Nonfiction Text Structures

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Non-fiction Text Structures

• Understanding expository text by identifying text
  structure using graphic organizers

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WHY learn text structure?

• This strategy is NOT a replacement for SQ3R. You
  should still survey text, create questions, read
  mark text carefully, and recite/review
  information.
• Text structures show you the PLAN an author had
  for writing kind of like a map that they created
  to lead you to their main point.
• Using SQ3R AND understanding text structures will
  help you figure out WHY an author wrote something.

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Sequence/Chronological Structure

• Used to show steps in a process or to tell a
  series of events
• This is most similar to narrative text
• Key words first, second, last, next, then,
  finally
• Graphic organizer timeline or flowchart

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Example of sequence/chronological structure

• (1) When Arnod Paole was attacked by a vampire,
  he knew what to do to save his soul. He tracked
  the creature to its grave and thrust a stake
  through its heart, smearing his own body with the
  blood. He would often retell the tale to fellow
  villagers, drawing gasps of admiration. Life
  carried on as normal, that is until Paole fell
  and broke his neck. He was buried at the local
  graveyard where he seemed to come back to life.

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Sequence/Chronological Structure Graphic
Organizer Timeline
Arnod Paole was attacked by a vampire
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Description/Definition Structure

• Author describes unique features or
  characteristics of a thing, animal, place, etc.
• This structure is common for introducing new
  material.
• Key words for example, for instance, in
  addition, also
• Graphic organizer web

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Example of description/definition

• (5) When asked what they thought a vampire would
  look like, people describe the creature as it was
  portrayed in the 1897 novel 'Dracula' written by
  Bram Stoker. They depict him as a handsome
  aristocrat, a wealthy man who is charming
  attractive. He sleeps by day in his coffin, then
  awakes at night to take flight and find his
  unsuspecting victims whose blood he drinks.
  Despite these super-human powers, the vampire is
  scared of crosses, garlic and light.

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Description/Definition StructureGraphic
Organizer Web
Characteristic
Characteristic
Topic
Vampires
Characteristic
Characteristic
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Compare/Contrast Structure

• Author explains similarities differences
  between two items, people, places, etc.
• Key words similar to, likewise
• on the other hand, in contrast, etc.
• Graphic Organizer T-chart or Venn diagram

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Example of compare/contrast structure

• (6) There have developed over the years two
  different types of vampire. The folklore vampire
  is the one that seems to have been around for
  longest. These creatures have been reported for
  centuries by villages who claim to have been
  victimized by the vampires. The big difference
  between the two types of vampire are, the
  folklore vampire would never stray far from his
  village. He would not live in a coffin, but would
  occupy the graveyard and select a local victim.
  The media version is depicted as most people
  understand the word 'vampire' to mean a wealthy
  man with special powers, rising from a coffin
  each night to find victims. This kind of
  depiction has been the result of numerous films
  and novels.

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Compare/Contract StructureGraphic Organizer
T-chart
Topic 1 Folklore Vampire Topic 2 Media Vampire
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Cause Effect Structure

• Author tells reasons why something happened
  (cause) and/or results of something that happened
  (effect)
• Key words as a result, consequently, therefore,
  because
• Graphic organizer Cause effect chart

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Example of cause effect structure

• (7) Today science can fully explain the nature
  of a decomposing body. It is now known that after
  death the body begins to decay. This process
  includes the body swelling to a size the person
  would never reach in life. The body as it
  decomposes would produce gases. To a person two
  hundred years ago these effects caused them to
  believe that the body was actually producing gas
  and the person was breaking wind. The swelling
  was seen as a confirmation of the bodys healthy
  state.

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Cause Effect StructureGraphic Organizer
Cause Effect Chart
Effect
Cause
Body begins to decay
Effect
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Problem/Solution Structure

• Author presents a problem a possible solution
  or solutions
• Problem/Solution is similar to cause (problem)
  effect (solution) also resembles sequence of
  events since solution may be carried out in steps
• Graphic Organizer flow chart

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Example of problem/solution structure

• (8) The main method of destroying the body they
  believed to be a vampire was to drive a stake
  through its heart. This would then cause the
  bodys gases to escape causing the a sound of
  breaking wind, and in some cases, a groan. If
  they suspected that the vampire was still alive,
  they would cut the heart from the body and burn
  both body and heart separately.

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Problem/Solution StructureGraphic Organizer
Flow Chart
Dead person is believed to be a vampire