Common Text Structures
Text structures (WDPI, 2012) refer to the way authors organize information in text.
Recognizing the underlying structure of texts can help students focus attention on
key concepts and relationships, anticipate what is to come, and monitor their
comprehension as they read.
Why is Text Structure Important? The readers can significantly improve their
comprehension and retention of information when they can identify and recognize the
text structure of a text. It can also help them: 1. Organize information and details
they are learning in their minds while reading.
2. Make connections between the details being presented in a text
3. Summarize the important details shared in a text.
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Handouts by_ [Link]@NNHS SY.25-26
Short Quiz
A. Direction: Identify the text structure based on the given statement. Write your answers on a
separate sheet.
_________1. This text structure is “how are things in the text similar or different.”
_________2. The text structure that discusses what is specifically being described.
_________3. The text structure that is written in a style that tells what happened ang why it
happens.
_________4. This text structure tells what the conflict is, or problem, and how it was solved.
_________5. The text structure that shows events taking place over time or gives steps is…
_________6. “Similar, same, alike, both, on the other hand, instead” are signal words for…
_________7. Before putting the model car together, we gathered our supplies. Then we were able
to read and follow the directions. Before long, our car was done.
_________8. Which type of text structure answers the question of what happened and why?
_________9. Which type of text structure shows how two or more things are alike and different?
_________10. The sentence structure that narrates a story.
B. Direction: Read the passages and determine what sentence structure is used. Choose
your answer from the list of words below. Write only the letter of your choice. You
may use a separate sheet in writing your answers.
Narrative b. Chronological/Sequence c. Cause-Effect d. Descriptive e.
Problem-Solution f. Compare-Contrast
______1. There are two popular sports played at Milton, basketball, and volleyball. Both take
place inside of the gym at Milton. Also, each sport has two teams of people. In basketball,
however, the ball can be played off of the floor, and in volleyball, the ball cannot touch the
floor, or it is out of play. Basketball and volleyball are popular sports at Milton. What text
structure is this?
_____2. Lots of students fail classes. Some students fail because the work is too hard for
them. Other times they may fail because they are lazy, and don’t do any work. Another reason
why students may fail is if they don’t go to school. If you’re not in class, you may miss a lot.
Many students fail classes every quarter. What text structure is this?
_____3. Dr. Knapp doesn’t want people to sit back and let the toad vanish. He believes that
everyone is responsible for restoring the toad species. Dr. Knapp thinks we could help restore
the toad population if we stop mowing parts of our lawns and let the grass grow wild to
reserve space for the toad. He also believes we need to stop using pesticides and fertilizers.
The chemicals kill the insects that toads eat. If we preserve some spaces in our lawns and stop
using fertilizers, Dr. Knapp believes we can save the toads. What text structure is this?
_____4. Devers experienced the highlight of any sprinter’s career, as she stood on the huge
platform in the giant stadium and received an Olympic gold medal. Eighteen months earlier
she wasn’t thinking about running. She was hoping that she would be able to walk again. Just
four years earlier, in the summer of 1988, as Devers was training for the Olympic Games, to
be held in Seoul, South Korea, she began to feel very tired all the time and failed to make the
Olympic finals. What text structure is this?
_____5 The Eiffel Tower is divided into three sections. I. The lowest section of the tower
contains the entrance, a gift shop, and a restaurant. II. The middle section of the tower consists
of stairs and elevators that lead to the top. III. The top section of the tower includes an
observation deck with a spectacular view of Paris.
Merry Christmas! May your holidays be filled with joy and peace.