Posters, Graphic

Organizers, and Task

Cards for Analyzing
and Writing
Informational Text
Thank you for purchasing this Expository Text Structure resource!
It is designed to guide students as they analyze text and determine
what structure the author is using. It will also aid them in their own
writing of information text.

This includes full-color posters in both full and half-page sizes, black
and white graphic organizers for student use, task cards, recording
sheets, and answer key.

The posters will support instruction and are also great visuals for
student to refer to while working. I suggest using them as you model
how the text fits into the correct organizer. Students can then use
the black and white versions for their own text analysis or writing.

There are six different task cards, one for each type of structure.
Each card includes a passage about birds. (This helps demonstrate
that the topic does not determine structure.) Students will study
each passage to figure out what structure is being used. These work
well for an independent literacy center. The graphic organizers can be
paired with the task cards to expand the activity. Students can
record information from each passage on the appropriate organizer.
Half-Page Posters
 an event and the reason it happened
OR
an event and the result that followed

cause effect

a bad situation and what is done to fix it

PROBLEM

SOLUTION
to show how two or more things are alike

to show how two things are different

to tell how things happen in time order

to tell the characteristics of something

Full-Page Posters
© Copyright 2014 J. Enslin All rights reserved. Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Fishyrobb
© Copyright 2014 J. Enslin All rights reserved. Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Fishyrobb
© Copyright 2014 J. Enslin All rights reserved. Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Fishyrobb
© Copyright 2014 J. Enslin All rights reserved. Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Fishyrobb
© Copyright 2014 J. Enslin All rights reserved. Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Fishyrobb
© Copyright 2014 J. Enslin All rights reserved. Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Fishyrobb
 Black & White
Graphic Organizers
(for student use)
 cause effect

Problem

Solution
The following task cards are written to give your students practice identifying which text
structure is being used. The cards all have a similar topic (birds), but the structure is
different. There are several ways to use these cards:

Independent Center - Students read each card, determine which text structure was used,
and record their answer on the recording sheet.

Write to Text - Read each card and use the information provided to complete the
correct graphic organizer. Then, write an explanation of which text structure was used.
Students would give evidence from the text to support their answer.

Test Preparation - These cards provide a quick and easy way to prepare for testing.
Read each card aloud or project for student viewing. Discuss and decide which text
structure is being used.

© Copyright 2014 J. Enslin All rights reserved. Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Fishyrobb
The Florida Everglades is home to many Did you know that not all penguins live
kinds of birds including the wood stork in Antarctica? The Blue Penguin lives in
and the great blue heron. Both of these Australia and New Zealand. It is the
birds are waders, meaning they spend smallest species of penguin and grows
much of their time standing in water. They to be about 13 inches tall. The name
both have long beaks ideal for Blue Penguin comes from the
catching fish. These birds bluish color of its feathers. Like
prefer to nest close to their other penguins, it is a great
natural wetland habitats. 1 swimmer and eats mostly fish. 2

The California condor is in danger of Migration is the seasonal movement from

dying out. In 1980, there were only 25 one area to another by many species of
of these birds left in the wild. A special birds. As the weather cools and food
breeding program was started and now becomes harder to find, the birds fly
there are about 150. Laws to protect south. They continue until they find an
their habitat and stop people area with plentiful food. Once
from hunting these birds will spring arrives, the birds return
hopefully help their numbers to their northern homes again.
continue to grow. 3 This is the migratory cycle. 4
 Owls are birds of prey which means they Have you ever seen a hummingbird? Do
eat other animals including insects, fish, you know if it was a male or a female?
rodents, and small mammals. Owls do not Here’s how to tell: Male hummingbirds
have teeth, so they must swallow their are more colorful than females. They
food whole. They cannot digest the hair, have a patch of brightly colored
bones, and teeth of their prey. feathers on their necks. Females
As a result, they regurgitate are usually brown or green
pellets which include these all over. The male is also more
indigestible parts. 5 aggressive but slightly smaller. 6

© Copyright 2014 J. Enslin All rights reserved. Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Fishyrobb
Name: _____________________ Name: _____________________ Name: _____________________

Read each task card. Decide Read each task card. Decide Read each task card. Decide
which text structure was used. which text structure was used. which text structure was used.
Record your answers below: Record your answers below: Record your answers below:

# Text Structure Used # Text Structure Used # Text Structure Used

1 1 1

2 2 2

3 3 3

4 4 4

5 5 5

6 6 6

Compare Problem/Solution Compare Problem/Solution Compare Problem/Solution

Contrast Cause and Effect Contrast Cause and Effect Contrast Cause and Effect
Describe Sequence Describe Sequence Describe Sequence
ANSWER KEY

compare

describe

problem/solution

sequence

cause and effect

contrast
 other resources
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educator just like you. Please don’t give my work away.
©  Copyright  2014  J.  Ecochardt  All  rights  reserved.  Permission  to  use  for  single  classroom  only.    www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Fishyrobb