What is Text Structure?
How information in a passage is organized
We will study six common patterns:
• Chronological
• Cause and Effect
• Compare and Contrast
• Problem and Solution
• Sequence / Process
• Spatial / Descriptive
Chronological
Information is organized in order of time.
Chrono = time Logic = order
Example
Jack and Jill ran Jack fell down Jill came
up the hill to fetch and broke his tumbling
a pail of water. crown. after.
ALL stories are told chronologically.
Cause and Effect
An action and its results are explained.
Cause Effect
Students did not learn They performed
the material. poorly on the test.
•Don’t confuse with chronological.
•Won’t have a beginning, middle, and end.
•Time won’t progress much.
Compare and Contrast
Tells how two things are similar and different.
Apples & Oranges
Alike Different
1. Both are fruits. 1. People don’t eat
2. Both have skin.
orange skins.
2. Oranges have
more juice.
Problem and Solution
A problem and answer are suggested.
Problem Solution
Property is being Require a license
spray painted. to buy spray paint.
•Don’t confuse with cause and effect.
•It is presented as a PROBLEM.
Sequence / Process Writing
Information is listed step-by-step.
Explains how to do it or how it happens.
Don’t confuse with 4. Flip omelet.
chronological!
3. Cook on
one side.
2. Add cheese.
Does not occur at
1. Crack a
few eggs.
a specific time.
Spatial / Descriptive Writing
Racial is to race as spatial is to space.
Describes something in order of space.
Describes how something looks.
TIME DOESN’T PASS in these passages.
Two windows on A television across
the west Wall from the bed.
My bedroom
id dle. A clo
set b
t he m y the
d in
A be TV
Tips to Identify
1. Ask, “what is the author doing in this
paragraph?” Put it in your own words.
2. Have a hunch? Use the graphic
organizer to see if the info fits.
3. Look for signal words.