What is text structure?

1. What is text structure? • Text structure refers to the internal organization of a text • As authors write a text to communicate an idea, they will use a structure that goes along with the idea (Meyer 1985)

2. What is text structure? • A nonfiction text can have one overall text structure, or several different text structures • For example, a page from a social studies textbook may be written in chronological order, but contain a paragraph that explains a cause and effect

3. What is text structure? • Highlights of compare and contrast

4. What is text structure? • Suppose an author wanted to show how hawks and owls compare • The author would help the reader to understand the similarities and differences by using words and phrases such as similarity, difference, on the other hand, also, and as well

5. What are the common text structures? • It’s important to understand that there is no “official” list of text structures • Different writers have different lists of text structures • Check your state standards for the exact terminology in your state

6. What are the common text structures? • Chronological order • Also known as time order, sequence, or temporal order • This structure is organized from one point in time to another

7. What are the common text structures? • Chronological order • Transition words such as first, next, later, and finally are included to help the reader understand how events relate to one another • Dates and times are also used

8. What are the common text structures? • Cause and effect • This text structure shows how one or more causes led to one or more effects • This text structure also has a strong time component, since causes come before effects

9. What are the common text structures? • Cause and effect • Transition words such as cause, effect, as a result, consequently, and because are used • Time order transitions are also used, which can lead to some confusion for students

10. What are the common text structures? • Cause and effect • Another complication is that many texts do not include just one cause leading to one effect—instead, there may be several causes and several effects

11. What are the common text structures? • Problem and solution • This text structure presents a problem, and shows how it can be (or has been) solved • This text structure can be confused with cause and effect

12. What are the common text structures? • Problem and solution • The key difference is that problem and solution always has a solution, while cause and effect does not • Transitions may include problem, solution, solve, effect, hopeful, and so forth

13. What are the common text structures? • Compare and contrast • This text structure shows how two or more ideas or items are similar or different • This text structure is also fairly easy for students to understand • The text may use a clustered approach, with details about one topic followed by details about the other • The text may also show an alternating approach, with the author going back between the two topics

14. What are the common text structures? • Compare and contrast • Transition words may include like, similar, unlike, on the other hand, also, and too • Compare and contrast paragraphs are often embedded in other text structures as an author needs to explain a similarity or difference

15. What are the common text structures? • Description • This text structure shows what an item or place is like • Transitions in this structure might include spatial words, such as next to, on top of, beside, and so forth

16. SequenceText structure is presented in order and goes step by step Think of a recipe or directions for a science lab. The key words are similar to chronological order. Key words First, next, last, finally, then

17. Lets practice a few • http://www.ereadingworksheets.com/text-structure-worksheets/text-structure-practice-1.htm