TEXT
STRUCTUR
E
Module 2
What is Text Structure?
It is how information in a passage is
organized.
It refers to the internal organization of a
text. As authors write a text to
communicate an idea, they will use a
structure that goes along with the idea
(Meyer,1985).
6 Common Patterns of Organization
1. Chronological
2. Cause and effect
3. Compare and contrast
4. Problem and solution
5. Sequence
6. Spatial / Descriptive
1. Chronological
information is organized in order of time
Chrono = time
Logic = order
All stories are told chronologically.
Signal words:
shortly, since, second, third, immediately
1. Chronological
Examples:
2. Cause and Effect
an action and its result are explained
Example:
Don’t confuse with chronological. Time won’t
progress much.
2. Cause and Effect
Signal words:
Causes
– because, due to, for this reason, if this
Effects
– as a result, consequently, hence,
resulting, since, therefore
3. Compare and Contrast
tells how two things are similar and different
Example:
3. Compare and Contrast
Signal words:
Comparison
– also, as well as, both, compared to,
in comparison, similarly
Contrast
– although, on the contrary, unlike,
on the other hand, in spite of
4. Problem and Solution
a problem and an answer are suggested
Don’t confuse with cause and effect. This
is presented as a PROBLEM.
Signal words:
answer, challenge, improve, respond,
suggest
4. Problem and Solution
Example:
5. Sequence / Process Writing
information is listed step-by-step and
explains how to do it or how it happens
Don’t confuse with chronological. It does
not occur at a specific time.
Signal words:
next, later, last, finally, in the end, at first
5. Sequence / Process Writing
Example:
6. Spatial / Descriptive Writing
describes something in order of space;
describes how something looks
Signal words:
above, adjacent to, away, below, behind,
nearby, toward
6. Spatial / Descriptive Writing
Example:
Tips to Identify the
Organization of the Text
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 information fits.
3. Look for signal words.
Exercise #1: Figure out the text structure
that these clue words point to. Write the
letter that corresponds to your answer.
a. Compare and contrast
b. Cause and effect
c. Problem and solution
d. Description
e. Chronological
Exercise #1: Figure out the text structure
that these clue words point to.
a. Compare and contrast d. Description
b. Cause and effect e. Chronological
c. Problem and solution
______ 1. as a result, consequently
______ 2. therefore
Exercise #1: Figure out the text structure
that these clue words point to.
a. Compare and contrast d. Description
b. Cause and effect e. Chronological
c. Problem and solution
______ 3. hope, answer
______ 4. for example
Exercise #1: Figure out the text structure
that these clue words point to.
a. Compare and contrast d. Description
b. Cause and effect e. Chronological
c. Problem and solution
______ 5. above, and so forth
______ 6. first, then
Exercise #1: Figure out the text structure
that these clue words point to.
a. Compare and contrast d. Description
b. Cause and effect e. Chronological
c. Problem and solution
____ 7. Lastly, finally
____ 8. however, on the other hand
Exercise #1: Figure out the text structure
that these clue words point to.
a. Compare and contrast d. Description
b. Cause and effect e. Chronological
c. Problem and solution
______ 9. Unlike
______ 10. So
Exercise #2:
Identify how each passage is organized. Explain
your answer by giving the details of information
through a diagram or any graphic organizer.
1. First, we packed our suitcases. Then
we piled into our little car. Before
long, we were on the way to
grandma’s house.
Identify how each passage is organized. Explain
your answer by giving the details of information
through a diagram or any graphic organizer.
2. Tigers and lions are both cats.
However, tigers have stripes and lions
do not. Both have very good
nighttime vision.
Identify how each passage is organized. Explain
your answer by giving the details of information
through a diagram or any graphic organizer.
3. Butterflies are flying insects with two
pairs of large, colorful, scaly wings.
The wing scales overlap in rows.
Identify how each passage is organized. Explain
your answer by giving the details of information
through a diagram or any graphic organizer.
4. Your lungs are like two balloons. When
you take a breath, air rushes in, like when
you blow up a balloon. When you breathe
out, the air goes out and your lungs gets
smaller just like a balloon.
Identify how each passage is organized. Explain
your answer by giving the details of information
through a diagram or any graphic organizer.
5. We discovered that the batteries in our
flashlight are dead when we tried to use it
during the storm. Therefore, we were not
able to see until the electricity came on.
