Types of Text Structure
This structure shows how two or more things are alike and/or different.
What is compare and contrast?
She likes hiking, swimming, and to bike.
What is the error and how to fix it?
What is “to bike” should be “biking”?
The author uses the phrase “as a result of industrial expansion” to connect ideas. What structure is MOST strongly suggested?
What is cause and effect?
Fix: He enjoys reading, to write, and drawing.
What is He enjoys reading, writing, and drawing?
A passage explains the steps a student should take to apply for college in chronological order. What is the PRIMARY text structure?
What is sequence?
A passage explains how a drought led to crop failure and food shortages.
What is cause and effect?
He wanted to win the race, impress his coach, and his parents would be proud.
What is the error and how to fix it?
What is “his parents would be proud” should be “make his parents proud”?
A paragraph includes “while both systems aim to educate students, they differ significantly in funding and curriculum.” What structure is being used?
What is compare and contrast?
Fix: The goal is to improve reading, writing clearly, and better comprehension.
What is to improve reading, writing, and comprehension?
Identify the error: She enjoys reading novels, writing poetry, and to paint landscapes.
What is “to paint” should be “painting”?
A text that describes a conflict and then offers possible fixes uses this structure.
What is problem and solution?
The teacher asked students to complete the assignment, check their work, and that they submit it on time.
What is the error and how to fix it?
What is “that they submit it” should be “to submit it”?
The author uses “despite this challenge” and “one possible solution is…” What structure is being developed?
What is problem and solution?
Fix: She wanted to travel, visiting museums, and to try new foods.
What is She wanted to travel, to visit museums, and to try new foods?
Revise for parallel structure: The committee is responsible for planning events, fundraising, and to recruit volunteers.
What is planning events, fundraising, and recruiting volunteers?
A biography that tells events in the order they happened uses this structure.
What is chronological (sequence)?
She is talented, hardworking, and shows creativity.
What is the error and how to fix it?
What is “shows creativity” should be “creative”?
A passage discusses water scarcity in American but spends most of the text explaining ways it can be corrected. What is the PRIMARY structure?
What is problem and solution?
Fix: The coach told them to practice hard, staying focused, and that they should work together.
What is to practice hard, stay focused, and work together?
A passage includes “initially,” “subsequently,” and “over time,” but also explains outcomes of each stage. What TWO structures are being combined?
What are sequence/chronological AND cause and effect?
A passage describing the features of a rainforest ecosystem in vivid detail uses this structure.
What is description?
They are responsible for organizing the event, decorations, and to invite guests.
What is the error and how to fix it?
What is “decorations” should be “decorating” AND “to invite” → “inviting”?
An author uses the phrase “as a result” to connect two ideas in a passage about rising temperatures and melting ice caps. What text structure does this signal word MOST strongly indicate, and why?
What is cause and effect; “as a result” signals that one event is a consequence of another?
Fix: Success requires dedication, to work hard, and being consistent.
What is Success requires dedication, hard work, and consistency?
The author uses “for instance,” “in particular,” and “such as,” but shifts to “this leads to…” later in the paragraph. How does the structure evolve?
What 2 structures are being used?
What is description shifting into cause and effect?