Name the Structure
A storm hit the town. As a result, homes were damaged.
👉 What is the text structure? Explain.
Cause/effect because the storm caused damage to homes.
The Middle Ages, The Renaissance, The Scientific Revolution, The American Revolution, The French Revolution, The Industrial Revolution, World War I, Interwar Years, World War II, Cold War, Vietnam War
What is Chronological (sequential) Order?
Eating healthy improves energy levels.
👉 Structure + justify
Cause/effect because healthy eating leads to more energy.
The puppy was timid, hiding behind its owner and refusing to come out.
👉 What does “timid” mean?
Shy or scared because it hides and won’t come out.
“The classroom was a zoo.”
👉 Identify the figurative language + meaning
Metaphor because it compares the classroom to a zoo. It means the classroom was loud and chaotic.
First, the scientist gathered data. Next, she analyzed the results. Finally, she published her findings.
👉 Structure + explanation
Sequence because events are in order of steps.
Medicine has a history spanning many thousands of years and specialized establishments for treating the sick have also existed for eons. Despite the fact that function of hospitals have not changed much during the last century, technological and scientific progress has made possible treatment approaches that could not have been implemented a hundred years ago and made a large contribution to health care. The main differences between hospitals today and a century ago are improved surgical techniques, the safer use of anesthesia, and safer childbirth procedures.
What is compare and contrast?
Some teens prefer social media, while others prefer face-to-face communication.
👉 Structure + justify
Compare/contrast because it shows differences between two preferences.
The desert was arid, with no rain for months and dry, cracked earth.
👉 Meaning?
Very dry because there is no rain.
“The wind whispered through the trees.”
👉 Identify + meaning
Personification because wind is given human traits. It means the wind was soft and gentle.
The article explains that pollution harms the environment, but recycling helps reduce waste.
👉 Structure + explanation
Compare/contrast because it shows a problem and a solution with opposing ideas.
A text explains steps for building a model: gather materials, assemble parts, test the model.
👉 Structure + justify
Sequence because it shows steps in order.
She gave a reluctant answer, hesitating before she spoke.
👉 Meaning?
Unwilling or unsure because she hesitated.
“I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
👉 Identify + meaning
Hyperbole because it exaggerates. It means the speaker is very hungry.
Many students struggle with time management. To solve this, schools are teaching planning strategies.
👉 Structure + explanation
Problem/solution because it presents an issue and how to fix it.
Headaches can have several causes. Many people think that the major cause of headache is nervous tension, but there is strong evidence that suggests diet and environment as possible factors. Some people get headaches because they are dependent on caffeine. Other people may be allergic to salt, or they may have low blood sugar. Still other people are allergic to household chemicals including polishes, waxes, bug killers, and paint. If they can manage to avoid these substances, their headaches tend to go away. When a person has recurring headaches, it is worthwhile to look for the underlying cause, especially if the result of that search is freedom from pain.
What is cause and effect?
Pollution is increasing in cities. One solution is to reduce car usage.
👉 Structure + justify
Problem/solution because it presents an issue and a way to fix it.
The instructions were vague, leaving students confused about what to do.
👉 Meaning?
Unclear because students were confused.
“Her smile was as bright as the sun.”
👉 Identify + meaning
Simile because it uses “as” to compare. It means her smile is very bright and happy.
The text explains how deforestation leads to habitat loss, which reduces animal populations over time.
👉 Structure + explanation
Cause/effect because one event leads to another in a chain reaction.
Last week we installed a kitty door so that our cat could come and go as she pleases. Unfortunately, we ran into a problem. Our cat was afraid to use the kitty door. We tried pushing her through, and that caused her to be even more afraid. The kitty door was dark, and she couldn’t see what was on the other side. The first step we took in solving this problem was taping the kitty door open. After a couple of days, she was confidently coming and going through the open door. However, when we removed the tape and closed the door, once again, she would not go through. They say you catch more bees with honey, so we decided to use food as bait. We would sit next to the kitty door with a can of wet food and click the top of the can. When kitty came through the closed door, we would open the can and feed her. It took five days of doing this to make her unafraid of using the kitty door. Now we have just one last problem; our kitty controls our lives!
What is problem/solution?
A text explains how one invention led to new technology, which then changed communication worldwide.
👉 Structure + justify
Cause/effect because it shows a chain of events influencing each other.
The path was treacherous, with dangerous rocks and steep drops.
👉 Meaning + clue type
Dangerous because of example/context clues.
“The alarm clock screamed at me to wake up.”
👉 Identify + meaning
Personification because the alarm is given human ability. It means the alarm was loud and urgent.