Text Structures

1. Text Structures Informational. Sequence. Problem/Solution. Cause/Effect. Compare/Contrast.

2. What is text structure? • Text structure is how ideas and supporting details are organized within a text. • There are 5 main text structures used in non-fiction writing. They are: • Informational • Sequence • Problem/Solution • Cause/Effect • Compare/Contrast

3. Why should I care? • Non-fiction text is often organized in a specific structure to help the reader understand what they are reading. Once we understand the structure, we can gain a clearer understanding of the concept. • You will read non-fictional text every single day of your life. In order to understand what we read, we need to determine what information is being presented. • As writers, we need our audience to grasp the concepts we write about. Understanding text structures helps writers write clearly and effectively.

4. Let’s get started! • Today we are going to make a foldable to remember all of the information we need to understand text structure. • You will need the following items on your desk: • Blank sheet of paper • Markers or colored pencils (Optional. No more than 2 colors) • A pen or pencil • Focus I will show pictures of what we will use these items for so please stay focused on the screen and follow the instructions that follow.

5. STEP 1: Fold paper thirds Draw lines in each fold to create three sections. Repeat this step on the back of your paper. You should have 6 sections total!

6. Step 2: Add titles to the sections 1. TEXT STRUCTURE 2. SIGNAL WORDS AND QUESTIONS 3. GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS

7. Step 3: Add titles to back sections 4. EXAMPLE 5. WRITE NAME AND PERIOD 6. DEFINITION

8. Step 4: Draw 4 horizontal lines to create a grid. Repeat on back.

9. Step 5: Divide the middle column in half. Label the left column WORDS and the right column QUESTIONS

10. Step 6: Label each text structure

11. Text Structure Section Order • Informational • Sequence • Problem/Solution • Cause/Effect • Compare/Contrast

12. It should look like this…

13. TIME TO START. • We will fill out the rest of your foldable throughout the remainder of this presentation. Be alert. Pay attention and complete the assignment.

14. Informational

15. INFORMATIONAL: Definition • A topic, idea, person, place, or thing is described by listing features, characteristics or examples without the use of bias.

16. What are SIGNAL WORDS? In academic writing and speaking, a writer may use specific words or phrases that guide the readers to the determined idea. These are called signal words. While reading a piece of non-fictional text, look for the signal words to help you determine which text structure is being used by the author.

17. INFORMATIONAL: Signal words • For example • For instance • Such as • To illustrate • In addition • Also • To begin with

18. What are SIGNAL QUESTIONS? Signal questions are used to help you while you are reading a piece of non-fictional text understand which text structure is being used. While you are reading, ask yourself these questions. If you can answer the questions, you will be able to understand which structure is being used. They are also helpful to use when writing a summary. If you read an informational text structure, be sure to answer the informational signal questions in your summary to ensure you have all the information needed.

19. INFORMATIONAL: Signal Questions • Who or what is being described? • How is it being described? • What do I need to remember?

20. INFORMATIONAL: Graphic Organizer When writing informational text, use a WEB to organize your thoughts.

21. Sequence

22. SEQUENCE: Definition Describes items or events in order or tells the steps to follow to do or make something.

23. SEQUENCE: Signal Words • Until • Before/After • Not long after… • Now…Then • Finally • Lastly • First/Second/Third • On (date) • Meanwhile

24. SEQUENCE: Signal Questions • What items/events/steps are listed? • Do they have to follow an order? • Do they always happen in this order?

25. SEQUENCE: Graphic Organizer When writing with the sequence text structure, use a SEQUENCE TRAIN to organize your thoughts.

26. Problem/Solution

27. PROBLEM/SOLUTION: Definition Tells about a problem (and sometimes says why there is a problem) then gives one or more possible solution(s).

28. PROBLEM/SOLUTION: Signal Words • Question is… • To solve this... • One answer could be... • One reason may be... • The issue is... • It’s recommended

29. PROBLEM/SOLUTION: Signal Questions • What’s wrong? • Why did it happen? • How might/did it get solved?

30. PROBLEM/SOLUTION: Graphic Organizer When writing according to the problem/solution structure, organize your thoughts with a PUZZLE PIECE graphic organizer.

31. Cause/Effect

32. CAUSE/EFFECT: Definition Cause is WHY something happened. Effect is WHAT happened. Sometimes effects will be presented first. Other times, causes are presented first.

33. CAUSE/EFFECT: Signal Words • So • Because • Since • Therefore • If…Then • As a result • Consequently • For this reason

34. CAUSE/EFFECT: Signal Questions • What happened? • Why did it happen? • What caused the problem?

35. NOTICE THE SIMILIARITIES! • What’s the difference between PROBLEM/SOLUTION and CAUSE/EFFECT? • PROBLEM/SOLUTION recognizes the problem then comes up with possible solutions. *Focused on progress* • CAUSE/EFFECT recognizes the problem then studies the history of the issue. *Focuses on the history of the problem*

36. CAUSE/EFFECT: Graphic Organizer Organize your thoughts while writing cause/effect by using a FLOW CHART graphic organizer.

37. Compare/Contrast

38. COMPARE/CONTRAST: Definition Shows how two or more things are alike and/or how they are different.

39. COMPARE/CONTRAST: Signal Words • Same as/Similar • Different/Differs • As well as • Alike • Not only…but also • On the other hand • As opposed to

40. COMPARE/CONTRAST: Signal Questions • What is being compared? • How are they similar? • How are they different?

41. COMPARE/CONTRAST: Graphic Organizer When comparing and contrasting ideas, use a VENN DIAGRAM to organize your thoughts.

42. EXAMPLES • As a table, brainstorm some examples of each text structure. Write down your ideas in the “Examples” column on your foldable. For example, which text structure was used to create this slideshow? • Informational? • Sequence? • Problem/Solution? • Cause/Effect? • Compare/Contrast? HOW DO YOU KNOW??

43. Reading PRACTICE! • Take your foldable and your assigned group with you. We are going on a TEXT STRUCTURE HUNT. • Around the room you will find examples of each text structure. As a group, decide which text structure is being used, based off of the information that you have collected. • Don’t write anything down on your foldable, just use it as a resource. • One person will take notes by deciding which text structure matches each example.

44. ANSWERS • ORANGE: Problem/Solution • BLUE: Informational • GREEN: Cause/Effect • PURPLE: Sequence • PINK: Compare/Contrast

45. Writing PRACTICE • The following activity is to be done on a piece of paper from your own notebook or use a piece of my scratch paper. PUT YOUR NAME ON IT because we are turning this in today. • Add on to the following sentence using each text structure format. The first day of school is always an interesting day.