Text Structure

Definitions

100

the author states a problem and lists one or more possible solutions

What is problem and solution?

200

The author explains reasons why something happened or an event's results.

Cause and effect

300

the author explains how two or more things are alike and how they are different

What is compare and contrast?

400

the author lists the items or steps in order; how to make or do something

What is sequence?

500

The author organizes the text by telling the events and the order that they happened in a certain time period

Chronological

600

The main body of a book or other piece of writing, as distinct from other material such as notes, appendices, and illustrations.

Text

Vocabulary

100

Compare

To show how two or more things are alike or similar

200

Solution

An answer or the way to fix a problem

300

Cause

An action or event that makes something else happen

400

Effect

What happens or the results of something happening

500

Chronological 

Order of Time

600

Text Structure

How text is organized

Signal Words

100

first, next, then, before, after, finally, following, dates, and times

What is chronological?

200

same as, similar, alike, as well as, also, both, instead of, on the other hand, different from, and as opposed to

What is compare and contrast?

300

so, because, since, therefore, if/then, this led to, as a result, a reason why, may be due to, consequently, for this reason

What is cause and effect?

400

• The dilemma is.
• Issue.
• To solve this.
• To address this.
• Challenges
• I propose

Problem and Solution

500

Either

Compare and Contrast

600

• before, after.
• when.
• later.

Sequence

Passages 1

100

One problem with every modern Olympics is that is has become very big and expensive to operate. The city or country that hosts the games often loses a lot of money. A stadium, pools, and playing fields must be built for the athletic events and housing is needed for the athletes who come from around the world. And all of these facilities are only used for two weeks! In 1984, Los Angles solved these problems by charging a fee for companies who wanted to be official sponsors of the games. Companies like McDonald’s paid a lot of money to be part of the Olympics. Many buildings that were already being built in Los Angeles were also being used. The Coliseum where the 1932 games were held was used again and many colleges and universities in the area became playing and living areas.

What is problem and solution?

200

The Olympic games began as athletic festivals to honor the Greek gods. The most important festival was held in the valley of Olympia to honor Zeus, the king of the gods. It was the festival that became the Olympic games in 776 B.C. These games were ended in 394 A.D. by the Roman emperor in Greece. No Olympic games were held for more than 1,500 years. Then the modern Olympics began is 1896. Almost 300 male athletes competed in the first modern Olympics. In the games held in 1900, female athletes were allowed to compete. The games have continued every four years since 1896, except during World War II and they will most likely continue for many years to come.

What is chronological?

300

The modern Olympics are very unlike the ancient Olympic games. Individual events are different. While there was no swimming in the ancient games, for example, there were chariot races. There were no female contestants and all athletes competed in the nude. Of course, the ancient and modern Olympics are also like in many ways. Some events, such as the javelin and the discus throws are the same. Some people say that cheating, professionalism, and nationalism in the modern games are a disgrace to the Olympic tradition. But according to the Greek writers there were many cases of cheating, nationalism, and professionalism in their Olympics, too.

What is compare and contrast?

400

There are several reasons why so many people attend the Olympic games or watch them on television. One reason is tradition. The name Olympics and the torch and flame remind people of the ancient games. People can escape the ordinariness of daily life by attending or watching the Olympics. They like to identify with someone else’s individual sacrifice and accomplishment. National pride is another reason, and an athlete’s or a team’s hard earned victory becomes a nation’s victory. There are national medal counts and people keep track of how many medals their country’s athletes have won.

What is cause and effect

500

                                               

A sprain is a tear in a muscle. Sprains happen when a muscle is twisted or overstretched. They can be painful. If you sprain a muscle, you should ice it immediately. Putting ice on a sprain will reduce swelling and pain. It may help stop internal bleeding too.

                                   

    

Problem and Solution

600

All matter, all things can be changed in two ways: chemically and physically. Both chemical and physical changes affect the state of matter. Physical changes are those that do not change the make-up or identity of the matter. For example, clay will bend or flatten if squeezed, but it will still be clay. Changing the shape of clay is a physical change, and does not change the matter's identity. Chemical changes turn the matter into a new kind of matter with different properties. For example, when paper is burnt, it becomes ash and will never be paper again. The difference is that physical changes are temporary or only last for a little while. Chemical changes are permanent, which means they last forever. Physical and chemical changes both affect the state of matter.

Compare and Contrast

Passages 2

100

To surprise her mother on her birthday, Samantha got up early and make coffee. First, she filled the pot with water. Then she cleaned and replaced the filter. Next, she got fresh coffee, measured just the right amount, and poured it into the filter. Finally, she pressed the "on" button and within seconds, the aroma of the fresh-brewed coffee filled the house. The MAIN text structure used in this paragraph is . . .

