Being able to identify the way a text is structured will help you better understand the information and make connections. The following are the main types of text structure. Each structure has a graphic organizer to help you map out the information.
Then, once you can dissect a structure in your reading of a text, it will be easier for you to imitate that format in your own writing of informative texts.
Then, once you can dissect a structure in your reading of a text, it will be easier for you to imitate that format in your own writing of informative texts.
Sequential:
- The author gives a list of steps that are to be followed in a specific order.
- first, second, next, then, before, after, finally, following, now, soon, while, on (dates or times)
- When baking cookies, you want to make sure you preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then, mix the sugar, eggs, and vanilla into one bowl.
- (sequence: 1st- preheat oven, 2nd- mix certain ingredients...)
Chronological:
Key Words:
Example:
- The author provides the reader with information that follows a timeline.
Key Words:
- first, second, next, then, before, after, finally, following, now, soon, while, on (dates or times)
Example:
- After graduating high school in 2006, I moved to Utah and began attending college at BYU.
- (chronology of events in my life: 1st-graduate HS, 2nd- move to UT, 3rd- start college)
- Beware! Many times a text will not describe the events in a chronological order, and it will be up to you to put the pieces together in the correct sequence.
Spacial/Charts/Graphs:
Key Words:
Examples:
- Spacial/Descriptive = describes the topic in enough detail to allow the reader to imagine what is being described
- Charts/Graphs = provide information though colors, shapes, and keys rather than structured sentences and words
Key Words:
- description, image, graph, chart
Examples:
- From the "What We Eat for Breakfast" bar graph to the right, we can see that more boys include milk products with their morning meal while girls are slightly more likely to not eat breakfast at all.
- This is an example of a chart/graph. The information can only be accessed by using the key and analyzing the data.
- Scientist have discovered that the Earth is made up of four layers: the crust, mantel, outer layer, and inner layer.
- This is an example of spacial/descriptive. It would be best to map this information in a web organizer.
Compare-Contrast:
Key Words:
Example:
- Compare = seeing the similarities between 2 or more topics
- Contrast = examining the differences between 2 or more topics
Key Words:
- same as, similar, alike, both, instead of, on the other hand, as opposed to, different from, however
Example:
- Argument essays and informative essays are similar in that they are both essay structures taught in schools. However, argument essays defend a debatable claim while informational essays only relate information on a topic.
- (They are both essay structures is a comparison. Details about what makes an argument vs an informational essay are the contrasts.)
Problem-Solution:
Key Words:
Example:
- Problem = a concern
- Solution = One or more ways provided to fix the problem
Key Words:
- problem, issue, solution, idea, so that, result, causes, effects
Example:
- When a student misbehaves in class, the rules state that there are consequences such as: getting a warning, having to move seats, and calling home to talk to parents about the offense.
- (Misbehaving is the problem; warning or moving seats or phone-call home are solutions)
Cause-Effect:
Key words:
Example:
- Effect = What happened?
- Cause = Why did it happen?
Key words:
- so, because, since, therefore, if…then, this led to, reason why, as a result, due to, effects of, cause, for this reason
Example:
- If I study tonight, then I will most likely do well on the test tomorrow.
- (Studying is the cause, doing well on the test is the effect)