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Identifying Text Structure # 1

Name :

Directions: Read the passages. Identify the text structure. Write information from the passage into the appropriate graphic organizer.
Which passage is chronological?
Put information from the passage onto the
grap hic o rganizer.

Whi ch passage is compare and contrast?

Put informat ion from the passage onto the
graphi c organ izer.

Which passage is sequence?

Put information from the passage onto the
graphic organi zer.

Passage Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __

Passage Name : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Passage Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

What is bein g comoared & contrasted?

4.

First Event
Third Event

Ea rliest Poi nt
In Time

Most Recent
Point in Time

Second Event

Ways Similar

Ways Different

I.

I.

2.

2.

3.

3.

Which passage is cause and effect?

Wh ich passage is problem and solution?

Which passage is chronological?

Put information from the passage onto the

graphic organ izer.

Put information from the passage onto the

graphic organ izer.

Put information from the passage onto the

graphic organizer.

Passage Name: _ _ _ __ __ _ _ __

Passage Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Passage Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

lc;;;;;,1-H-

Ic;;.;;;

-h
r

Effect

Problem

Solution

First Event

//

Third Event

Soluti on

Earliest Point
In Time

Most Recent
Point in T im e

Second Even t

Passage #1 - Chemical and Physical Changes

All matter, all things can be changed in two ways: chemically and physically. Both chemical and physical
changes affect the state of matter. Physical changes are those that do not change the make-up or identity of the
matter. For example, clay will bend or flatten if squeezed, but it will still be clay. Changing the shape of clay is
a physical change, and does not change the matter's identity. Chemical changes turn the matter into a new kind
of matter with different properties. For example, when paper is burnt, it becomes ash and will never be paper
again. The difference between them is that physical changes are temporary or only last for a little while, and
chemical changes are permanent, which means they last forever. Physical and chemical changes both affect the
state of matter.

Passage #2 - The Best PB & J Ever

When l got home from school after a long boring day, I took out the peanut butter, jelly, and bread. After
taking the lid off of the jars, I spread the peanut butter on one side of.the bread and the jelly on the other, and
then I put the two pieces of bread together. After that, I enjoyed it while watching " Cops" on the TV. I swear,
. that was the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich I ever ate.

Passage #3 - Bobby Fischer

Robert James Fischer was born in Chicago but unlocked the secrets of chess in a Brooklyn apartment right
above a candy store. At the age of six he taught himself to play by following the instruction booklet that came
with his chess board . After spending much of his childhood in chess clubs, Fischer said that, "One day, l just
got good." That may be a bit of an understatement. At the age of 13 he won the U.S . Junior Chess
Championship, becoming the youngest Junior Champion ever. At the age of 14 he won the U.S. Championship
and became the youngest U.S. Champion in history. Fischer would go on to become the World Champion of
chess, but he would also grow to become his own worst enemy. Instead of defending the title, he forfeited it to
the next challenger without even making a move, and the rise of a chess superstar ended with a fizzle.

Passage #4 - Save the Tigers

Dr. Miller doesn ' t want the tigers to vanish. These majestic beasts are disappearing at an alarming rate. Dr.
Miller thinks that we should write to our congress people. If we let them know that we demand the preservation
of this species, maybe we can make a difference. Dr. Miller also thinks that we should donate to Save the
Tigers. Our donations will help to support and empower those who are fighting the hardest to preserve the
tigers. We owe it to our grandchildren to do something.

Passage #5 - The Great Recession

Many people are confused about why our economy went to shambles in 2008. The crisis was actually the result
of a combination of many complex factors . First, easy credit conditions allowed people who were high-risk or
unworthy of credit to borrow, and even people who had no income were eligible for large loans. Second, banks
would bundle these toxic loans and sell them as packages on the financial market. Third, large insurance firms
backed these packages, misrepresenting these high-risk loans as safe investments. Fourth, because of the ease
of acquiring credit and the rapid growth in the housing market, people were buying two or three houses,
intending to sell them for more than they paid. All of these factors created bubbles of speculation. These
bubbles burst, sending the whole market into a downward spiral , causing employers to lose capital and lay off
employees. Consumer spending then plummeted and most businesses suffered. The economy is like a big boat,
and once it gets moving quickly in the wrong direction, it' s hard to turn it around.

