TEXT STRUCTURES

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TEXT STRUCTURES

• Different ways expository text are organized

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DESCRIPTION

• Best when used to learn a lot of information
  about a topic lists, characteristics, features,
  and examples are used

• For example
• Most important
• For instance
• In particular
• In addition
• Such as

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SIGNAL QUESTIONS

• What specific person, place, or thing is
  described?
• What are the important characteristics?
• How is the topic described?

4
SEQUENCE

• The author lists items or events in chronological
  or numerical order a process might be explained
  or directions given

• Next
• First
• Last
• Second
• Another
• Then
• Additionally
• After that
• Finally
• At the same time

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SIGNAL QUESTIONS

• What are the steps, directions, or procedures to
  follow?
• What is the beginning event?
• What is the final outcome?

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COMPARISON/CONTRAST

• The author explains how two or more things are
  alike and/or different

• However
• Unlike
• Like
• By contrast
• In comparison
• Although
• Similar to
• Whereas
• But
• On the other hand
• Also
• As well as

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SIGNAL QUESTIONS

• What items are being compared?
• What characteristics do they have in common?
• In what ways are they different?

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CAUSE/EFFECT

• The author lists one or more causes and the
  resulting effect or effects

• As a result
• Therefore
• Because
• Consequently
• If.then
• This led to

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SIGNAL QUESTIONS

• What event happened?
• Why did it happen (the cause)?
• What was the result (the effect)?

10
PROBLEM/SOLUTION

• The author states a problem and lists one or more
  possible solutions

• Since
• Therefore
• Consequently
• So
• So that
• Nevertheless
• Accordingly
• thus

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SIGNAL QUESTIONS

• What is the problem?
• Who has the problem?
• What is wrong and how can it be taken care of?
• What can be improved or changed?