1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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