1. REFERS TO THE WAYS THAT AUTHORS ORGANIZE INFORMATION IN TEXT.
TEXT STRUCTURE
REFERS TO THE WAYS THAT AUTHORS ORGANIZE INFORMATION IN TEXT.

2. What is a text structure?
A way for the author to organize the text so the reader understands the message.

3. What is a text structure?
Builders can use different kinds of structures to build different things
A skyscraper, for example, is a different kind of structure from a house

4. What is a text structure?
Writers use different structures to build their ideas
Each text structure communicates ideas in a different way

5. Examples Non – Fiction Fiction Cause and Effect Story Elements:
Sequence
Problem/Solution
Description
Compare and Contrast
Fiction
Story Elements:
Character
Setting
Conflict/Resolution
Plot

6. Why do we need to learn about Text Structures?
Because nonfiction texts are not built like narrative texts (no rising action, plot, etc.)
T-Chart
Venn Diagram

7. Text Structure How text is organized. ALL stories are chronological.
Nonfiction has lots of text structures.
Each paragraph may be different.
We’ll learn 5 types.

8. What are the 5 Kinds of Text Structures?
Chronological
Sequence
Compare and Contrast
Cause and Effect
Problem and Solution

9. What are the 5 Kinds of Text Structures?
Sequence (Chronological and Order of Importance)
Compare and Contrast
Cause and Effect
Problem and Solution
Descriptive

10. Chronological order
Authors use chronological order to explain how things happen in order
Chronological order is also called sequence or time order

11. Chronological order
You will know that you are reading a text in chronological order because you will see words like first, next, later, then, and finally

12. Chronological Example
In order of time
Chrono = time
Stories are told chronologically
Moved
Away
Met Girl
Fell in
Love
Born
in 1882
Married
in 1906
Died
in 1948

13. Sequence / Order of Importance
Steps described in the order they occur.
Get bread
Tighten
Laces
Open jars
Tie Loops
Together
Spread peanut butter
Make Two
Loops
Spread jelly
Combine slices
Put on
Shoe
Enjoy.
Does not take place at any specific point in time.

14. What is Sequence? Text Structure Description Signal Words Sequence
Describes events in the order that they happened or tells the steps of how to do something
first before
second since
later now
next previously
then
finally
dates
after
when 14

15. Sequential Order
Texts that follow this structure tell the order in which steps in a process or series of events occur.
Questions to Consider
What happened?
What is the sequence of events?
What are the sub-stages?
Graphic Organizers
Flow Map
Multi-flow Map
Timeline

16. Sequential Order Signal Words
after
afterward
as soon as
before
during
finally
first
following
immediately
initally
later
meanwhile
next
not long after
now
on (date)
preceding
second
soon
then
third
today
until
when
– first block stopped

17. Appendix 3
Sequence
Event 1
Event 2
Event 3
Event 4
Event 5 17

18. Another text structure
Sometimes, a writer will want to explain how one event leads to another
This kind of text structure is called cause and effect

19. What is Cause and Effect?
Text Structure
Description
Signal Words
Cause and Effect
The causes of an event and its resulting effect(s) are presented.
if/then
as a result
therefore
consequently
since
because
hence
thus
this led to 19

20. Explains reasons why something happened.
Cause and Effect
Explains reasons why something happened.
Or explains the effects of something.
Text is not telling
the story of a dog.
Many Karate
Schools Opened.
Not feeding it.
The effect of not feeding the dog – the dog ran away
The cause of the schools, nun chuck increase and hospital cases is cause by the Karate movies.
Lots of Karate Movies in 60’s
Nun chuck sales
Increased 400%
Not petting it.
Why Dog
Ran Away
Hospital cases
went up.
Not loving it.

21. What are some signal words for Cause and Effect?
on account of
as a result
due to
consequently
since
because
thus
this led to

22. More with cause and effect
Baby painted turtles spend all winter in their nests. They have special chemicals in their blood that can keep their blood from freezing. As a result, baby painted turtles can survive freezing temperatures!

