Text Structure
First, water from lakes and rivers is collected. Then it’s filtered to remove dirt and germs. Next, chemicals are added to make it safe for drinking. Finally, the clean water is sent through pipes to homes and schools.
What is sequence.
This is the most important point the author wants readers to understand in an informational text.
What is the main idea?
If the ground is wet but it’s not raining, readers can infer this happened.
What is it rained earlier.
This part of an informational article gives the main idea of what you’re about to read.
What is title or heading.
my family went to disney world last summer.
Answer: My family went to Disney World last summer.
Why: Proper nouns—specific names of places—must always be capitalized.
Dogs and cats are both popular pets. Dogs need daily walks, while cats are more independent. Both animals need food, attention, and care from their owners. They’re alike in many ways but differ in how they show affection.
What is compare and contrast.
These pieces of information support or explain the main idea and help the reader understand it better.
What are key details?
When an author doesn't directly state the main idea, readers must analyze the relationship between all key details and supporting evidence to do this critical thinking skill.
What is inferencing.
The words under a picture that explain what the image shows.
What is a caption.
Combine the following sentences:
I went to the store. I bought milk.
Answer: I went to the store, and I bought milk.
Why: Use a comma and the coordinating conjunction "and" to join two related simple sentences (independent clauses).
Heavy rainfall can cause rivers to overflow. When that happens, nearby neighborhoods flood quickly. Homes and businesses suffer serious damage. Because of this, cities are building better drainage systems to prevent future floods.
What is cause and effect.
When determining the main idea of an informational text, readers must use this type of evidence to support their conclusions, rather than relying on assumptions.
What is text evidence?
If an article includes facts, statistics, and expert opinions about recycling, what is most likely the author’s purpose?
What is to inform?
When a nonfiction article includes a visual, like a chart or diagram, how does it help the reader?
What is it explains information more clearly or makes complex ideas easier to understand?
I wanted to go to the park, but it started to rain so we stayed inside.
Answer: Add a comma before “so” — I wanted to go to the park, but it started to rain, so we stayed inside.
Why: “So” connects two complete thoughts (independent clauses). A comma comes before a coordinating conjunction when it joins two independent clauses.
Plastic can take hundreds of years to break down. This waste pollutes oceans and harms wildlife. Many cities are encouraging recycling and reusable materials. These changes can help reduce pollution and protect sea animals.
What is problem and solution.
Unlike paraphrasing, which restates information in your own words, this skill requires you to identify only the central idea and most important supporting details while maintaining logical order.
What is summarizing.
When details hint at something the author feels, you infer this.
What is the author’s attitude or tone?
This section at the beginning of an informational text prepares the reader by introducing the topic and grabbing attention.
Because I was tired I went to bed early.
Answer: Add a comma after the dependent clause — Because I was tired, I went to bed early.
Why: When a dependent clause comes before an independent clause, it should be followed by a comma. This separates the introductory idea from the main one.
Volcanoes form when pressure from melted rock builds up under the earth’s surface. Over time, the pressure forces lava and gas to escape through cracks. The lava cools and hardens, creating new land. These powerful eruptions shape the planet’s surface.
What is description?
The Amazon rainforest covers millions of square miles and produces much of the world’s oxygen. It is home to thousands of unique plants and animals found nowhere else. Deforestation continues to destroy large sections of the forest every year. Without it, the Earth’s climate and biodiversity would be at risk.
What is the main idea is that the Amazon rainforest is essential for the planet’s health but is being threatened by deforestation.
When reading two informational texts on the same topic, what should you look for to compare the authors’ ideas and messages?
What is tone, key details, and how each author conveys their main idea or message?
In an informational article, bold words, captions, and graphs all serve a specific purpose beyond decoration. These elements help readers organize and highlight information in meaningful ways.
What are text features?
Maria forgot to bring her notes to science, so she borrowed mines instead.
Answer: Maria forgot to bring her notes to science, so she borrowed mine instead.
Why: “Mine” is the correct possessive pronoun—there’s no “s” at the end.