TEXT STRUCTURES The impact of organizational patterns on

TEXT STRUCTURES The impact of organizational patterns on key concepts, meaning, and style

BASIC TYPES OF TEXT STRUCTURES • Cause / Effect • Compare / Contrast • Problem / Solution • Chronological Order • Description

CAUSE / EFFECT • Shows the correlation between reasons / results, actions / consequences, and motives / outcomes. • Signal Words: o If/then o As a result… o Therefore… o Since…

COMPARE / CONTRAST • Shows similarities and differences between people, events, ideas, etc. • Signal Words: o However… o Unlike… o On the other hand… o Whereas… o Similarly… o Just like…

PROBLEM / SOLUTION • Shows an issue, dilemma, or area of concern, either preceded or followed by a solution. • Similar to cause / effect, but usually contains an opinion as to how the problem can be solved. • Signal Words: o Question/answer o Dilemma o So that… o If/then

CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER • Presents information in the order of occurrence in time. • Signal Words: o First… o Then… o Later… o Now…

DESCRIPTION • Information is presented through a general overview of a particular subject. • Often shows how something is done, highlighting features, qualities, and aspects that establish a clear understanding of the subject matter.

QUESTION STEMS FOR LITERATURE: • Compare and contrast the structures of the two poems. • Part A: In the first poem, how does the poet use form to convey theme of _____ and _____? Part B: How does the second poet create a similar relationship between form and meaning? • What structural feature of both poems parallels an aspect of each poem’s meaning?

QUESTION STEMS FOR INFORMATIONAL: • How is paragraph ____ structured? • Part A: Select the sentence containing an assumption about _____. Part B: Select a description of how the paragraph’s structure relies on this assumption. • Each sentence plays a specific role within the paragraph. Show each sentence’s role by dragging and dropping the words and phrases into the correct boxes. • What is the best description of the text’s structure?

ACTIVITY • As a group, you will go to the various stations (6 total) around the room. • There, you will find short excerpts from several different articles that are accompanied with questions particular to text structures. • Basically, you will need to read and respond after careful collaboration amongst your group. • For each question, you will also need to provide textual evidence and a brief explanation as to why your answer selection is correct.

QUESTION 1 Read the paragraph below from the section "The Whale Has a Lot to Tell. " That geologic upheaval in an area known as the cradle of humankind is believed to be responsible for the gradual change of dense, humid forests into grasslands with fewer trees. The change made it advantageous to evolving human ancestors to walk standing up. Which BEST explains the role of the second sentence in the paragraph? (A) to describe a problem that resulted from the change described in the first sentence (B) to offer an explanation for the change described in the first sentence (C) to describe an effect of the change described in the first sentence (D) to offer a solution to a problem that is described in the first sentence

QUESTION 2 Read the paragraph from the section "Friend or Foe? " In past wars, U. S. troops on the ground helped provide targeting information and intelligence. In the battle against the Islamic State group, commanders rely mainly on analysts here to process captured communications chatter, signals intelligence and other material. How does the paragraph above refine and develop the author's main ideas? (A) by comparing the systems for gathering information from different countries (B) by comparing past and current systems for gathering information (C) by explaining the advantages of using analysts (D) by explaining the disadvantages of using analysts

QUESTION 3 Read the concluding paragraph of the article. Powell and her co-workers stopped short of declaring a war on pizza, but they said its effect on kids’ diet was similar to that of sugary drinks. Pizza “should become a target for counseling for the prevention and treatment of obesity” by children's doctors, they said. Which answer option BEST explains why the author ends the article this way? (A) to describe one cause of a problem (B) to describe one solution to a problem (C) to summarize an important problem (D) to identify the importance of a problem

QUESTION 4 (From “A Glimpse of Self-Driving Reveals a Creeping Revolution”) Horseless Carriage Had Doubters Too In the short term, autonomous driving and communications functions will improve safety, Lentz said. Longer term, automation will act “more as a co-pilot” than a chauffeur, he said, allowing the current generation of baby boomers to drive well into their 90 s, longer than previous generations. Skeptics, however, should consider the cynicism that greeted the horseless carriage more than a century ago, said Adam Jonas, an auto analyst with Morgan Stanley Research. Then, he said, doubters asked: Why would anyone want to replace a horse "trustily pulling your comfortable carriage with an unreliable, oilspurting heap of gears, belts and chains? ” What purpose does the section "Horseless Carriage Had Doubters Too" serve in the article? (A) It elaborates the uncertainty associated with the introduction of autonomous driving. (B) It highlights the long- and short-term benefits of autonomous driving. (C) It describes the viewpoint of auto analysts on the future of self-driving cars.

QUESTION 5 Read the first paragraph from the section "Passion from the Very First Kite. " Chinese kite makers have much to worry about these days. As China modernizes, a new generation is playing video games instead of attaching painted silk to bamboo frames. The kite makers that remain are rapidly aging, and nearly all of them are men. Which option BEST explains why the author included this paragraph in the article? (A) to identify the craftsmen maintaining a traditional practice (B) to show Chinese culture has changed over time (C) to describe the interests of young people in China (D) to highlight the declining popularity of a traditional craft

QUESTION 6 Read the last paragraph of the introduction. The United States first placed a trade embargo against Cuba in 1960, after a revolution brought Fidel Castro's Communist government to power. The embargo made it illegal for Americans to trade most goods with Cuba. The embargo has remained in place for decades. This year, President Barack Obama announced that the U. S. would normalize relations with Cuba. The two countries have begun to make peace after years as enemies. Making exceptions to the embargo is part of that process. Which answer option explains the structure of the paragraph and the role it plays in developing the main idea of the article? (A) It summarizes the main idea of the article and makes predictions about the future of trade between the United States and Cuba. (B) It summarizes the main idea of the article by explaining why there will be more trade between the United States and Cuba. (C) It provides historical context and background information supporting the main idea of the article. (D) It provides a comparison between two countries by identifying important events in