The document outlines various text structures used in writing to organize information clearly, including descriptions, chronological sequences, cause and effect, comparisons and contrasts, and problem-solution formats. Each organizational pattern is illustrated with examples that demonstrate how authors convey their meaning and how readers can interpret the text. Additionally, the document emphasizes the importance of choosing appropriate structures to enhance clarity and comprehension.

1. Text Structures
Refers to how information within a written
text is organized.
Prepared By: JMCLopez

2. Making Information Clear
Authors choose structure to organize
information and make their meaning
clear.
Readers use strategies to support
interpretation of text.

3. Writing Clarity
Authors use organization to develop their
point of view
They use different approaches to
support their purposes
They pick an organization format that will
help make their ideas clear to the
reader

4. Readers ask…
Can I see a pattern to
the writing?
How are the ideas
divided and
presented?
Why has the author chosen this
particular organization pattern?

5. Organizational Patterns
Description
Chronological (or Sequence)
Cause and Effect
Compare/Contrast
Problem/Solution

6. Description
• Author provides descriptive details or
characteristics of a topic.
topic
detail
detail
detail
detail

7. Description Key Words
snow
sparkle
white
frozen
flakes
crystal
• For example
• Specifically
• Characteristics
include
• Next
• Another kind
• In addition
• Spatial words like
near, beyond, over,
etc.

8. Description Example 1
Coral snakes are distinguished by their
red, yellow/white, and black colored
banding. Most species of are small in
size. North American species average
around 3 feet in length, but
specimens of up to 5
feet or slightly larger
have been reported.

9. Description Example 2
Geologists classify types of rocks by
closely examining certain characteristics.
They often begin by looking at the rock
through a magnifying lens to check for
crystal structures, luster, and color.
Breaking the rock shows specimen’s
fracture or cleavage.

10. Chronological
Story or information is told in the order
that the events occurred
Elementar
y School
Middle
School
High
School
Sari’s Education

11. Chronology Key Words
 First
 Next
 Then
 After
 Before
 Sequential dates
 Events
 Order
First she sat in the hard
chair
Next she sat in the soft
chair
Finally, she sat in the
baby’s chair

12. Chronological Example (1)
First, Goldilocks sat in the great big,
Papa Bear chair, but it was too hard.
Then, she sat in the medium sized,
Mama Bear chair, but it was too soft.
Finally, she sat in the
little, bitty, Baby Chair,
and it was just right.

13. Chronological Example (2)
When the Anglo-Saxons conquered the
British Isles they introduced their
language which was composed of
common everyday words like boat and
tree.
Later, the Normans
added French words
like café.

14. Cause and Effect
Presents the causal relationship
between a specific event, idea, or
concept and the events, ideas, or
concept that follow.
Cause
Effect

15. Cause and Effect Key Words
 If/then
 Reasons
 Why
 Because
 As a result
 This led to
 Consequently
 Due to
Caus
e
Effect

16. Order doesn’t matter
Sometimes the cause will be presented
first…
…then the effect will follow
Cause
Effect

17. Cause/Effect Example (1)
Cause: During the experiment, Henry
poured the liquid bromine into the saline
solution.
Effect: His hypothesis
was proved correct
when the solution
changed colors.

18. Order still doesn’t matter
Sometimes the issues are presented
with the effects sited first…
…then the causes are offered as
explanation
Cause
Effect

19. Cause/Effect Example (2)
Effect: The future of gorillas in the wild is
at risk. Scientists predict that at the
present rate of decline, in 30 years all
the world’s wild gorillas will be gone.
Cause: Gorilla meat
is a dietary staple for
nearly 12 million
people in Africa.

20. Comparison and Contrast
Examines the similarities and differences
between two or more people, events,
concepts, ideas, etc.
Apples Oranges

21. Compare/Contrast Key Words
 Differ
 Same
 Alike
 Compare
 But
 Both
 Similar
 On the other
hand
1920’s 1950’s

22. Compare/Contrast Example (1)
Seurat painted scenes of everyday life
full of realistic people and objects with
soft edges and lines. He wanted his art
to capture “feelings” of the moment.
Picasso, on the other
hand, used distorted
images and strange
colors to create mood.

23. Compare/Contrast Example (2)
Saturn is the second largest planet in
the solar system, much larger than
Earth. It is mostly made of hydrogen. It
rotates more quickly too. A day on
Saturn is only about 10 Earth hours
long. But it takes about 30 of our years
to make one full trip around the sun.

24. Problem-Solution
Sets up a problem/s, explains the
solution, and then discusses the effects of
the solution.
Problem
• The beach was
littered with
trash.
Steps
• Jeff organized a
beach clean-up
party.
Solution
• 30 people came
to pick up trash
and soon the
beach was
clean.

25. Problem/Solution Key Words
problem is
dilemma is
if-then
because
Problem Steps Solution
so that
question-answer
problem is solved
reason why

26. Problem/Solution (1)
Native American tribes who
lived on the central plains
had to move from place to
place to follow the migrating
herds. Since they could not
build permanent homes, they
invented the teepee which
allowed them to move their
homes from place to place.

27. Problem/Solution (2)
Ted and Sam both wanted to drive
the car. They started yelling at
each other. Their mom came and
told them to stop fighting. She told
Ted he could drive the car today,
and Sam would have
a turn tomorrow.

28. Question Examples
This story is organized by—
 comparing Alfred’s life to
those of German families
 describing a series of events
in Nobel’s life
 discussing what the
scientist’s role was in
organizing the prize
 providing examples of how
people lived in 1925
Which of the following best
describes the organization of
the passage?
 Presenting in order the steps
of cave and sinkhole
formation
 Comparing the formation of a
cave to the formation of a
sinkhole
 Describing features of caves
and sinkholes
 Presenting basic information
first about caves and then
about sinkholes

29. REVIEW
What are the 5 organizational
patterns?
Why do author’s use different
types of organization?
What clues will help you
determine the pattern?

30. Remember…
Description
Chronological
Cause/Effect
Comparison/
Contrast
Problem/Solution