Read the following passage from the article "Go Ahead, Talk to Yourself":

Self-talk is the way people talk to themselves in their heads, or their inner voice. Experts say self-talk can be a powerful tool for achieving goals and staying healthy. Or it can be just the opposite.

Positive self-talk can help a person develop optimism. According to research, people who have a more positive attitude have better mental and physical health. They also handle stress better. They recover more easily from setbacks. And they may even live longer.

Some self-talk, however, can be harmful. Negative self-talk may lead to lower self-esteem. It can also cause higher stress and anxiety. "Everyone else is better at this than me" and "I can't do anything right" are examples of negative self-talk.

What text structure(s) is the author using? What clues in the text helped you figure out the answer? Write your answer here. Click SUBMIT when you are done.

The author is using a cause and effect text structure. The clue in the text is when the author discusses how positive self-talk leads to better mental and physical health, while negative self-talk leads to lower self-esteem and higher stress and anxiety.