Passage #6 - Screen Protector

Before applying the screen protector, clean the surface of your phone ' s screen with a soft cloth. Once the
surface of your screen is clean, remove the paper backing on the screen protector. Evenly apply the sticky side
of the screen protector to your phone's screen. Smooth out any air bubble trapped on between the protector and
the phone screen. Enjoy the added protection.

Identifying Text Structure 4

Directions: read the following passages and determine the text structure. Then, put information from the
text into the appropriate graphic organizer. Remember to focus on the main idea of each paragraph.
S atial

Chronolo ical

Time Line
Ali.kt:

Different

ii,...__.._I _.__1
Problem and Solution

Cause and Effect

~II
J

Order of Im ortance I Se

I Cause#! I\
---Pr~o-bl-em~__,~~~S-o-h~ruo_n~~

Cawe #2

'7

'.---Effe-ct--.

Cause #3

1. Most people have had red pizza, or pizza covered with red sauce, but have you ever had white pizza? White
pizza is made in almost the same way as red pi zza: the dough rises and is rolled out, toppings are applied, and it is
cooked in an oven-but the key difference is that white pizza does not have any tomato sauce on it. Instead, a
white pizza may have olive oil or no sauce at all. I like white pizza more than red pizza because you can really
taste the ingredients. Adding some fresh tomatoes to a white pizza will give it that tomato flavor without the
completely overwhelming taste of the red sauce that covers most pizzas. If yo u have not had a white pizza, I
recommend that yo u order or make one today.

In what way is this text mainly structured?

- - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -- -

Put information from the passage into the graphic organizer:

Use a separate sheet of paper if you need more space.

2. The foundation of every pizza is the crust, and good crust comes from good dough. You might be surprised to
learn that pizza dough is made from nothing more than flour, water, yeast, olive oil, salt, and sometimes sugar.
Start by adding your yeast packet to a cup of warm water. Let the yeast activate, and then add two cups of flour,
two tablespoons of olive oil, two teaspoons of sugar, and a teaspoon of salt. Mix all of that together and wait ha lf
an hour for the dough to ri se. Now you' re ready to roll it out!

In what way is this text mainly structured? - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - -- - - -- - - - Put information from the passage into the graphic organizer:
Use a separate sheet of paper if yo u need more space.

3. Cooking the perfect pizza at home can be quite a challenge. You may find that it's difficult to get
your oven to the right temperature . If the oven is too hot the crust will burn, become hard, and taste bad.
If your oven isn 't hot enough, the crust may get soggy. Even at the perfect temperature, extra moisture
from your ingredients may prevent the bottom of the crust from fully cooking, but don ' t let oven
temperature stop you from building the pizza of your dreams. Get yourself a pizza stone. A pizza stone
will get very hot when preheated and will allow your crust to fully cook without burning it. Then you
can pile the ingredients on your pizza and have a crispy crust that isn' t burned. That' s the way to go.
In what way is this text mainly structured? _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Put information from the passage into the graphic organizer:
Use a separate sheet of paper if you need more room or make a mistake.

4. Pizza is often viewed as a j unk food , and it is true that some pizzas are high in salt, fat, and calories, but there
may al so be some benefit to eating pizza. Some studies have found that lycopene, an antioxidant that exists in
tomato products that are often used in pi zza, may prevent some form s of cancer. Dr. Silvano Gallus, of the Mario
Negri Institute for Pharmaceutical Research in Milan, studied the eating habits of people who developed cancer of
the mouth, throat, esophagus, and colon. He concluded that people who ate pizza at least once a week had
significantly less chance of developing these cancers. Here ' s to your health.

In what way is this text mainly structured? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - Put information from the passage into the graphic organizer:
Use a separate sheet of paper if you need more room or make a mistake .

