Language Arts: Text Structure and Organization
Recognizing how authors organize ideas in a text
Language Arts: Text Structure and Organization
Recognizing how authors organize ideas in a text
Language Arts - Grade 6-8
- 1
Read this sentence pair: 'First, Mia gathered her materials. Next, she measured the wood. Finally, she built the birdhouse.' What text structure is used?
Look for words that show the order of steps or events.
The text structure is sequence because the events are listed in time order using signal words such as first, next, and finally. - 2
Read this excerpt: 'The city added more bike lanes, so more people began riding bicycles to work. As a result, traffic became lighter in some neighborhoods.' What text structure is used, and what is the cause?
The text structure is cause and effect. The cause is that the city added more bike lanes, and the effects are that more people rode bicycles to work and traffic became lighter in some neighborhoods. - 3
Read this excerpt: 'Unlike sharks, dolphins are mammals. Both live in the ocean, but dolphins breathe air with lungs and sharks use gills.' What text structure is used?
Notice the clue word unlike and the way the passage discusses similarities and differences.
The text structure is compare and contrast because the excerpt explains how sharks and dolphins are alike and different. - 4
Read this excerpt: 'Many students were arriving late to first period. The principal changed the bus drop-off plan and opened another entrance to reduce crowding.' What text structure is used?
The text structure is problem and solution because the passage presents a problem, students arriving late, and then explains the solution, changing the drop-off plan and opening another entrance. - 5
Read this excerpt: 'A solar eclipse happens when the moon moves between Earth and the sun, blocking some or all of the sun's light.' What text structure is used?
This passage tells what something is rather than listing steps or events.
The text structure is description because it explains what a solar eclipse is by giving defining details. - 6
An article begins by explaining how volcanoes form, then gives examples of famous eruptions, and ends by describing how scientists monitor volcanoes today. Which text structure best fits most of the article, and why?
The article mostly uses description because it gives information about volcanoes and includes different details and examples to explain the topic. - 7
Read this excerpt: 'To prepare the lab sample, place the slide on the table, add one drop of water, and gently lower the cover slip.' What text structure is used?
Think about whether the author is teaching a process step by step.
The text structure is sequence because the excerpt gives ordered steps for completing a task. - 8
Read this excerpt: 'The school garden was not growing well because the soil was too dry. Students added compost and created a watering schedule. Within a month, the plants looked healthier.' Which two text structures are both present?
The passage includes problem and solution and also cause and effect. The poor garden growth is the problem, the compost and watering schedule are the solution, and those changes caused the plants to look healthier. - 9
Choose the best text structure for this topic: 'How to register for the school play.' Explain your choice.
Think about whether a reader would need directions, a description, or a comparison.
The best text structure is sequence because registering for the school play would usually involve steps that need to be completed in a specific order. - 10
Choose the best text structure for this topic: 'Ways desert animals survive in extreme heat.' Explain your choice.
The best text structure is description because the topic would likely explain different traits and behaviors that help desert animals survive. - 11
Read this excerpt: 'Both online classes and in-person classes can help students learn. However, online classes offer more flexibility, while in-person classes provide more face-to-face interaction.' What signal words help show the text structure?
Look for words that connect ideas by showing likenesses or differences.
The signal words are both, however, and while. These words help show a compare and contrast structure by pointing out similarities and differences. - 12
A passage is organized by explaining one event, then another event that happened later, and then the final outcome. How does this organization help the reader?
This organization helps the reader follow the events in the order they happened, which makes it easier to understand how the situation developed over time. - 13
Read this excerpt: 'Recycling bins were placed in every classroom. Because students could easily sort paper and plastic, the school reduced its trash output by 20 percent.' What text structure is used, and what is the effect?
Find the action that led to a result.
The text structure is cause and effect. The effect is that the school reduced its trash output by 20 percent. - 14
Rewrite this topic as a problem and solution idea: 'The cafeteria line is too long during lunch.' Write one sentence for the problem and one sentence for the solution.
Problem: The cafeteria line is too long during lunch, so students have less time to eat. Solution: The school could open another serving station or stagger lunch times to shorten the line. - 15
An author wants readers to understand how two inventors had similar goals but used different methods. Which text structure would be the strongest choice, and why?
The strongest choice would be compare and contrast because it allows the author to show how the two inventors were alike in their goals and different in their methods.