Identify text structures
key notes :
What is a Text Structure?
- Text structure is how the author organizes information in a text.
- Knowing the structure helps readers understand and remember what they read.
Common Types of Text Structures:
| Structure Type | Description | Signal Words |
|---|---|---|
| Cause and Effect | Explains why something happened and what happened as a result. | because, so, since, as a result, therefore |
| Compare and Contrast | Shows how two or more things are alike or different. | like, unlike, both, however, instead, on the other hand |
| Problem and Solution | States a problem and then offers ways to solve it. | problem, solution, solve, issue, answer |
| Sequence / Chronological Order | Presents events in order or steps in a process. | first, next, then, finally, before, after |
| Description | Gives details about a topic using sensory or factual information. | for example, such as, including, features, characteristics |
Why It’s Important:
- Helps with comprehension and summarizing texts.
- Assists in finding the main idea and details.
- Makes writing more organized and clear.
How to Identify the Structure:
- Look for signal words or phrases.
- Think about the author’s purpose: Is it to describe? Compare? Explain a problem?
- Ask: “What is the author doing in this paragraph?”
Learn with an example
🔔 Read the text.
The hydrangea is an unusual plant: you can change the colour of its flowers! This is because, often, the flowers’ colour is related to the amount of aluminium they get from the soil. If you want your pink hydrangea to turn blue, just add aluminium sulfate to the soil. More aluminium leads to blue flowers. If you want to change blue flowers to pink, add dolomitic lime. It causes the soil to become less acidic. It’s harder for hydrangeas to take in aluminium from less acidic soil. So, your flowers will be pink.
Which text structure does the text use?
- sequential
- cause-effect
The text uses a cause-effect structure to show how to make hydrangea flowers change colour.
| Cause | Effect |
| hydrangea flower colour is related to aluminium in soil | you can change the colour of hydrangea flowers |
| more aluminium in the soil | flowers are blue |
| add dolomitic lime to the soil | the soil becomes less acidic |
| hydrangeas take in less aluminium from less acidic soil | flowers are pink |
In the text, certain words and phrases help to organise ideas in a cause-effect structure. Notice the words because, causes and so, as well as the phrase leads to:
The hydrangea is an unusual plant: you can change the colour of its flowers! This is because, often, the flowers’ colour is related to the amount of aluminium they get from the soil. If you want your pink hydrangea to turn blue, just add aluminium sulfate to the soil. More aluminium leads to blue flowers. If you want to change blue flowers to pink, add dolomitic lime. It causes the soil to become less acidic. It’s harder for hydrangeas to take in aluminium from less acidic soil. So, your flowers will be pink.
🔔 Read the text.
Mount Tambora is a volcano in Indonesia. Due to an enormous eruption in 1815, a huge amount of dust was sent into the air. The dust was incredibly thick, so it actually blocked the light from the sun. This led to several years of colder, rainier weather in the Northern Hemisphere. Crops died in China and Ireland because of the cold and rain. The cold also made crops freeze in the fields of the northeastern United States.
Which text structure does the text use?
- compare-contrast
- cause-effect
The text uses a cause-effect structure to show the effects of the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora.
| Cause | Effect |
| eruption of Mount Tambora | huge amount of dust in the air |
| thick dust in the air | dust blocked the sun |
| sun blocked by dust | weather unusually cold and rainy |
| unusual cold and rain | crops froze in fields |
In the text, certain words and phrases help to organise ideas in a cause-effect structure. Notice the phrases due to, led to and because of, as well as the words so and made:
Mount Tambora is a volcano in Indonesia. Due to an enormous eruption in 1815, a huge amount of dust was sent into the air. The dust was incredibly thick, so it actually blocked the light from the sun. This led to several years of colder, rainier weather in the Northern Hemisphere. Crops died in China and Ireland because of the cold and rain. The cold also made crops freeze in the fields of the northeastern United States.
🔔 Read the text.
People have lived in the southwestern part of the United States for many thousands of years. The Navajo and the Zuni are both important Native American tribes in this area. They have things in common, such as their tradition of farming. But there are important differences, too, including language. The Navajo language comes from the Athabascan language family. It is related to native languages spoken in Alaska and Canada. However, the Zuni language is not related to any other known language.
Which text structure does the text use?
- cause-effect
- compare-contrast
The text uses a compare-contrast structure to show how the Navajo and Zuni are alike and different.
| Navajo | Zuni |
| important tribe in Southwest | important tribe in Southwest |
| tradition of farming | tradition of farming |
| language related to native languages of Alaska and Canada | language not related to any others |
In the text, certain words and phrases help to organise ideas in a compare-contrast structure. Notice the words both, differences and however, as well as the phrase in common:
People have lived in the southwestern part of the United States for many thousands of years. The Navajo and the Zuni are both important Native American tribes in this area. They have things in common, such as their tradition of farming. But there are important differences, too, including language. The Navajo language comes from the Athabascan language family. It is related to native languages spoken in Alaska and Canada. However, the Zuni language is not related to any other known language.
let’s practice!
Read the text.
Khodr Farhat is a man on a mission. When he eats out at a restaurant, he faces an issue that most people don’t. Khodr can’t see well enough to read the menu. He usually has friends read menus aloud to him. However, this strategy doesn’t let him take his time with the menu or dine independently. So, he has worked with restaurants to create menus in braille. Braille is a system of writing that uses raised dots. Braille menus allow many customers who are blind to read their own menus.