Text Structures

Mrs. Zarate
9th Grade
English

The terms used in this presentation was adapted from the online site
https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/text-structure/
 California Content Standards & Objectives

Objective:
• Students will be able to cite text in order to support analysis with the use of text
structures. There will be 5 different ways how to establish an effective a text structure.
Content Standards:
•
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says
explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
•
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.5
Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within
it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects
as mystery, tension, or surprise.
 Recall
• Before jumping into the PowerPoint, I want you to recall a time you
read a book but you were not able to remember certain important
events.
• Then, with your elbow partner discuss the book and how it affected
you.
• Before beginning this lecture I want to advise students to have their
guided notes out during the presentation and fill them out as we go.
 So what is Text Structures?
• Text structure refers to how the information within a text or passage
is organized.
 5 Text Structures
• Sequence
• Problem & Solution
• Compare and Contrast
• Description
• Cause & Effect
4 Text Type

Narrative Expository

Technical Persuasive
 What are Text type?
• Narrative: tells a story and entertains. Characters, setting, problem,
resolution.
• Expository: facts/information.
• Technical: steps and information to perform a task.
• Persuasive: author tries to convince reader to take a certain opinion
or perform a certain action.
 Why does it matter?
• A text structure is blueprint.
• It refers to how a piece of text is built.
• Authors and writers use different text structures to build their literary
pieces
• Each text structure is unique and has a different effect.
 Sequence
• One organizational text structure is called sequence or process
writing.
• The information is organized in steps or a process is explained in the
order in which it occurs.
• Example: How to serve yourself cereal.
1. Get bowl, milk, and cereal.
2. Then grab bowl. Begin mixing in the cereal and milk together.
3. Grab spoon and enjoy.
Now you try!

• Please take 5 minutes and write down all the steps needed to
make a delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Include all
the utensils needed.
You did it!

• You successfully established a sequence text structure.

• This method of organization is used for instructions or directions.
• However, it can also be used to explain a process in order.
Problem and Solution

• A problem is describe and a response or solution

is proposed or explained.
• Example: Million of sea animals die of suffocation
due to waste in the sea. Sea creatures could be
saved if people picked up their waste at the beach
rather than throwing it on the ground and
littering. By picking up after ourselves we can save
our sea creatures!
 Now you try

• Set up a problem and find a

solution about a major
epidemic that your
environment is facing.
Provide facts and ideas that
we can do in order to save
the world a step at a time.
 Compare and Contrast
• Comparing how things are similar and different.
Example:
 Now you try!
• On your piece of complete the intertwined circles. In the middle
students must put down the similarities of a book and a movie. In the
right students must write down all the difference of a book and on
the left students must write down all the difference of a movie.
Students will have 5 minutes to complete this small exercise.
 Description/ List Structure
• Descriptive details about characteristic, actions, etc.
• This structure resembles an outline. Each section opens with its main
idea, then elaborates on it, sometimes dividing the elaboration into
subsections.
Disney
• Example:
In the city
of Anaheim

Animation
Rides Food
and fun
 Now you try!
• On your sheet of paper please establish a diagram branch previously
seen in the slide. The main subject is cars then branch out all the
details you know about cars.
 Cause and Effect
• Gives reason and explanation for occurring.
• Something causes and something else happens.

He fell from the tree

He climbed a tree.
and broke his leg.
 Now you try!
• Sit down and analyze a situation that was encountered in the novel
we had read last week in class “The Great Gatsby”. In your paper
establish the diagram previously presented and write down a cause
and effect that occurred in the story. You have 5 minutes.
 Recall
• https://youtu.be/7kWGQ-_ipBY

After watching the video I want students to name their favorite text
structure and explain why is it crucial to establish these structures
before beginning to write.