Text Structure
What is Text Structure? And text
structures purpose
Text structure is the way an author sorts information within a
text, which helps readers understand and follow the flow of
ideas to understand what the author is trying to say.
Types of Text Structure
● Description
● Compare and Contrast
● Order and Sequence
● Problem and Solution
● Cause & Effect
Description
Description is the type of text structure that features
multiple details about a given topic to give the reader a
mental picture about the topic.
Clue Words
● For example
● Such as
● Adjectives
● Colors
● Features
● Specific details
Description
Example- Whale sharks are unique animals who are native to every
tropical ocean in the world. Each whale shark is different and none look
alike, and although you might say they do, Each whale shark has their own
unique patterns of dots and lines on their backs and this makes it easy to
track different whale sharks. Whale sharks are relatively big animals that
grow up to about 18-32.8 ft long but the largest one we’ve found was
around 61.7 ft long. Despite their large size whale sharks are actually gentle
giants and primarily feed on plankton, krill, and tiny fish. In order for a
whale shark to eat such tiny food without swallowing water they have
these pads on their throat openings that have a lot of tiny holes in them to
filter out the food while the water gets sent out through their gills.
Although whale sharks are docile, that doesn’t stop other animals from
attacking them so they have dermal denticles(tiny teeth) on their body
and eyes.
Description
They each have
their own unique
patterns of white
dots and lines on
their backs While they can
Whale sharks grow up to
are native to all roughly 61.7ft, the
tropical oceans average is
between 18 to
in the world
32.8ft
Whale Sharks
Whale sharks
A whale sharks
have a bunch of
diet usually
tiny teeth
includes
The opening of whale around their
plankton, krill
shark’s throat is eyeballs to
and tiny fish covered with about 20 protect them
giant pads that have
hundreds of tiny
holes. these pads
filter out the food
Compare and Contrast
Compare and contrast is the text structure in which two or
more topics are explained by listing their similarities and
differences.
Clue Words
● Same
● Similar
● Different
● Unlike
Compare and Contrast
Example- A whale shark is a type shark that has a
large mouth at the front of its head and gill slits on
sides of its body, while a bowmouth guitarfish is a type
of ray that has its mouth and gill slits on the underside
of its body. Although whale sharks and bowmouth
guitarfish are vastly different they are also similar in
many ways as the are both elasmobranchs, have
denticles, and are filter feeders.
Compare and Contrast
Bowmouth
Whale Sharks Guitarfish
A type of ray
A type of shark Elasmobranchs
Mouth on the
Large mouth at Have denticles underside of their body
the front of its
head Filter feeders Gill slits on the
underside of it’s body
Gill slits on sides
of it’s body
Order and Sequence
Chronological order/sequence is when the information in
a passage or story is put into the orders in which they
happened or the time in which they occurred.
Clue Words
● First
● Second
● Third
● Next
● Finally
● Additionally
Order and Sequence
Example- A whale sharks life starts when they are just
a tiny egg inside of their mother. After an unknown
amount of time the whale shark will give birth to live
young after her eggs hatch inside of her. As a juvenile a
whale shark will stay near the coast where food is
abundant but as they mature they’ll begin to migrate
to deeper waters. When they reach adulthood they’ll
begin mating and then the cycle repeats.
Order and Sequence
Eggs hatch and
Eggs form inside the As a juvenile they
mother gives birth to
mother stay near the coast
live young
When they reach As they mature they
adulthood they begin migrate to deeper
mating waters
Problem and Solution
Problem and solution is the text structure in which the
text introduces a problem of a topic and then provides us
with ways to help or solve the given problem.
Clue Words
● This has led to
● Issue
● Solution
● Solve
Problem and Solution
Example- Over the years The whale shark population
has been gradually decreasing and in 2016 they were
added on the IUCN’s endangered list. Luckily their
population is still relatively stable but that doesn’t
mean it can’t change. If you want to help the whale
sharks you can support conservation efforts, reduce
your carbon footprint, choose sustainable seafood, and
avoid any shark products.
Problem and Solution
The whale shark support conservation
population is gradually efforts, reduce your
decreasing(they have carbon footprint,
been on the IUCN choose sustainable
endangered list since seafood, and avoid any
2016) shark products.
Cause and Effect
Cause and effect is the text structure in which you explain
the reason that something happened and what made that
thing happen or in other words, the effect of something
and what caused that effect to happen.
Clue Words
● Because
● As a result of
● Due to
Cause and Effect
Example- Whale sharks are an endangered species
that risks it’s population going down even more
without help. They face threats like overfishing, vessel
strikes, and habitat degradation/climate change, but
with sustained conservation efforts, the IUCN
estimates they could possibly reach full recovery
within 100 years.
Cause and Effect
Overfishing
Vessel strikes
Whale sharks are an
endangered species
Habitat
degradation/climate
change
Quiz
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