 This structure describes a series of events in numerical or chronological order that lead up to a conclusion.  Events can be separated by years or just a few seconds.

SEQUENCE Questions  How are the steps organized (chronologically or numerically)?  What is the time span of the events?  What do the events describe?  Do the events describe a process?

SEQUENCE Key Words FirstTodayNow SecondDateSince ThirdThenFinally NextLastTime WhileDuringFollowing AfterUntilPreviously When Soon

SEQUENCE FirstSecondThirdNextThenFinally

 The author describes several reasons why an event occurred or describes several effects from one cause, or the author describes a single cause/effect situation.

CAUSE/EFFECT Questions  What is the cause?  What is the effect?  Is there more than one cause and effect?  What is the result?  What is the reason the result happened?

CAUSE/EFFECT Key Words In order toSinceFor this reason ThereforeSo thatOn account of As a resultBeforeThe effect of ConsequentlyDue toReasons why AccordinglyBecause This led to

CAUSE/EFFECT CauseEffect 1Effect 2

 The author describes how two or more events, places, things, or ideas are alike and/or different.

COMPARE/CONTRAST Questions  What things are being compared (places, objects, events, or ideas)?  How are they alike?  How are they different?  What are the most important similarities or differences?

COMPARE/CONTRAST Key Words HoweverIn comparisonBoth DifferentOn the contraryYet AlthoughOn the other handBut SimilarlyJust likeAlso Either/orEven thoughToo UnlikeAs wellAlike Same asJust as

COMPARE/CONTRAST ApplesOranges

 The author describes the topic by listing characteristics, features, and examples.

DESCRIPTIVE Questions  What person, idea, or thing is being described?  Which detail seems to be the most important?  Can you tell how the author feels about what he or she is describing?

DESCRIPTIVE Key Words Such asCharacteristicsIncluding Is likeSteps involvedAcross Next toAppears to beAlong BesideFor instanceOn top of AboveFor exampleUnder BelowTo illustrateIn front of

DESCRIPTIVE See Smell Hear Taste Touch -----

 The author identifies a problem, gives possible solutions with possible results, and describes the solution that was finally chosen.

PROBLEM/SOLUTION Questions  What is the problem?  What caused the problem?  What are some possible solutions?  Who or what will work to solve the problem?

PROBLEM/SOLUTION Key Words ProblemSolutionSolve BecauseDifficultySince HopefulQuestionFuture So thatDilemmaNeed AnswerPossibilityWorry StruggleIf/thenThreat One reason for

PROBLEM/SOLUTION Solution Problem Solution Problem

COMPARE/CONTRAST Most states are divided into counties. A county contains towns and cities. It also contains the space in between them. However, the state of Louisiana is not divided into counties. Just like other states, it is divided into smaller parts, but the parts are parishes instead of counties.

COMPARE/CONTRAST Most states are divided into counties. A county contains towns and cities. It also contains the space in between them. However, the state of Louisiana is not divided into counties. Just like other states, it is divided into smaller parts, but the parts are parishes instead of counties.

PROBLEM/SOLUTION Newspaper printing presses run very fast. It would be easy to print all the papers at once, but printers worry there might be a mistake in the paper. It would be a waste to reprint them all. The printers avoid this problem by running “test” papers, which they check for mistakes.

PROBLEM/SOLUTION Newspaper printing presses run very fast. It would be easy to print all the papers at once, but printers worry there might be a mistake in the paper. It would be a waste to reprint them all. The printers avoid this problem by running “test” papers, which they check for mistakes.

DESCRIPTIVE The Florida worm lizard does not have legs or feet. It is about eight inches long and looks like a giant earthworm because it is pink. It doesn’t have eyes or ears, but it has a mouth that looks like other lizards’ mouths. Its body is covered with scales.

CAUSE/EFFECT The American West is home to “ghost towns.” These empty places once were bustling towns. They were built during the Gold Rush, when many people moved west to strike it rich. Most of them never found gold. As a result, they moved back east – so the towns became ghost towns.

CAUSE/EFFECT The American West is home to “ghost towns.” These empty places once were bustling towns. They were built during the Gold Rush, when many people moved west to strike it rich. Most of them never found gold. As a result, they moved back east – so the towns became ghost towns.

SEQUENCE To make butter, first you milk a cow. Then, you separate the cream from the milk. Next, you put the cream in a churner. You use the churner to mix the cream. After a long time, the cream starts to become solid. After mixing even longer, a lump of butter forms.

SEQUENCE To make butter, first you milk a cow. Then, you separate the cream from the milk. Next, you put the cream in a churner. You use the churner to mix the cream. After a long time, the cream starts to become solid. After mixing even longer, a lump of butter forms.