Text Structures
This structure explains reasons something happened and the effects that follow. Name the structure.
What is cause and effect?
This feature appears at the top of a section and tells you what the section will be about in a few words. What is it?
What is Heading (or subheading if within a larger section)?
True or False: Key details always appear in the first sentence of every paragraph.
(Answer format: True / False)
False — key details can appear in various sentence positions
Which of the following is the main purpose of most expository texts:
(A) to entertain
(B) to inform/explain
(C) to persuade
(D) to narrate a personal story?
What is (B) to inform/explain?
What is the difference between a fact and an opinion?
Facts: objective statements about the world (dates, measurements, statistics, or observed events) that other people can check against reliable sources?
Opinions: Statements that express personal beliefs, feelings, or judgments and cannot be proven true or false by independent evidence.
A paragraph describes the steps of how a plant grows from seed to sprout in order. Which text structure is being used?
What is Chronological (sequence / chronological order)?
Small print under a photograph that explains what is shown is called a ________.
What is caption?
What is the main purpose of a supporting detail in an expository paragraph?
To support, explain, or provide evidence for the topic sentence/main idea.
An article explains how solar panels work and lists the steps for installation.
Which two main purposes does this article serve? (Select two and explain briefly.)
What is inform/explain and to instruct (explain + procedural/how-to)?
Read the sentence: “The city added more green spaces last year.”
What is one question you could ask to find evidence that supports this statement? Name one source you might check.
Possible question: “How many new green spaces were created last year and where are they located?”
Source to check: City council meeting minutes, the city parks department website, or a local government press release.
You read a passage that lists two different methods of solving a problem and then explains how they are similar and different. Identify the structure and give one signal word or phrase that often appears in this structure.
What is Compare and contrast? The signal word examples: “however,” “both,” “on the other hand"
Which text feature helps a reader find important words quickly by making them darker and thicker than the rest of the text?
Give one reason authors use it.
What is bold text; reason: to emphasize important vocabulary or terms so readers can find them quickly?
Read this short excerpt:
“Recycling lowers waste in landfills by reducing trash volume and conserving resources such as paper and metal.”
Identify the key detail and explain how it supports a topic sentence that might read, “Recycling benefits the environment.”
Key detail: “Recycling lowers waste in landfills by reducing trash volume and conserving resources such as paper and metal.”
It supports the topic sentence by giving specific reasons how recycling benefits the environment
A brochure gives facts about healthy eating and also encourages readers to choose fruits and vegetables.
Identify the primary purpose and explain how the author might use features or details to accomplish both informing and persuading.
What is:
Primary purpose: to inform;
to encourage is persuasive — author may include persuasive language, call to action, or emotive examples while supplying facts and comparisons to both inform and persuade
A passage says, “Local test scores improved after the new tutoring program began.”
What evidence would you look for to support this claim, and how would you decide if the evidence is strong?
Evidence to look for: standardized test score data from before and after the program, attendance records showing who participated, and a report comparing participating vs. nonparticipating students.
How to decide strength: Check whether the data show a clear positive change over time, whether the sample size is large enough, whether the analysis controls for other factors (like curriculum changes), and whether the source is reliable (school district or independent evaluator).
A news article first states a community issue, then explains several possible actions and their likely outcomes. Which structure is used? Explain how the author might organize paragraphs to show cause and effect inside this structure.
What is Problem and solution?
-It may include cause/effect within discussion; organize by stating the problem, presenting solutions, then explaining outcomes/effects
Identify two features that help organize long informational texts so readers can quickly locate topics and subtopics.
What is table of contents and headings/subheadings (also index, bolded terms)?
Give two examples of details that would best support a paragraph whose topic sentence is: “Volunteering helps teenagers develop useful life skills.”
Examples:
(1) “Volunteering teaches time-management through scheduled commitments.”
(2) “Volunteering builds communication skills by requiring teamwork and interaction with supervisors.”
Compare the main purpose of an expository text that describes the life cycle of a frog with a text that argues for protecting frog habitats.
How will the structure and details differ?
What is:
Life cycle text: chronological structure, factual details about stages; protection argument: likely problem/solution or cause/effect with persuasive details, evidence, and recommended actions
In the CER method, the reasoning is listed last when constructing a paragraph. What are the two important things you have to do when providing reasons for your claim AND evidence?
What is (1) to support the claim and (2) to explain my evidence?
Given a short example: “City A reduced traffic by building bike lanes; accidents dropped 20%.”
Determine the structure, name the cause, name the effect, and suggest one transition phrase the writer could use to clearly show the relationship.
What is Cause and effect?
cause = building bike lanes; effect = accidents dropped 20%; transition phrase: “As a result,” or “Consequently,”
Name any text feature that helps you while reading informational text.
What is heading: signals topic of section; Table of contents: helps locate sections quickly; Captions: explain images and provide quick facts or examples?
Explain how an author decides which details are “key” when trying to support a claim in an informational text. Include at least two criteria the author uses.
What is relevance to the claim, specificity (concrete facts, statistics, or examples), reliability (from credible sources), and sufficiency (enough details to support the claim?
Explain a clear method you would use to determine the author’s primary purpose in any expository text.
What is:
1. Check the author's verbs and tone (lots of facts and neutral language = inform)
2. Look for commands or numbered steps (imperatives or step-by-step instructions = instruct)
3. Search for persuasive words or a call to action (words like 'should', 'must', or 'join' = persuade)
4. Examine structure and text features (Headings like "How to..." or numbered lists suggest instruction, while charts and definitions support informing and emotional anecdotes or rhetorical)
Read the sentence: "The town library reported a 40% increase in teen visitors after it added a study lounge and extended evening hours."
What is one logical inference you can make from this sentence about why teen visits increased? Explain which specific part of the sentence supports your inference.
One logical inference: Teens visited the library more because the new study lounge and later hours made it more convenient and appealing for them.
Evidence from the sentence: the phrase “after it added a study lounge and extended evening hours” links the increase in teen visitors (“a 40% increase in teen visitors”) to those specific changes, suggesting the new lounge and later hours caused the rise.