Nonfiction Text Structures
Discusses the similarities and differences between two things.
What is compare and contrast?
Shows readers exactly what something looks like.
What is a photograph or illustration?
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?
What is a thesis?
Explains what each section of the text is about.
What is a Heading?
Describing a person, place, or thing. This structure often uses the 5 senses.
What is Description?
Helps the reader understand where a place is located.
What is a map?
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?
The main idea of a body paragraph.
What is a topic sentence?
Identifies what the text will be about.
What is a Title?
The author puts events in order or explains the steps to follow in order to do or make something.
What is chronological?
Provides definitions for words in the text.
What is the glossary?
A quote from an article or source that you use to support your idea.
What is text evidence?
Charts, graphs, or illustrations to help the reader understand the topic more deeply.
What are Graphics?
The author introduces a problem and then presents one or more solutions.
What is problem/solution?
A text box that provides additional or more in-depth information.
What is a sidebar?
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?
A restating of your thesis, usually at end of a paper.
What is a conclusion?
Words that are in bold print, italics, or underlined to help readers to know that the word is important.
What is Special Print?
The author shows how events or concepts happen as a result of other events or concepts.
What is cause and effect?
Provide important info about a photo or illustration.
What is a caption?
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?
Answer the question (also called your topic sentence), Elaborate on your answer, Use Evidence from the text to support your answer, Explain your textual evidence as it relates to your answer.
Tell the names of parts of a diagram, photo or illustration.
What are Labels?