1. Text Structure Analysis
“After nine years in school (in addition to kindergarten and pre-school), where on earth did THIS come from?!
“Whoa! What the heck is text structure analysis and what does it mean to me?!

2. Text Structure Analysis
The “Why”: Everything taught to you is based on content standards (what you’re supposed to know in each subject). Well, these contents changed!
For you, there’s three BIG major shifts that you have to be able to handle.
It will impact you in EVERY class you take from here on out!

3. Three Major Shifts
1. Building knowledge through content-rich nonfiction and information texts in addition to literature (everything else you read).
2. Reading and writing grounded in evidence from the text.
3. Regular practice with complex text and its academic vocabulary

4. Relax to the point of control!
Right now, we’re only concerned with the first shift that addresses how you comprehend what you read!
So let’s get to it!

5. Text Structure
Text structure refers to the ways that authors organize information in text. Why does that not surprise you?!

6. The Why: Shift One
Much of our knowledge base comes from informational text
Informational text makes up the vast majority (80%) of the required reading in college and the workplace
Informational text is harder for students (YOU) to comprehend than narrative text
Yet, you are asked to read very little informational text ( 7 to 15%) in the elementary grades and in middle school

7. The Why: Shift One
Literary nonfiction. For purposes of Alaska ELA standards, this includes:
Biographies, memoirs, speeches, opinion pieces
Essays about art, literature, journalism, etc.
Historical, scientific, technical, or economic accounts written for a broad audience
Emphasis is now on text structures OTHER THAN narrative (it’s what you’ll be tested on)

8. “If the initial shock has worn off, are you ready to learn?”
There are two types of structures that I want you to know: Narrative and Informational. I’m going to show you a graphic organizer of Narrative, but we’re going to go much more in-depth on Informational text structure.

9. Narrative Text Structure

10. Informational Text Structures
5 Most Common:
Cause/Effect
Compare/Contrast
Description
Chronology/Sequence
Problem/Solution
We’ll do these later:
Proposition-Support
Judgment/critique
Inductive/deductive
(And yes, we WILL do
these before you
graduate Mwa-
haaa-haaa!)

11. So, Let’s Get It!

12. Analyzing Info Text Structure
Okay, So How’s It Done?
Killing a Dragon
Analyzing Info Text Structure
If you're good at archery, laying into the dragon with an enchanted bow will usually do the trick.
If you don't want to do that, however, you can try magic (healing one hand, destruction spell in the other) or close quarter combat with a weapon.
If you can get close enough, the dragon won't breath fire or take off, and will just attack you with its mouth
Look for signal words & phrases
Ask comprehension Questions
Use graphic organizers

13. Cause (why it happened) and Effect (what happened)
Signal Words & Phrases:
Questions to Ask
because leads to on account of so consequently outcome therefore thus when/if – then effects of as a result of due to In order to influenced by impact since is caused by for this reason reasons for
What were the specific events that happened?
Why did the events happen? What were the causes?
What were the results or outcomes of these events happening? What was the effect?
What is the significance of the event and/or the results (outcomes)?

14. Cause (why it happened and Effect (what happened)
Event
cause
effect
cause
effect

15. Compare (how it’s similar) and Contrast (how it’s different)
Signal Words & Phrases:
Questions to Ask
both similarity either-or also opposite yet too different from but on the contrary just as compared to instead of on the other hand alike however in contrast as opposed to despite unlike in comparison
How are ______ and ______ alike?
How is ______ different from ______?
How is ______ both similar/ dissimilar to ______?
What is the difference between ______ and ______?

16. Compare (how it’s similar) and Contrast (how it’s different)
Whatever “it” is A
alike
different

17. Signal Words & Phrases:
Description: Explain a topic, concept, person, place, event or object (provide characteristics, features and/or giving examples)
Signal Words & Phrases:
Questions to Ask
position words (e.g., beside, near, in front of, above, along) in fact characteristics for instance made up of appears to be features consists of looks like for example
What is the subject being described?
How is the topic being described (i.e., where it is, what it does, how it works, what it looks like, its classification)
What are the most important attributes or characteristics?

18. Topic, concept, person, place event or object
Description: Explain a topic, concept, person, place, event or object (provide characteristics, features and/or giving examples)
characteristics
attributes
Topic, concept, person, place event or object
features
examples

19. Signal Words & Phrases:
Chronology/Sequence: Provide information in time order or the order in which events, actions, or steps in a process occur
Signal Words & Phrases:
Questions to Ask
First/second/third then directions as soon as before prior to next now step last after following initially at the same time simultaneously during meanwhile finally
What sequence of events is being described?
What are the major events or incidents that occur?
What happens first, next, last?
How is the sequence or cycle revealed in the text?
What are the steps, directions, procedures to follow to make or do something?

20. Chronology/Sequence: Provide information in time order or the order in which events, actions, or steps in a process occur
Step 1
Step 2 1
Step 3 2 3
Step 4 4

21. Problem (what’s wrong) and Solution (how to fix it!)
Signal Words & Phrases:
Questions to Ask
problem answer so that solution solved led to dilemma cause issue puzzle since advantage because as a result of disadvantage question in order to
What is the problem?
Who has the problem?
Why is it a problem?
What is causing the problem?
What solutions have been suggested or tried?
What are the various pros and cons of various solutions?
Which solutions worked or seem to have the best chance for solving the problem?

22. Problem (what’s wrong) and Solution (how to fix it!)

23. Informational Text Structure Analysis
When you think of it, it’s all rather common sense; however, we don’t naturally analyze what we’re reading when we’re reading. We’re going to try some practical, short exercises that will prove how useful this is! Here’s your lollypop.