Text Structures
This structure tells events in order using words like first, next, then.
What is sequence?
Sentence: It rained all night, so the ground was wet.
What is the cause?
It rained all night.
Many things can happen when people forget to water plants.
Cause and Effect
This sentence tells what the paragraph will be about.
Topic sentence
A topic sentence tells the _____ idea of the paragraph.
main
This structure explains how two things are alike and different.
What is compare and contrast?
Sentence: I forgot my homework, so I couldn't turn it in.
What is the effect?
I couldn't turn it in.
There are several steps you must follow to bake a cake.
Sequence
These sentences give details that explain the topic sentence.
Supporting details
Which sentence is the best topic sentence?
A. I like pizza.
B. Many things happen during a thunderstorm.
C. My shoes are blue.
B. Many things happen during a thunderstorm.
This structure describes something using details.
What is descriptive?
Sentence: The storm knocked down a tree, so the road was blocked.
What is the effect?
The road was blocked.
Dogs and cats have many similarities, but they are also different in important ways.
Compare and Contrast
This sentence wraps up the paragraph and reminds readers of the main idea.
Conclusion sentence
Which is a better topic sentence for a cause and effect paragraph?
A. It snowed yesterday.
B. Snowstorms can cause many problems for drivers.
B. Snowstorms can cause many problems for drivers.
This structure explains a problem and how it can be solved.
What is problem and solution?
Sentence: Because the dog barked loudly, the baby woke up.
What is the cause?
The dog barked loudly.
The rainforest is a beautiful place filled with tall trees, colorful birds, and warm air.
Descriptive
Put these in order:
Conclusion sentence, Topic sentence, Supporting details
Topic sentence → Supporting details → Conclusion sentence
True or False: A topic sentence usually comes at the beginning of a paragraph.
True
This structure explains why something happened and what happened because of it.
What is cause and effect?
Sentence: The class studied hard, so everyone passed the test.
What is the effect?
Everyone passed the test.
Many schools are trying to solve the problem of too much trash in the cafeteria.
Problem and Solution
What structure explains why something happened and what happened because of it?
Cause and effect
What does a topic sentence help readers understand?
What the paragraph will be about.