1. Teaching Text Structure
October 2009
Pearl River County School District
S. Baudoin

2. Sequential Order
Texts that follow this structure tell the order in which steps in a process or series of events occur.
Questions to Consider
What happened?
What is the sequence of events?
What are the substages?
Graphic Organizers
Flow Map
Multi-flow Map
Timeline

3. Sequential Order Signal Words
after
afterward
as soon as
before
during
finally
first
following
immediately
initally
later
meanwhile
next
not long after
now
on (date)
preceding
second
soon
then
third
today
until
when

4. Compare and Contrast
Texts that follow this structure tell about the differences and similarities of two or more objects, places, events or ideas by grouping their traits for comparison.
Questions to Consider
What are the similar and different qualities of these things?
What qualities of each thing correspond to one another? In what way?
Graphic Organizers
Double Bubble Map
Venn Diagram

5. Compare and Contrast Signal Words
although
as well as
as opposed to
both
but
compared with
different from
either...or
even though
however
instead of
in common
on the other hand
otherwise
similar to
similarly
still
yet

6. Description
This structure resembles an outline. Each section opens with its main idea, then elaborates on it, sometimes dividing the elaboration into subsections.
Questions to Consider
What are you describing?
What are its qualities?
Graphic Organizers
Bubble Map

7. Description Signal Words
above
across
along
appears to be
as in
behind
below
beside
between
down
in back of
in front of
looks like
near
on top of
onto
outside
over
such as
to the right/left
under

8. Problem-Solution
The writer presents a problem then expounds upon possible solutions for that problem.
Questions to Consider
What is the problem?
What are the possible solutions?
Which solution is best?
How will you implement this solution?
Graphic Organizers
Circle Map
Flow Map
Multi-flow Map

9. Problem-Solution Signal Words
the question is
one answer is
one reason for
recommendations include
because
cause
since
therefore
consequently
as a result of
this let to co
so that
nevertheless
accordingly
if then
thus

10. Cause and Effect
In texts that follow this structure, the reader is told the result of an event or occurrence and the reasons it happened.
Questions to Consider
What are the causes and effects of this event?
What might happen next?
Graphic Organizers
Multi-flow Map

11. Cause and Effect Signal Words
accordingly
as a result of
because
begins with
consequently
effects of
finally
first
for this reason
how to
how
if...then
in order to
is caused by
leads/led to
may be due to
next
so that
steps involved
therefore
thus
when...then

12. Examples of Text Structure
Description Example: "The crocodile is the master of deception in the water. It stalks its prey and then swiftly closes in for the kill.“
Problem/Solution Example: "One problem to resolve in crocodile watching is transportation. How can an observer get close enough to watch without scaring it away or being attacked?“
Sequential Order Example: "Archaeologists have helped us to understand that the evolution of the crocodile began with ...”

13. More Examples
Comparison/Contrast Example: "The power of the crocodile is like that of a monstrous machine. With one lunge it can destroy its prey and protect the kill from other predators.“
Cause/Effect Example: "We observed the crocodile as it stalked a raccoon moving through the moonlight toward the edge of the water. As a result of a noise we made, the raccoon bolted...“
Directions Example: "When observing a crocodile, first you must...”

14. How to Determine Text Structure
Understand the idea that texts have a text structure. Texts (even the text in their science and social studies textbooks) have different organizational patterns. These organizational patters are called text structures.
Introduce common text structures. Explain that text structures can often be identified by certain signal words.

15. How to Determine Text Structure
Locate sample paragraphs or key passages.
Make an outline of the text to find how the text is structured.
Examine topic sentences that clue the reader to a specific structure. Look for the signal words that are associated with each text structure.
Highlight all the signal words in the text.