5. If you ask me, the perfect pizza has a thin crust, but not too thin. Even though I'm from Chicago, I
prefer the New York style crust. Your perfect pizza might have tomato sauce on it, but mine has pesto
on top of the crust. On the pesto I'd like to see lots of cheese: a full layer of shredded mozzarella and
Romano cheese, and on top of the shredded mozzarella, I'd like to see some slices of fresh mozzarella.
Now you might think I'm crazy for this one, but I'd really like to see some goat cheese in the crust. To
top it all off, I'd like to see it polka-dotted with pepperoni slices. Now that' s what I call a pizza pie.
In what way is this text mainly structured? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ __ _ _ __ _ _ __
Put information from the passage into the graphic organizer:
Use a separate sheet of paper if you need more room or make a mi stake.

Text Structure 5
Directions: Read the passages and on a sheet of paper, put the information from each passage into an appropriate graphic organizer.
The following graphic organizers are examples . Feel free to make changes if necessar
Chronolo!!ical

Seauence

Time Line

IJ

Cause and Effect

i::::: ~I.--

-Effi-ect..._,I

Problem and Solution

Problem

Solution

Alike

Diffcm>t

Cause #3

1. Tornados and Hurricanes

Hurricanes and tornados are both amazing yet deadly natural phenomena. Both generate deadly conditions, but in different ways. Tornados are
likely to damage people and property with their high winds, which go up to 300 miles per hour, but hurricanes are generally more feared for their
flooding. Also, hurricanes can produce tornados, which makes them quite dangerous indeed.

2. Where Did This Tornado Come From?

No one knows exactly what causes tornados, but some scientists believe that when warm air meets cold air, a tornado may form. The reason for
this is that the warm air is lighter than the cold air, so it rises up fast and meets different winds moving different directions. Under the right
conditions, this can cause a tornado. Though there is still much mystery surrounding tornados, many people believe that when warm moist air
meets cool dry air, tornados can result.

3. Twista
Carl Terrell Mitchell , better known by his stage name Twista, was born in 1972. Nineteen years later Mitchell's first album, " Runnin' Off at da
Mouth," debuted. In 1997, after appearing on a hit song, Twista was signed to Atlantic Records. Under that label he released " Adrenaline Rush"
and formed the group Speedknot Mobstaz in 1998. His 2004 album Kamikaze went to number-one on the U .S. Billboard 200 album chart.

4. The Twist
The twist is a dance inspired by rock and roll music. To do the Twist, first stand with your feet approx imately shoulder width apart. The torso
may be squared to the knees and hips, or turned at an angle so one foot is farther forward than the other. Then, hold your arms out from your
body, bent at your elbow. Next, rotate your hips, torso, and legs as a single unit with your arms staying more or less stationary. Every so often
lift one leg off of the floor for styling. Now you're doing the twist!

5. Dancing
There are many reasons why people dance. Some people dance for fun , just because they enjoy dancing. At other times, people dance for
exercise or for weight loss, because dancing can really get your heart beating. A lso, sometimes people dance to try to get boyfriends or
girlfriends. Some people think that good dancing is attractive. There are many reasons why people dance.

Text Structures and the Revolutionary War

Directions: Read the passages and on a sheet of paper, put the information from each passage into an appropriate graphic organizer.
The following graphic organizers are examples. Feel free to make changes if necessary.

Chronolo!!ical
Time Line

[I I I- I i

Seauence

Cause and Effect

I Cause#!J\
~Jjl...--Efli-ect--.1

Problem and Solution

I.

