Text Structures [PDF]

TEXT STRUCTURES

Text structures refer to the way authors organize information in text. Recognizing the

underlying structure of texts can help students focus attention on key concepts and

relationships, anticipate what is to come, and monitor their comprehension as they read.

TEXT STRUCTURE

DEFINITION

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

TRANSITIONS

QUESTIONS

Narrative

Narrates an

event/story with

characters,

setting, conflict,

point of view, and

plot

• Descriptive language

• Who is the narrative

about?

• Where is it set?

• What is the conflict?

• Who is telling the

narrative?

• What is happening?

Chronological,

Process, or

Sequence

Present ideas or

events in the

order in

which they

happen

• First, second, third…

• later

• next

• before

• then

• finally

• after/later

• when

• since

• now/previously

• actual use of dates

• What items, events, or

steps are listed?

• Do they have to/always

happen in this order?

• What sequence of

events is being

described?

• What are the major

incidents that occur?

• How is this structure

revealed in the text?

Cause and

Effect

Provide

explanations

or reasons for

phenomena

• if/then

• reasons why

• as a result

• therefore

• because

• consequently

• since

• so that

• for

• due to

• What happened?

• Why did it happen?

• What caused it to

happen?

Problem/

Solution

Identify problems

and pose

solutions

• problem is

• dilemma is

• if/then

• because

• so that

• question/answer

• puzzle is solved

• What is the problem?

• Why is this a problem?

• Is anything being done to

try to solve the problem?

• What can be done to

solve the problem?

Compare and

Contrast

Discuss two

ideas, events, or

phenomena,

showing how

they

are different and

how they are

similar

 However/yet

• nevertheless

• on the other hand

• but/where as

• similarly

• although

• also/likewise

• in contrast/comparison

• different

• either/or

• in the same way/just as

 What items are being

compared?

 In what ways are they

similar? Different?

 What conclusion does

the author reach about

these items?

 What conclusion does

the author reach about

these items?

Definition or

Description

Describes a topic

by listing

characteristics,

features,

attributes, and

examples

 for example

 characteristics

 for instance

 such as

 including

 to illustrate

 What are the most

important

characteristics?

 How is it being described

(what does it look like,

how does it work, etc.)?

 What is important to

remember about it?