.

• The author is sad to leave her cousins.

Tom started to reel in his line. The fish tugged and pulled hard. Judging by the weight of his catch, this fish could feed his family for three days. Tom struggled to stay in the boat and not be pulled over the side. Finally his catch came into view. He had snagged a snapping turtle!
What is the main idea?

• Tom finds enough food for his family.

• Tom gets pulled out of his boat by a huge fish.

• Tom didn't catch anything.

• Tom catches a snapping turtle while fishing.

Her pet is a baby kitten.  It is soft and cuddly.  The kitten likes to sleep a lot.  Mary put a soft blanket in a box for its bed.  Mary plays with her kitten when it is awake.  She never forgets to feed her kitten.
What is the main idea?

• The kitten sleeps a lot.

• Mary plays with her kitten

• Mary’s new pet is a kitten.

• Mary want a new pet.

There are many fun things to do at the beach. Swimming is one thing that can be done at the beach. Snorkeling is another thing that can be enjoyed. Playing beach volleyball can be a lot of fun. It is also fun to look for shells. Some people simply like to sunbathe.

What is the main idea?

• There are many fun things to do at the beach.

• It is also fun to look for shells.

• Some people simply like to sunbathe.

• Going to the beach to swim can be fun.

If I wanted to teach someone how to tie their laces what text structure would I use?

• Description

• Sequence

• Cause & Effect

• Problem Solution