Understanding Text

Structures

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What is a text structure?
• A “structure” is a building
or framework

• “Text structure” refers to

how a piece of text is built

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 What is a text structure?
• Builders can use different
kinds of structures to build
different things
• A skyscraper, for example,
is a different kind of
structure from a house

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What is a text structure?
• Writers use different
structures to build their
ideas
• Each text structure
communicates ideas in a
different way

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 Chronological order
• Authors use chronological
order to explain how things
happen in order
• Chronological order is also
called sequence or time
order

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Chronological order
• You will know that you are
reading a text in
chronological order because
you will see words like
first, next, later, then, and
finally

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 Chronological order
• You will often see chronological order in directions:
Have you ever made macaroni and cheese? It’s simple!
First, boil some water and make some macaroni. Then,
make your cheese sauce. After the cheese sauce is ready,
mix it with the macaroni. Bake the entire thing in the oven.
Finally, it’s time to eat!

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 Chronological order
• You will often see chronological order in directions:
Have you ever made macaroni and cheese? It’s simple!
First, boil some water and make some macaroni. Then,
make your cheese sauce. After the cheese sauce is ready,
mix it with the macaroni. Bake the entire thing in the oven.
Finally, it’s time to eat!

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Which paragraph is in chronological
order?
Pennsylvania has many Through the ages,
historic sites. You can visit Pennsylvania has seen
Revolutionary war sites, like many interesting events.
Valley Forge. You can also The state was founded in
1681 by William Penn.
visit important locations Later, Pennsylvania was the
from the Civil War, like site of important
Gettysburg. Finally, you can Revolutionary War battles.
also see the site of the first After that, Pennsylvania
oil well in Titusville. was home to new factories
Pennsylvania has many neat during the Industrial
places to visit! Revolution. Today,
Pennsylvania continues to
make history.
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Which paragraph is in chronological
order?
Through the ages,
Pennsylvania has seen
This is the many interesting events.
paragraph in The state was founded in
chronological 1681 by William Penn.
Later, Pennsylvania was the
order. Can you site of important
find the clue Revolutionary War battles.
words that show After that, Pennsylvania
this order? was home to new factories
during the Industrial
Revolution. Today,
Pennsylvania continues to
make history.
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Which paragraph is in chronological
order?
Through the ages,
Pennsylvania has seen
This is the many interesting events.
paragraph in The state was founded in
chronological 1681 by William Penn.
Later, Pennsylvania was the
order. Can you site of important
find the clue Revolutionary War battles.
words that show After that, Pennsylvania
this order? was home to new factories
during the Industrial
Revolution. Today,
Pennsylvania continues to
make history.
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 Think about it!
• What is a structure?
• What does chronological order
mean?
• What are some clue words that
show chronological order?

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Another text structure
• But what if an author
doesn’t want to show how
something happened in
sequence?
• The author would need to
use another text structure!

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Another text structure
• Suppose an author
wanted to explain how
these two birds are
similar and different
• Chronological order
wouldn’t work---there
is no order of events
• The author would
need to use compare
and contrast
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Another text structure
The cardinal and the cedar
waxwing are two common birds.
Both have crests on their heads.
Both are common at birdfeeders.
But the birds have some
differences. The male cardinal is a
bright red, while the waxwing is
brown. The cedar waxwing often
migrates from place to place. On
the other hand, the cardinal stays
in one place year after year.
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Compare and contrast clue words

When authors use the

text structure of compare
and contrast, they often
use special clue words to
show this text structure.

Can you find the clue

words in the paragraph?
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Can you find the clue words?
The cardinal and the cedar
waxwing are two common birds.
Both have crests on their heads.
Both are common at birdfeeders.
But the birds have some
differences. The male cardinal is a
bright red, while the waxwing is
brown. The cedar waxwing often
migrates from place to place. On
the other hand, the cardinal stays
in one place year after year.
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Here they are!
The cardinal and the cedar
waxwing are two common birds.
Both have crests on their heads.
Both are common at birdfeeders.
But the birds have some
differences. The male cardinal is a
bright red, while the waxwing is
brown. The cedar waxwing often
migrates from place to place. On
the other hand, the cardinal stays
in one place year after year.
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Compare and contrast graphic organizer

• To organize details from a

paragraph in compare and
contrast, use a Venn
diagram

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 Review
• Can you explain the difference between
chronological order and compare and contrast?
• How can clue words help you as a reader?

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 Another text structure
• Sometimes, a writer will want to explain
how one event leads to another
• This kind of text structure is called cause
and effect

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Cause and effect clue words
• When authors
write paragraphs
to show causes and
effects, they use
words like cause,
effect, as a result,
consequently, and
so
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 Can you find the clue words?
The night’s snowstorm had many effects. People
were out shoveling snow from their sidewalks. The
power lines were draped with ice. Snow plows drove
down every street. Children were the happiest of
all. The unexpected snow caused school to be
cancelled!

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 Can you find the clue words?
The night’s snowstorm had many effects. People
were out shoveling snow from their sidewalks. The
power lines were draped with ice. Snow plows drove
down every street. Children were the happiest of
all. The unexpected snow caused school to be
cancelled!

