T.S. 1
This text structure tells about the characteristics or features of a person, place, thing, or idea.
Description
This text structure explains why something happened and what happened as a result.
Cause and Effect
A passage explains how frogs and toads are alike and different. Which text structure is being used?
Compare and Contrast
A passage describes the steps for planting a garden, beginning with preparing the soil and ending with watering the plants. Which text structure is being used?
Sequencing
Which layer of Earth is made mostly of solid iron and nickel?
A. Crust
B. Mantle
C. Outer Core
D. Inner Core
D. Inner Core
A school notices that students are leaving trash on the playground. The principal places more trash cans around the area and asks student leaders to create posters encouraging everyone to clean up.
What is the text structure?
Problem and Solution
A passage describes a mountain as tall and rocky, with snow-covered peaks, steep slopes, and narrow valleys.
What is the text structure?
Description
A passage explains how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, beginning with gathering the ingredients and ending with putting the two slices of bread together.
What is the text structure?
Sequence/Chronological Order
Before a seed can grow into a healthy plant, it must absorb water. The seed coat then softens, allowing the root to emerge. Next, the root grows downward while the shoot pushes upward toward sunlight. Eventually, leaves develop and begin making food for the plant. What is the text structure and how do you know?
Sequencing/Chronological order - explains the stages of plant growth in the order they happen.
Which is the largest ocean on Earth?
A. Atlantic Ocean
B. Indian Ocean
C. Pacific Ocean
D. Artic Ocean
C. Pacific Ocean
The peregrine falcon is known for its incredible speed and sharp eyesight. Its body is streamlined, its wings are pointed, and its feathers are usually blue-gray above and pale below. These features help make it one of the most impressive birds of prey. What is the text structure and how do you know?
Description - provides characteristics and details about the peregrine falcon.
Although both hurricanes and tornadoes produce powerful winds, they develop differently. Hurricanes form over warm ocean water and may affect large areas for several days. Tornadoes usually form during severe thunderstorms and often affect a much smaller area for a shorter period. Both storms, however, can cause serious damage. What text structure is this and how do you know?
Compare and Contrast - explains differences between hurricans and tornadoes and identifies a similiarity.
A passage explains that a local park has become polluted. It describes how volunteers organized a cleanup and installed more trash cans to help solve the problem. Which text structure is being used?
Problem and Solution
A passage explains how dolphins and sharks are alike and different. Both live in the ocean and have streamlined bodies, but dolphins breathe air and sharks use gills to breathe underwater.
What is the text structure?
Compare and Contrast
What is the smallest country in the world by area?
A. Monaco
B. Malta
C. Vatican City
D. Singapore
C. Vatican City
A passage explains how cutting down too many trees can cause soil erosion. The soil washes into nearby streams, making the water cloudy and harming fish and other organisms.
What text structure is this?
Cause and effect
A passage explains that heavy rain caused a river to overflow, which flooded nearby homes. What words provide clues?
'Caused' and 'flooded'
Many students at a school were throwing away unopened food after lunch. As a result, large amounts of food ended up in the trash each day. The school began a share table where students could leave unopened, permitted items for others to take. Within a few weeks, less food was being wasted. What text structure and how do you know?
Problem and Solution -
problem - food waste
solution - share table
A passage explains that a local park has become polluted. It describes how volunteers organized a cleanup and installed more trash cans to help solve the problem.What is the problem and solution?
Problem: pollution
Solution: Cleanup and trash cans
Which sea creature has blue blood?
A. Great White Shark
B. Octopus
C. Sea Turtle
D. Blue Whale
B. Octopus
When a forest loses too many trees, rainwater can wash away the exposed soil. Without tree roots to hold the ground in place, the soil may enter nearby streams, making the water cloudy and harming aquatic habitats. Over time, the loss of soil can also make it harder for new plants to grow, which may lead to even more erosion. What is the text structure and how do you know?
Cause and Effect
Losing trees causes soil erosion; the eroded soil then clouds streams and harms aquatic habitats. The passage also explains how these effects can lead to further erosion.
A butterfly begins life as an egg, usually attached to a plant. After hatching, the caterpillar spends much of its time eating and growing. It then forms a chrysalis, where its body undergoes a remarkable transformation. Finally, an adult butterfly emerges, allowing its wings to dry before it begins to fly.
Which text structure is dominant, and why might another answer seem reasonable?
Sequence/Chronological Order
Description - describes each stage of a butterfly's life cycle.
When the school library discovered that several books had disappeared, the librarian checked the checkout records but found no clear explanation. She then organized the shelves, reviewed the return bin, and asked teachers to check their classrooms. Eventually, the missing books were found in a storage cart that had been moved during a classroom rearrangement.
Which text structure is dominant, and why might another answer seem reasonable?
Problem and Solution - the librarian investigates and resolves a problem
A city wanted to reduce traffic near an elementary school. Officials first studied when the roads were busiest and then tested several ideas. They changed the timing of traffic lights, created a separate drop-off lane, and encouraged families to walk or carpool. After collecting traffic data for a month, officials kept the changes that reduced congestion the most.
Which text structure is dominant and why might another answer be reasonable?
Problem & Solution - presents traffic congestion and actions to reduce it.
Sequence - actions and evaluation are described in order.
Which country has the most natural lakes?
A. Russia
B. Canada
C. United States
D. Finland
B. Canada