The document summarizes several common text structures: chronology, compare-contrast, question-answer, problem-solution, cause-and-effect, and description. For each structure, key clues and signal words are provided to help identify the structure, along with example questions readers can ask to analyze how the structure is used.

1. Text Structures
By Keyon Payton-Kilgore

2. Chronology
The sequence in a story or nonfiction text.

3. Clues
Time-line of events
Steps in a process(“how to”)
Autobiography/biography

4. Key/Signal words
First, Afterward, Then, Before, Finally, Next, Later,
Then…

5. Does the text give a picture of the multiple events in someone’s life?
How does the sequence in the story help you understand the text?
Can you retell what happened in the text in order?
Why is the sequence important to understand the steps in the procedure?
How would a different structure change the author’s purpose?
QUESTIONS

6. Compare-Contrast
 The author stresses or highlights the
similarities
 And differences of two or more people,
places, objects, events, things, or ideas

7. Clues
 Separate sections connected by an
introductory paragraph.
 Charts or diagrams that show facts about two
or more things side by side (e.g. Venn
diagram
 May also have a question and answer text
structure

8. Key/signal words
Both, same, alike, also, similar, different, however, unlike, although,
whereas, different from, instead, but, even though

9. Questions
What is being compared?
What is being contrasted?
Why is the author comparing and/or contrasting__________?
What are the advantages of…?
What are the disadvantages of …?
How would a different structure change the author's purpose?

10. Question answer
The author asks a question and then provides the answer

11. Clues
Ask a question
An interview

12. Key/signal words
Who, what, when, why, how, true or false, yes or no

13. Question
How did the author answer____________?
Why did the author use this structure in this passage?
How would a different structure change the author's purpose?

14. Problem solution
The author describes a problem and tells what is being done to solve it

15. Clues
Not very common as a structure of an entire
text although it is embedded within many text
Some text use a question/answer structure to
establish the problem and solution

16. Key/signal words
The problem is, the solution is, the question is, solved question, reason for

17. question
What was the problem introduced in the text?
How is the problem solved?
Does the author provide a solution for________?
Why did the author use this structure in the passage?
How would a different structure change the author’s purpose?

18. Cause and Effect
The event that happens first is the cause. The one that follows is the effect. A
single cause may have more than one effect.
Cause is you read effect you get all a+

19. Clues
Not very common as a structure of an entire text, although it is embedded
within many texts.

20. Key/signal words
Because, since, as a result of, therefore, consequently, caused by, effects were

21. Question
What is the cause/effect the author is explaining?
What causes___________to happen?
What is the effect of_______________?
Why did the author use this structure in the passage?
How would a different structure change the author's purpose?

22. Description
The author gives information about a topic: person, or animal, or thing, or
objects

23. Clues
Most common type of information text structure.

24. Key/signal words

25. Questions
Who/what is being described?
Why is the author giving us information about__________?
Does the author’s description help you create an image?