1. What is a TEXT STRUCTURE?
A “structure” is a building or framework.
“Text structure” refers to how a piece of text is built.

2. What is a TEXT STRUCTURE?
Writers use different structures to build their ideas.
Each text structure communicates ideas in a different way.
Text structure is THE WAY A TEXT IS ORGANIZED.

3. Have you heard of a TEXT FEATURE?
Text STRUCTURE and text FEATURES are two different things.
A text FEATURE is any element existing independently of a main text that is intended to enhance readers' experiences with the text. You would see these features when you survey the text.
These include visual aids (pictures, graphs, charts, maps), table of contents, headings, footnotes, etc.

4. But more importantly…WHY do we need to use text structures?
COMPREHENSION!
Text structure helps give readers a specific purpose for reading.
Different kinds of texts are organized differently because they are to be read differently. We don’t read a letter the same way we read an instruction manual.
Our purpose for reading directly affects our comprehension. The text structure is a signal to our brain to read the text in a certain way.

5. But more importantly…WHY do we need to use text structures?
It helps readers more quickly access and understand the text by figuring out what is important and what isn’t.
Skilled readers can quickly locate information, where students who don’t know how to use text structure often utilize inefficient search strategies.