Mixed Practice: Text Structure
Text Structure
The structure of a text refers to the way the author organizes the
information. It's how a piece of writing is put together.
Signal words provide clues about which text structure is present. A text
may have more than one text structure.
These are the five main text structures:
Description
A descriptive text provides descriptive details or examples. It tells the who,
what, when, where, why, and how.
Compare and Contrast
A compare-and-contrast text uses comparisons to describe ideas to
readers. It tells how things are similar or different.
Problem and Solution
A problem-solution text identifies one or more problems and presents one
or more solutions.
Cause and Effect
A cause-and-effect text explains cause-and-effect relationships. It tells why
something happened (the cause) and what was the result (the effect).
Sequence
A sequence or order text structure lists items or events in order, or in
sequence. Chronological texts present events in time order, from beginning
to end. How-to texts organize information in a series of steps or directions.
Think about the five types of text structure. Match each statement below to the text structure it describes. Drag each response to the correct box.
Description
Sequence
Compare/Contrast
Cause/Effect
Problem/Solution
1. This text explains how changes in weather patterns lead to changes in crop production.
Cause/Effect
2. This text provides step-by-step instructions on how to make a paper airplane.
Sequence
3. This text discusses the similarities and differences between living in a city and living in a rural area.
Compare/Contrast
4. This text describes the main characters in a story and explains their motivations and actions.
Description
5. This text presents a problem, such as pollution in a river, and offers suggestions for cleaning it up.
Problem/Solution