23. More with cause and effect
Baby painted turtles spend all winter in their nests. They have special chemicals in their blood that can keep their blood from freezing. As a result, baby painted turtles can survive freezing temperatures!
This is the cause

24. More with cause and effect
Baby painted turtles spend all winter in their nests. They have special chemicals in their blood that can keep their blood from freezing. As a result, baby painted turtles can survive freezing temperatures!
This is the effect

25. Appendix 5
Cause and Effect 25

26. Review
Which text structure tells about how things are similar and different?
Compare and contrast
Which text structure explains how things happen in time order?
Chronological order

27. Problem and Solution Basically & Effect
Author states a problem and solution(s).
Similar to cause and effect.
Eagles were
endangered.
Make laws to
protect them.
Missing
Books
Basically & Effect
With an Opinion. And an answer.
Putting in
the Closet
Getting
Lockers

28. Another kind of text structure
Sometimes, an author will want to explain a problem, and then show one or more solutions
This kind of text structure is called problem and solution

29. What is Problem and Solution?
Text Structure
Description
Signal Words
Problem and Solution
A problem and one or more solutions to the problem are presented.
problem is
solution is
if/then
to solve the
problem… 29

30. An example of problem and solution
Park School had a terrible problem. Every day at recess, students would argue over the slides. Teachers had to spend time every day taking care of the arguments. Finally, one teacher came up with a great solution. They bought another set of slides that everyone could enjoy.
Can you find the problem and the solution in this paragraph?

31. An example of problem and solution
Park School had a terrible problem. Every day at recess, students would argue over the slides. Teachers had to spend time every day taking care of the arguments. Finally, one teacher came up with a great solution. They bought another set of slides that everyone could enjoy.
Here is the problem

32. An example of problem and solution
Park School had a terrible problem. Every day at recess, students would argue over the slides. Teachers had to spend time every day taking care of the arguments. Finally, one teacher came up with a great solution. They bought another set of slides that everyone could enjoy.
Here is the problem
Here is the solution

33. Appendix 4
Problem and Solution 33

34. Another text structure
Suppose an author wanted to explain how these two birds are similar and different
Chronological order wouldn’t work---there is no order of events
The author would need to use compare and contrast

35. What is Compare and Contrast?
Text Structure
Description
Signal Words
Compare and Contrast
Two or more events, objects or places that are being compared and shown how they are alike and/or different
but
however
nevertheless
similarly
in contrast
different
from
the same
like
unlike 35

36. Shows what’s in common and what’s different.
Compare and Contrast
Compare = find similarities Contrast = find differences
Shows what’s in common and what’s different.
Apples &
Oranges
Fruits
Have Seeds
Healthy
Colors
Tastes
Locations

37. What are some signal words for Compare and Contrast?
Both
but
however
nevertheless
on the other hand
in contrast
different
from
the same
like
unlike

38. Compare and contrast graphic organizer
To organize details from a paragraph in compare and contrast, use a Venn diagram

39. Appendix 1
Comparison
Differences
Differences
Similarities 39

40. What is Description? Text Structure Description Signal Words
A topic is described by listing characteristics, features, attributes, and examples.
for example
for instance
such as
is like
in addition
also
including
in particular 40

41. Description paragraphs
In this kind of paragraph, the author offers a main idea statement, and then supports that statement with several details

42. Descriptive paragraphs
The pond was a beautiful place to visit. The falling leaves, all different colors, decorated the surface of the water. At the edges of the pond, small wildflowers grew. The golden forest glowed faintly in the distance.

43. Description paragraphs
Main idea
The pond was a beautiful place to visit. The falling leaves, all different colors, decorated the surface of the water. At the edges of the pond, small wildflowers grew. The golden forest glowed faintly in the distance.

44. Description paragraphs
Main idea
The pond was a beautiful place to visit. The falling leaves, all different colors, decorated the surface of the water. At the edges of the pond, small wildflowers grew. The golden forest glowed faintly in the distance.
All of the other sentences explain why the main idea is true

45. Appendix 2
Description 45

46. Resources Emily Kissner
highmail.highlands.k12.fl.us/~deanc/textstructure.ppt