lesson plan in evaluation format
TEXT STRUCTURES
TEXT STRUCTURE--how the author “builds” a text
* a text may have more than one text structure
* the one that CONTROLS the text will be the best answer
TYPES OF TEXT STRUCTURES
1. CHRONOLOGICAL/SEQUENCE- the order in which something happens
*KEYWORDS:
then next after now finally first, second, etc.
DATES &TIMES
2. CAUSE & EFFECT- something happens, then another thing happens because of it
*KEYWORDS:
because due to therefore as a result since
3. PROBLEM/SOLUTION- there is a problem that gets solved
*KEYWORDS:
problem solution solve resolve plan
4. COMPARE/CONTRAST- shows how things are ALIKE and how they are DIFFERENT
*KEYWORDS:
however unlike similar to yet but
on the other hand VENN DIAGRAM
5. PROCEDURE- steps needed to do something
* explains how to
* directions
* recipes
6. DESCRIPTION- describes how events look or feel
*full of details, adjectives, vivid language
*the reader can picture what is being described
STOP NOTES HERE
Read through each one and look for the clue words that can help you identify the text structure. Then, decide whether each one is organized in chronological order, problem and solution, cause and effect, or compare and contrast.
Circle the keywords.
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The wood thrush is a cousin to the robin. Both birds lay eggs that are a pretty turquoise blue. When robins are babies, they have spotted chests like the wood thrush. And both kinds of birds migrate in the winter. However, there are some differences. The wood thrush prefers deep forests, while the robin can live in towns and backyards. The wood thrush builds a neater nest than the robin. Both birds are fun to see flying around.
Text structure:
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The number of wood thrushes is declining, or going down. A main cause of this decline is habitat loss. The wood thrush is losing habitat in two places—the United States and Central America. In the United States, forests are being turned into shopping centers, developments, and factories. As a result, the wood thrush has fewer places to build nests and raise young. In Central America, tropical rainforests are being cut down to make room for farms. This means that migrating wood thrushes have trouble finding territory for the winter months.
Text structure:
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In spring and summer, wood thrushes often hunt for insects on the forest floor. They will hop along dead logs and poke their beaks into the leaf litter to find their food. Unfortunately, many people clean up the dead leaves from their yards. The wood thrush has trouble finding food when this happens. But you can help the wood thrush. Put aside a small section of your yard for leaves, dead logs, and rocks. This way, the wood thrush will have a place to search for food.
Text structure:
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Male and female wood thrushes build their nests in late spring. The eggs take about 13 days to hatch. After the babies emerge from the eggs, both parents help to feed them. The parents take care of the young birds for about a month. Then the little fledglings are ready for life on their own.
Text structure:
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What do you think?
Can a paragraph have more than one text structure? Why or why not?
________________________
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Text Structure Practice
Part 1: Match each text structure to a question that you should ask yourself as a reader as you read that kind of text.
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compare and contrast
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1. What are some of the causes in this text? 2. How do the details relate to the main idea? 3. What is the solution to the problem? 4. How are these items similar? 5. Which event happened first? |
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chronological order
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problem solution
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cause and effect
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main idea and detail
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Part 2: Read the text below. Then, answer the questions that follow.
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Traveling to Antarctica would be impossible for regular ships. Icebergs and sea ice could easily crush the hull of a boat, causing it to sink. But luckily, this problem can be solved. Some boats are ice-strengthened. They have special hulls that can withstand the force of the ice. Other boats are actually icebreakers. These ships have powerful engines that can break through the thick ice!
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What is the problem in this text?
How is this problem solved?
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Living at the South Pole is very different from living in Pennsylvania! For one thing, the South Pole’s elevation makes hard work difficult. Simple jobs that would take a short time around here, such as packing luggage, are exhausting. Leisure time is also different. In Pennsylvania, people can choose from many TV and radio stations. At the South Pole, there is no TV or radio. People can only communicate with the outside world through e-mail. But the biggest difference is probably the temperature! Here in Pennsylvania, a temperature of 7 degrees is freezing cold. But at the South Pole, that’s about as warm as it ever gets! |
What two things are being compared in this paragraph?
How is leisure time different at the South Pole from in Pennsylvania? _____________ ________________________
Name
Text Structure Practice
Directions: Read each paragraph. Then, write the text structure of the paragraph on the lines below.
problem and solution cause and effect chronological order description/main idea
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IDENTIFYING TEXT STRUCTURES
text structure(s) keywords
1 ____________________________________________
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4/10 _________________________________________
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text structure(s) keywords
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