1. Text Structures!!
EOC Review

2. Chronological Order (or sequential order)
Putting events or steps in the order in which they occur … time related
Signal words: first, next, then, last, finally
Example: When I was young, I wanted to become a ninja. At the age of six, I convinced my parents to enroll me in a martial arts class. After two years, I was good enough to compete in sparring competitions. When I was a teenager though, I realized that being a ninja was extremely dangerous and probably not the best of career choices. Finally, I decided to go to college and become an English teacher instead.

3. Order of Importance Ranking details from most important to least
important or vice versa.
Signal words: more/less, most /least, worse/worst, better/best
Example: Here are the three worst things that you can do on a date.  First, you could tell jokes that aren’t funny and laugh really hard to yourself.  This will make you look bad.  Worse though, you could offend your date.  One bad “joke” may cause your date to lash out at you, hence ruining the engagement.  But the worst thing that you can do is to appear slovenly.  By not showering and properly grooming, you may repulse your date, and this is the worst thing that you can do.

4. Compare & Contrast
Points out similarities & differences in two or more topics.
Example: The difference between an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar is somewhat a no-brainer. Apparently, electric guitars will require a sound amplifier to project the sound effectively. Acoustic guitars can stand alone, and make beautiful acoustics, even without some electronic device to amplify it. In terms of appearance, acoustic guitars always have a round hole in their faces. It is called a sound hole; it helps with the sound modulation, increasing the sound volume of the vibrating string. The acoustic guitar may often look bulkier than most electric guitars, but it is hollow and lighter. The hollowness, along with the sound hole, is part of the design to produce acoustics.

5. Signal words found in a compare/contrast paragraph
Similarities
Differences
Is similar to
On the other hand
Both
however
also
but
Too
yet
As well as
In contrast
Each of
while
like
unlike

6. Cause & Effect Shows how events happen as a result of other events.
Example: The dodo bird used to roam in large flocks across America.  Interestingly, the dodo wasn’t startled by gun shot.  Because of this, frontiersmen would kill entire flocks in one sitting.  Unable to sustain these attacks, the dodo was hunted to extinction.

7. Signal words for Cause & Effect
Here are some common conjunctions that can be used to express cause and effect:
Other signal words: reason, causes, results
due to
consequently
for this reason so
Since
as a result
because of
because
therefore

8. Problem & Solution
The writer identifies a problem and suggests possible solutions.
Signal words: Why do? How do? problem, solution, it is possible that.
Example: It has been a growing problem in our educational system that schools cannot afford to update their computer systems. One possible solution would be to allow students to bring their own technology, such as laptops, tablets, or smart phones, to use in the classrooms to take notes, write papers, and use the internet.

9. Proposition and support
A statement is made proposing something and is supported by facts or experts. You can recognize these when everything in a paragraph supports one sentence, usually with statistics or expert opinions.
Signal words: proves, supports, explains
Example: Our business would benefit by offering an in-house gym and recreation center. In recent studies, experts found that workers who were able to take a break and get some exercise during the day increased their work output by 75% in the afternoon hours. These workers were more alert, worked more constructively and were more content with their jobs than workers who did not have any physical activity during the day.