What is sequence?

200

Willow Creek is very different from New York City. There are no tall skyscrapers in Willow Creek. All you can see are fields and sky. Instead of taxicab horns and fire truck sirens, it is so quiet at night that you can hear the crickets chirping. The MAIN text structure used in this paragraph is . . .

What is compare and contrast?

300

Joey lost his science book. He knew he would be in big trouble if he was unable to study for the final. What should he do? He thought for a few worried moments, and then decided to retrace his steps. He remembered putting the book in his backpack that morning. He had taken it out at school when his friend Kim asked to look something up. Now he remembered - Kim still had his book! The MAIN text structure used in this paragraph is . . .

What is problem and solution?

400

Every spring, shortly after the tulips bloom, farmers in Holland go through the tulip fields and cut the blooms off the tulips. This seems strange, because it leaves a field full of green stems. However, it makes the colorful tulip blooms grow back even bigger and stronger later that spring. The MAIN text structure used in this paragraph is . . .

What is cause and effect?

500

Robert James Fischer was born in Chicago. Yet he unlocked the secrets of chess in a Brooklyn apartment right above a candy store. At the age of six he taught himself to play by following the instruction booklet that came with his chess board. After spending much of his childhood in chess clubs, Fischer said that, "One day, I just got good." That may have been a bit of an understatement. At the age of 13 he won the U.S. Junior Chess Championship. He was the youngest Junior Champion ever. At the age of 14 he won the U.S. Championship

Chronological

600

There are many theories about why the dinosaurs vanished from the planet. One theory is that a gigantic meteorite smashed into the Earth. Scientists believe that the meteorite was very big. The impact may have produced a large dust cloud that covered the Earth for many years. The dust cloud may have caused plants to not receive sunlight. The large plant eaters, or herbivores, may have died off, followed by the large meat eaters, or carnivores. This theory may or may not be true, but it is one explanation on why these giant reptiles no longer inhabit the Earth.

Cause and Effect

Diagrams

100

Compare and Contrast

200

Chronological

300

Sequence

400

Cause and Effect

500

Problem and Solution

600

Chronological

Passages 3

100

Ice-cream is a delicious frozen treat that comes in a many different colors and flavors.  Two of my favorite flavors are strawberry and chocolate.  Though both of these flavors are delicious, strawberry may contain pieces of fruit while chocolate usually will not.  Even though more chocolate ice-cream is sold across the country annually than strawberry, each flavor tastes great inside of a milk shake. 

Compare and Contrast

200

Freezer burn may have wasted more ice-cream than sidewalks.  If you don’t know, freezer burn is when ice crystals form on the surface of ice-cream.  These ice crystals can ruin the texture and flavor of the ice cream.  But you can prevent freezer burn.  Since freezer burn is caused when melted ice-cream is refrozen, rather than eating your ice-cream from the container as it melts, scoop your ice-cream into a bowl and put the container back in the fridge immediately.  Doing this ought to help you solve your issues with freezer burn. 

Problem and Solution

300

No one knows the true origin of ice-cream, but the first published ice-cream recipe appears in “Mrs. Mary Eales's Receipts,” a cook book that was printed in London in 1718. Sometime around 1832, an African American confectioner named Augustus Jackson created multiple ice cream recipes and invented a superior technique to manufacture ice cream.  Ice cream soda was invented around 1874, but the real breakthrough may have been at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, when the American ice-cream cone was unveiled! 

Chronological

400

Making ice-cream is not easy.  Cream and sugar have to first be mixed in a frozen container.  Ingredients may be added at this point, if desired.  The mixture must be stirred and whipped until the cream and sugar mixture is frozen.  Depending on the equipment, this may take as long as an hour.  After the ice-cream is prepared, it must be kept frozen until it is ready to be enjoyed.  Making ice-cream is difficult, but most people would agree that it is worth the trouble. 

Sequence

500

 Have you ever had an ice-cream headache?  That’s when a painful sensation resonates in your head after eating something cold (usually ice-cream) on a hot day.  This pain is produced by the dilation of a nerve center in the roof of your mouth.  The nerve center is overreacting to the cold by trying to heat your brain.  Ice-cream headaches have turned many smiles to frowns. 

Cause and Effect

600

When it comes to making ice-cream, you can do it the traditional way, by stirring it in a frozen container, or you can use liquid nitrogen to freeze your mixture.  There are some advantages to using liquid nitrogen.  Since liquid nitrogen freezes the mixture faster, the crystal grains are smaller, giving the ice-cream a creamier texture.  The downside is that ice-crystals grow faster in ice-cream prepared using liquid nitrogen, so it must be stored at much colder temperatures.  Both methods produce a distinct texture, and both are delicious. 

Compare and Contrast