Text Structures

What is a text structure? “Text structure” refers to how a piece of text or writing is built or put together.

Authors… Structure their work differently for different types of texts. For example, authors of fiction use a different text structure than an author of non-fiction.

Non-Fiction Different Structures for Different Purposes Chronology Compare/Contrast Cause and Effect Description/Categorization Problem/Solution Position/Reason

Text Structure Review: Lesson 1 Objective: REVIEW 3 TEXT STRUCTURES and ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERNS FOR Chronology/Sequential Order Compare/Contrast Cause and Effect

Chronological/Sequential Order Purpose: Nonfiction: to inform Fiction: to entertain To show events in the order in which they occurred or to show steps in a process. Chronological: events Sequential: steps or process

Chronological Order Keywords first, next, later, then, and finally –can you think of any more? Even dates or time periods in history give a sense of time.

CHRONOLOGY/SEQUENCE/ ORDER – TIMELINE 1 2 3

OR A CYCLE/PROCESS Can you think of cycle or process? 1 2 3 4 5

For Example…

Compare/Contrast Comparisons – show how things are alike Contrast – shows how things are different Suppose an author wanted to explain how these two faces are similar and different. The author would need to use compare and contrast.

COMPARE/CONTRAST Venn diagrams allow you to all the information in one place.

For Example…

Cause/Effect Text Structure Purpose: to explain how and why things happen. How one event leads to another Why decisions are made. Cause/Effect Keywords cause, effect, as a result, consequently, and so.

Organizing Cause/Effect You may have one or more causes that create on huge effect which may in turn create one or more other effects as well.

For Example…

How could your organize the cause and effects of flooding? Draw your own causal chain using the information from the passage? Let’s go back to the passage.

Text structures we’ve learned so far Chronological Order Compare and Contrast Cause and Effect

Match the clue words! Compare/Contrast Cause/Effect Can you identify the text structure that these clue words indicate? on the other hand similarity Compare/Contrast Cause/Effect as a result Chronological Order after that Uncover the answers to see if you are right!

Problem/Solution Text Structure Purpose: to explain a problem, and then offer one or more solutions.

Problem/Solution Keywords Synonyms for problem: difficulty, struggle, uncertainty, worry, threat, and trouble Synonyms for solution: possibility, hope, bright spot, answer, and future

Organizing Problem Solution Steps to Solution #1 Steps to Solution #2 Steps to Solution #3

Another way… Problem Solution

For Example…

Position/Reason Author’s Purpose: to persuade/influence Gives reasons why an idea or point should or should not be supported. Article states someone’s position and gives reasons why they do or do not support something.

Organizing Position/Reason Position/Main Idea Reason/Details

What in this passage is a fact and what is an opinion What in this passage is a fact and what is an opinion? What argument is being made?

Sort out the Facts from the Opinions.

Last One… Description/Categorization IF the author wants you to know or describe how something looks, moves, works, etc he or she may use this type of text structure. Also used to show which things can be organized into LIKE categories or groups based on some identifying characteristic.

Last One… Description/Categorization Texts organized using this structure will list various types of things and their characteristics which set them apart from other things that have similar qualities. Organizational charts used to help sort out texts with a lot of information can be webs, venn diagrams and descriptive matrixes.

Text Structures Chronology Cause/Effect Problem/Solution Shows sequential order Steps in a process Order of events Chronology Describes a cause Shows resulting effects Cause/Effect States a problem Suggests a solution Problem/Solution States a position to support or not support an idea Gives reasons for position Position/Reason Lists items in a category Gives descriptions of each Description/ Categorization Shows how things are similar Shows how things are different Compare/Contrast

All Done!!!