Organizational Text Structures Why the need for organizational text structures? To help the reader understand the information presented. Consider your purpose when recognizing a text structure

External Text Structures External text structures are found outside the main body of text. They include: Italics Bold Underlining Indentation Sidebars Pictures and graphics Headings and subheadings Footnotes

Internal Text Structures Internal text structure is how the main body of the text is organized. It will be organized a certain way depending on its purpose. There are 7 different internal structures: Cause and Effect Comparison and Contrast Enumeration/Listing Sequential or Chronological Concept/Definition Generalization Process

Sequential/Chronological It tells the order of facts, events, or concepts Signal words/phrases: Today * Next Meanwhile First Now Not long ago Finally Examples: timelines, records of history events

Comparison and Contrast Tells how facts, people, and events and concepts are similar and different Signal words/phrases: Similarly On the other hand However Yet In spite of

Cause and Effect Tells how fact, events, people, concepts happen or exist because of other facts Signal words/phrases: As a result of Consequently So that Because of Since Examples: history books, science books

Enumeration/Listing Tells a listing of facts and events in no special order Signal words/phrases: Also Another Several First Examples: grocery list, listing of examples

Concept/Definition Tells the explanation or description of a concept or topic by using synonyms and signal words Signal words/phrases: Refers to Thus In other words Described as Equals Example: textbooks, encyclopedias

Generalization A statement about a whole group. Could be too broad and not based on fact. Often the word "all" will make a generalization untrue ."All trees lose their leaves in the fall.” Signal words/phrases: Always In fact Examples: editorials, advertising

Process Tells the procedure or process for how something is done/created Signal words/phrases: Begins with In order to Examples: cookbooks, how-to books, science textbooks