Problem

H l
Solution

Ahb

Dilf~rent

1. Divisions
The Revolutionary War was a time of great division. Americans were split into two groups: Patriots and Loyalists. Patriots were Americans who supported the
struggle for independence. They believed that Americans should be free from the control of an English king. They fought against the English to establish a new
government in America. Loyalists were Americans who remained loyal to the crown. Some of them were happy under English rule. Others believed that they might
be rewarded after the Americans lost the war. Though both Patriots and Loyalists lived in America, a deep division ran between them.
2. The Turning Point
There were many important battles in the Revolutionary War, but perhaps none were more important than the Battles of Saratoga. The results of the Battles of
Saratoga shifted the momentum of the war toward the Americans. Though they had previously lost numerous battles, the Americans captured British General
Burgoyne's army during the Battles of Saratoga. This victory convinced other countries, especially France, that the Americans could win the war. Because of this,
not only did France declare war on England, but other nations also began openly supporting the American fight for independence. The Battles of Saratoga will be
remembered as a pivotal moment in this fight.
3. Guerilla Warfare
Jn most cases American so ldiers could not stand toe-to-toe against British soldiers. The British were better trained, better armed , and more experienced . When the
American soldiers attempted to match the British, they suffered heavy losses. The Americans had to use what advantages they had, so they developed what are now
known as Guerilla Warfare tactics. Guerrilla warfare is a form of fighting where small groups of fighters use ambushes, sabotages, and the elements of surprise to
harass a larger, less mobile army. By using Guerilla Warfare tactics, American soldiers were able to equalize some of the British's advantages on the battlefield .
4. Fire Cake
American soldiers during the Revolutionary War suffered horrible conditions to win independence. You can experience some of these conditions by eating the same
food that so ldiers ate at Valley Forge: fire cake. Fire cake is a horrible tasting blob of burnt gluten . To make some first mix flour with water until you get thick, damp
dough. Then, form it into a cake and in your palms. Put this doughy lump on a greased cookie sheet and bake it until it is brown . This will be very similar to the
awful fire cakes that American soldiers ate at Valley Forge. Enjoy!
5. Allies
During the Revolutionary War, Americans learned just how important friends can be. When the Americans declared independence on July 4th, 1776, they had
virtually no allies. But on February 6th, 1778, after the American victory at Saratoga, the French assisted the American cause. The French went into deep debt
helping the Americans. The Americans would receive additional help in June of 1779, when the Spanish joined the fight against the British. They would secure
Southern ports and supply lines. Without the help of these allies, many more Americans would have died in the fight for independence.

Text Structure Si nal Questions & Si nal Words

Cause and
Effect

Compare
and
Contrast

Problem
and
Solution

Sequence

Description

Cause is why
Shows how two
or more things
something
are alike and/or
happened.
how they are
Effect is what
happened .
different.
(Sometimes the
effect is listed
first.)

Describes items
or events in
order or tells
the steps to
follow to do
something or
make
somethin

Tells about a
problem (and
sometimes says
why there is a
problem) then
gives one or
more possible
solutions.

A topic, idea,

person, place,
or thing is
described by
listing its
features,
characteristics,
or exam les.

Si nal Questions
What happened?
Why did it
happen? What
caused it to
happen?

What things are

being compared? In
what ways are
they alike? In
what ways are
they different?

What items,
events, or steps
are listed? Do they
have to happen in
this order? Do
they always happen
in this order?

What is the
problem? Why is
this a problem? Is
anything being
done to try to
solve the problem?
What can be done
to solve the
problem?

What specific topic.

person. idea. or
thing is being
described? How is it
being described
(what does it look
like, how does it
work , what does it
do, etc .)? What is
important to
remember about it?

Si nal Words
So
Because
Since
Therefore
If. .. then
This led to
Reason why
As a result
May be due to
Effect of
Consequently
For this reason

Same as
Similar
Alike
As well as
Not only ... but also
Both
Instead of
Either ... or
On the other hand
Different from
As opposed to

First
Second
Next
Then
Before
After
Finally
Following
Not long after
Now
Soon

Question is ...
Dilemma is ...
The puzzle is ...
To solve this ...
One answer is ...
One reason for
the
problem is ...

For instance
Such as ...
To begin with
An example
To illustrate
Characteristics
*Look for the
topic word (or a
synonym or
pronoun) to be
repeated

Shared by : Laurie Thisius, USO 268