ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

TEXT STRUCTURE
TOPIC 3

OCTOB
ER
11 - 15
 OBJECTIVES:

1. Identify the different structures of a text;

2. Determine the text structure used in a text;
and
3. Create a graphic organizer appropriate for the
text structure employed in a text.
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LET'S HAVE A REVIEW
1. It is a reading material that provides
information which include concepts and
theories that are related to the specific
discipline.
2. It refers to the oral, written, auditory, and
visual language proficiency required to learn
effectively in schools and academic
programs.
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LET'S HAVE A REVIEW
3. A characteristic of academic language that
does not refer to yourself as the performer of
actions.
4. The purpose of this type of text is to inform and
to entertain without solid or factual evidence.
5. A characteristic of academic language that
avoids colloquial and idiomatic expressions, slang,
and contractions.
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LET'S TRY SOMETHING NEW
ANALYZE THE FOLLOWING PICTURES OR
FIGURES THEN GUESS THE CORRECT TERM USING
THE JUMBLED LETTERS
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Common Text Structures

What is a text structure?

A text structure refers to the internal organization of a

text. According to Meyer (1985), as authors write a text to
communicate an idea, they will use a structure that goes
along with the idea.
Common Text Structures
Chronological Order

It is also known as time order. This

structure is organized from one point in
time to another.
Example: Chronological Order
1. The first use of the term smart phone was in 1997, when Ericson described its GS 88
as a “smart phone.” In 2003 phones got even smarter when Andy Rubin launched
the Android mobile operating system.
Common Text Structures
Sequence / Sequential

Steps described in the order they occur.

It does not take place in a specific point
in time.
Example: Sequence / Sequential
2. Once your phone is receiving data, go to the application store on the device. Use the
search or browse functions to find fun, interesting, or useful programs. Once you have
found an application that you want to try, click the button to download and install it on
your device.
Common Text Structures
Cause - Effect

This structure shows how one or more causes led

to one or more effects. Many texts do not include
just one cause leading to one effect– instead,
there may be several causes and several effects.
Example: Cause - Effect
3. Today it is common for motorists to play with their mobile phones while driving.
Drivers may get bored or impatient while waiting in traffic and use their smart phones
to pass the time by checking sports scores, stock numbers, or news stories
Common Text Structures
Problem - Solution

The text structure presents a problem, and shows

how it can be (or has been) solved. The key
difference between cause-effect and problem-
solution is that the latter always present a
solution while the former does not.
Example: Problem - Solution
4. If the phone isn’t locked and it gets lost or stolen, someone may use it to commit
identity theft. Perhaps the worst part about this is that it can be prevented. Today’s
smart phones have free applications that allow you to find your lost phone using GPS
signals.
Common Text Structures
Compare & Contrast

This text structure shows how two or more ideas

or items are similar or different. The text may use
a clustered approach, with details about one
topic followed by the details about the other. It
may also show an alternating approach, with the
author going back between the two topics.
 Example: Compare & Contrast
5. Most mobile phones sold
today have an operating
system that was either
designed by Apple or Google.
Apple makes the iOS
operating system powering
their iPhones and iPads.
Google makes the Android
operating system that can be
found on many different
mobile phones and tablets.
Both of these operating
systems allow users to
connect to app stores and
download applications.
Common Text Structures
Exemplification / Classification

An exemplification paragraph develops a general

statement--the topic sentence--with one or more
specific examples. A classification paragraph
divides things into groups, classes, or categories.
It also organizes ideas into divisions based on
criteria or standards.
 Example: Exemplification / Classification
6. There are many different types, styles and models of mobile phones available on the
market today. The standard-size “flip” “slider” and “candy bar” style phones, such as
the Motorola RAZR and Samsung’s UpStage, are the most often multimedia phones
that allows users to download music and ringtones, and watch TV and videos, and
send multimedia messages. Smartphones such as Research in Motion’s (RIM)
Blackeberry, Motorola Q, Nokia N Series and Palm Treo, are deices that offer
computing capabilities in addition to conventional mobile phone functions.
Common Text Structures
Persuasion

This text structure convinces readers to agree to

an argument or claim about a particular topic.
 Example: Persuasion

7. Cell phones should be allowed

in school because cell phones
improve communication,
provide learning resources and
encourage appropriate use of
technology.
How does text structure help readers?
As it turns out, a knowledge of text structure can be very helpful for
readers. When readers do not have a strong knowledge of the topic
of a text, they depend more on the structure (Cataldo & Oakhill). A
well-written text guides the reader through the content.

Research shows that efficient searchers use the structure of the text
can help them find specific information, and make and interpret
arguments. The structure of the a text can help readers find
answers to questions, as well. Text structure is also an important
component to summarizing. When readers summarize, they need
to reflect the text structure in the summary.
Let's practice...

1. Having good attendance is important because attendance

determines the school’s funding. Some students have poor
attendance, and the school has tried many ways of addressing
this: teachers have talked to parents on the phone and the
school has mailed letters. Yet, some students still maintain
poor attendance. Next, the staff will attempt to schedule
parent/teacher/administrator conferences with students who
are habitually absent. Hopefully, this will help more students
get to school everyday.
2. Due to the increasing number of population in the community,
the volume of garbage has drastically increased as well. This has
greatly concerned the people living near the riverbanks. This has
put their health in great jeopardy; thus, the residents of Barangay
Maligaya urge the local officials to investigate this issue in order to
prevent health problems that threat the well-being of the
residents.
3. Different students attend various types of schools; however, they can
usually be classified as either public, private religious, private non-
religious, or alternative. Public schools are funded by the state, and the
majority of students in the United States attend them. Private religious
schools are based around a particular faith, such as Catholicism,
Judaism, and so forth. The religion is part of the everyday lives of the
students and they also learn about the faiths. All types of private schools
do not receive state funding. Therefore, private non-religious schools are
simply just that: schools which do not receive state funding and have
the ability to make their own rules. Alternative schools can be made up
of a variety of different categories, such as the Montessori program or
technical schools. Most students who attend class in an actual school
building go to one of these types of institutions.
 THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY!
Quiz 3 and PETA 2 will be uploaded in
the Google Drive

Thank you very much :)