Mini Lesson: Comparing Text Structure Similar Topic He Said, She Said

Connection So far, we have learned that authors present information in various text structures. The way a text is structured helps us to better understand the information being presented. Today we will read two articles that have a common topic but different text structures. We will identify the different text structures used for each article and note evidence from the text that supports our conclusions.

Teaching Before we begin reading today, let’s review the different types of text structures. (chronology, cause/effect, problem/solution, comparison, description). We will read aloud the article, Food Web Woes by Emily Sohen. As I read, think about what type of text structure the author used to organize the ideas presented.

Partner Up With a partner, read the article, Manatees: What is the problem?. As you read, think about what type of text structure the author used to organize the ideas presented. Discuss your responses and support your thinking with evidence from the text. Use the Text Structure Organizer Chart for recording evidences as well as the type of text structure the author uses.

What did you think? The text structure is problem and solution. Some acceptable evidences include: the manatee is endangered because of habitat loss, human impact, slow reproductively, disease, and pollution. The author gives solutions within the article on how humans can help to save the manatee.

Link The authors of both articles are writing about a common topic but the way the information is presented in each article is different. As you read expository texts on a common topic, think about the structure of the text. How did the author organize the information? What was the author’s purpose for doing so? What did he/she want me to learn or understand?