1. 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

2. Chronological Information is organized in order of time. Example
Chrono = time Logic = order
Example
Jill came tumbling after.
Jack and Jill ran up the hill to fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown.
ALL stories are told chronologically.

3. They performed poorly on the test.
Cause and Effect
An action and its results are explained.
Cause
Effect
Students did not learn the material.
They performed poorly on the test.
Don’t confuse with chronological.
Won’t have a beginning, middle, and end.
Time won’t progress much.

4. Compare and Contrast Tells how two things are similar and different.
Apples & Oranges
Alike
Different
1. Both are fruits.
1. People don’t eat orange skins.
2. Both have skin.
2. Oranges have more juice.

5. Property is being spray painted. Require a license to buy spray paint.
Problem and Solution
A problem and answer are suggested.
Problem
Solution
Property is being spray painted.
Require a license to buy spray paint.
Don’t confuse with cause and effect.
It is presented as a PROBLEM.

6. Sequence / Process Writing
Information is listed step-by-step.
Explains how to do it or how it happens.
4. Flip omelet.
Don’t confuse with chronological!
3. Cook on one side.
2. Add cheese.
Does not occur at a specific time.
1. Crack a few eggs.

7. 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.
My bedroom
A television across from the bed.
Two windows on the west Wall
A bed in the middle.
A closet by the TV

8. Tips to Identify
Ask, “what is the author doing in this paragraph?” Put it in your own words.
Have a hunch? Use the graphic organizer to see if the info fits.
Look for signal words.