Text Structure

Have you ever wondered how

are the thoughts in academic
texts organized?
Common Text structures (WDPI, 2012) refer to the
Text way authors organize information in text.
Recognizing the underlying structure of
Structures texts can help students focus attention on
key concepts and relationships, anticipate
what is to come, and monitor their
comprehension as they read.
Text Structures
• Narrative
• Sequence
• Cause and Effect
• Problem/Solution
• Compare and Contrast
• Definition or Description
 Narrative Text Structure
TRANSITIONS/
DEFINITION GRAPHIC ORGANIZER QUESTIONS
SIGNAL WORDS

• Who is the
narrative about
Descriptive • Where is it set?
Narrates an event/story with language • What is the
characters, setting, conflict, (adjectives, conflict?
point of view, and plot. adverbs, similes, • Who is telling the
narrative
and metaphors) • What is
happening?
Example of Narrative Text Structure
 Chronological, Process, or Sequence

TRANSITIONS/
DEFINITION GRAPHIC ORGANIZER QUESTIONS
SIGNAL WORDS

• What items, events, or

steps are listed?
• Do they have to/
• First, second, third… always happen in this
• Later, Next, Before, order?
Present ideas or events in the Then, Finally, After, • What sequence of
When, Since, events is being
order in which they happen.
Now/Previously described?
• Actual use of dates • What are the major
incidents that occur
• How is this structure
revealed in the text?
Example of Sequence Text Structure
 Cause and Effect Text Structure

TRANSITIONS/
DEFINITION GRAPHIC ORGANIZER QUESTIONS
SIGNAL WORDS

• If/then - reasons why

Cause #1 • As a result
• Therefore • What happened?
• Because • Why did it
Provide explanations or Cause #2 Effect • Consequently happen?
reasons for phenomena. • Since • What caused it
Cause #3 • So that
to happen?
• For
• Due to
Example of Cause and Effect Text Structure
 Problem/Solution Text Structure

TRANSITIONS/
DEFINITION GRAPHIC ORGANIZER QUESTIONS
SIGNAL WORDS

• Problem is • What is the problem

• Dilemma is • Why is this a problem?
• If/then
Identify problems and pose Problem Solution
• Is anything being
• Because done to try to solve the
solutions. • So that problem?
• Question/answer • What can be done to
• Puzzle is solved solve the problem?
Example of Problem/Solution Text Structure
 Compare and Contrast Text Structure

TRANSITIONS/
DEFINITION GRAPHIC ORGANIZER QUESTIONS
SIGNAL WORDS

• However/yet, • What items are being

compared?
Nevertheless, on the
Discuss two ideas, events, S
I other hand,
• In what ways are they
M
I similar? Different?
but/whereas, similarly,
or phenomena, showing Differences
L
A Differences • What conclusion does
R
I although,
the author reach about
how they are different and T
I
E
S
also/likewise, in
these items
contrast/comparison,
how they are similar. different, either/or, in
• What conclusion does
the author reach about
the same way/just as these items?
Example of Compare and Contrast
 Definition or Description Text Structure

TRANSITIONS/
DEFINITION GRAPHIC ORGANIZER QUESTIONS
SIGNAL WORDS

• What are the most

important
• For example
characteristics?
Describes a topic by listing • Characteristics
• How is it being
• For instance
characteristics, features, • Such as
described (what does it
look like, how does it
attributes, and examples. • Including
work, etc.)?
• To illustrate
• What is important to
remember about it?
Why is Text The readers can significantly improve their
Structure comprehension and retention of information
when they can identify and recognize the text
Important? structure of a text. It can also help them:

• Organize information and details they are

learning in their minds while reading.
• Make connections between the details being
presented in a text.
• Summarize the important details shared in a
text.
Happy
Writing!