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 More with cause and effect
Baby painted turtles spend all winter in
their nests. They have special chemicals in
their blood that can keep their blood from
freezing. As a result, baby painted turtles
can survive freezing temperatures!

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 More with cause and effect
Baby painted turtles spend all winter in
their nests. They have special chemicals in
their blood that can keep their blood from
freezing. As a result, baby painted turtles
can survive freezing temperatures!

This is the
cause
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 More with cause and effect
Baby painted turtles spend all winter in
their nests. They have special chemicals in
their blood that can keep their blood from
freezing. As a result, baby painted turtles
can survive freezing temperatures!
This is the
effect

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 Review
• Which text structure tells about how things are similar and
different?
• Compare and contrast
• Which text structure explains how things happen in time
order?
• Chronological order

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Another kind of text structure

• Sometimes, an author will want

to explain a problem, and then
show one or more solutions
• This kind of text structure is
called problem and solution

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 An example of problem and solution
Park School had a
terrible problem. Every
day at recess, students
would argue over the
slides. Teachers had to
spend time every day
taking care of the
arguments. Finally, one
teacher came up with a
great solution. They
bought another set of
slides that everyone could
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enjoy.
 An example of problem and solution

Park School had a terrible problem.

Every day at recess, students would
argue over the slides. Teachers had
• Can you find the
to spend time every day taking care problem and the
of the arguments. Finally, one solution in this
teacher came up with a great paragraph?
solution. They bought another set of
slides that everyone could enjoy.

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 An example of problem and solution

Park School had a terrible problem.

Every day at recess, students would
argue over the slides. Teachers had
Here is the
to spend time every day taking care problem
of the arguments. Finally, one
teacher came up with a great
solution. They bought another set of
slides that everyone could enjoy.

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 An example of problem and solution

Park School had a terrible problem.

Every day at recess, students would
argue over the slides. Teachers had
Here is the
to spend time every day taking care problem
of the arguments. Finally, one
teacher came up with a great
solution. They bought another set of
slides that everyone could enjoy. Here is the
solution

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 Of course, problem and solution is not always so
simple
• Often, authors will signal
problem and solution structure
with clue words like problem
and solution, just like in the last
paragraph
• Sometimes, authors will use
related words

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 Of course, problem and solution is not always so
simple
• Synonyms for problem include
difficulty, struggle, uncertainty,
worry, threat, and trouble
• Synonyms for solution include
possibility, hope, bright spot,
answer, and future

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A more difficult problem and solution paragraph

The Chesapeake Bay faces an

uncertain future. Issues such as
pesticides, too many nutrients,
and habitat loss all threaten the
Bay’s water quality and animal
life. However, scientists are
hopeful that the future may be
brighter. If everyone in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed
works together, solutions may be
found.
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A more difficult problem and solution paragraph

The Chesapeake Bay faces an

uncertain future. Issues such as
What is the pesticides, too many nutrients,
and habitat loss all threaten the
problem? Bay’s water quality and animal
life. However, scientists are
What is the hopeful that the future may be
brighter. If everyone in the
solution? Chesapeake Bay watershed
works together, solutions may be
found.
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A more difficult problem and solution paragraph

The Chesapeake Bay faces an

uncertain future. Issues such as
Problem pesticides, too many nutrients,
and habitat loss all threaten the
Bay’s water quality and animal
life. However, scientists are
hopeful that the future may be
brighter. If everyone in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed
Solution works together, solutions may be
found.
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Text structures we’ve learned so far

• Chronological order
• Compare and contrast
• Cause and effect
• Problem and solution

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 Match the clue words!
Can you figure out the text structure that these clue
words point to?

however, on the other

hand, similarity, like,
unlike
Compare and
contrast

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 Match the clue words!
Can you figure out the text structure that these clue
words point to?

as a result,
consequently, Cause and effect
therefore, so, cause,
effect

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 Match the clue words!
Can you figure out the text structure that these clue
words point to?

problem, solution,
threat, difficulty, hope,
answer, possibility

Problem and
solution
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Are there any other text
structures?
Most paragraphs that we write in
school can be called main idea,
description, or statement and support
paragraphs

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Main idea paragraphs
• In this kind of paragraph, the
author offers a main idea
statement, and then supports
that statement with several
details

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Main idea paragraphs
The pond was a beautiful
place to visit. The falling
leaves, all different colors,
decorated the surface of the
water. At the edges of the
pond, small wildflowers grew.
The golden forest glowed
faintly in the distance.

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Main idea paragraphs
Main idea

The pond was a beautiful

place to visit. The falling
leaves, all different colors,
decorated the surface of the
water. At the edges of the
pond, small wildflowers grew.
The golden forest glowed
faintly in the distance.
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 Main idea paragraphs
Main idea

The pond was a beautiful

place to visit. The falling
leaves, all different colors,
decorated the surface of the
water. At the edges of the
pond, small wildflowers grew.
All of the other sentences The golden forest glowed
explain why the main faintly in the distance.
idea is true www.paelv.edu.ar
 Main idea paragraphs
• Clue words in these paragraphs
may include:

• One reason, another reason,

and for example

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