Identify text structures
Key notes:-
✈️ Authors use different text structures to organise their ideas in writing. Learning to identify these structures will help you to understand the relationships between ideas in informational texts. You can also use these structures to organise your own writing.
✈️ A cause-effect structure presents the causes and the effects of a particular event, trend or situation. This structure often uses words and phrases such as because, since, as a result, due to or consequently.
✈️A compare-contrast structure presents similarities (comparisons) and differences (contrasts) between two or more things. This structure often uses words and phrases such as like, similarly or in the same way (for comparing) or on the other hand, in contrast or unlike (for contrasting).
✈️ A problem-solution structure presents a problem and suggests one or more possible solutions. This structure often uses words such as issue, question, puzzle, propose and answer.
✈️ A sequential structure describes a series of events that happens in a certain order. This structure often uses specific dates and times or words such as first, next, during, finally and while.’
Learn with an example
🐵Read the text.
You don’t often see a goose flying by itself. The trouble is that it’s hard work for a goose to fly alone. The wind pushes back against it as it flies. More commonly, you’ll see a group of geese flying in the shape of a ‘V’. When they do, the geese in front block some of the wind. This makes it easier for the geese flying behind. The geese take turns doing the hard work at the front of the ‘V’. Using this plan, they are able to fly farther without getting as tired.
🐵Which text structure does the text use?
- problem-solution
- descriptive
The text uses a problem-solution structure to show how geese keep from getting tired when they fly.
| Problem | Solution |
| geese get tired when flying against the wind alone | flying in a ‘v’ helps the geese in the back and changing . places shares the hard work |
In the text, certain words and phrases help to organise ideas in a problem-solution structure. Notice the words trouble, easier and plan:
You don’t often see a goose flying by itself. The trouble is that it’s hard work for a goose to fly alone. The wind pushes back against it as it flies. More commonly, you’ll see a group of geese flying in the shape of a ‘V’. When they do, the geese in front block some of the wind. This makes it easier for the geese flying behind. The geese take turns doing the hard work at the front of the ‘V’. Using this plan, they are able to fly farther without getting as tired.
🐵Read the text.
The Great Chicago Fire burned for two days in October 1871. There are several reasons why the fire did so much harm. The fire spread quickly through Chicago because many of the city’s buildings were wood. The fire was also harder to fight due to the dry weather. Luckily, the next day, it started to rain. As a result, firefighters were finally able to get the fire under control.
🐵Which text structure does the text use?
- compare-contrast
- cause-effect
The text uses a cause-effect structure to show why the Great Chicago Fire was so bad.
| Cause | Effect |
| buildings were made of wood | fire spread quickly through the city |
| weather was dry | fire was hard to fight |
| it rained | firefighters could control the fire |
In the text, certain words and phrases help to organise ideas in a cause-effect structure. Notice the words reasons and because, as well as the phrases due partly to and as a result:
The Great Chicago Fire burned for two days in October 1871. There are several reasons why the fire did so much harm. The fire spread quickly through Chicago because many of the city’s buildings were wood. The fire was also harder to fight due to the dry weather. Luckily, the next day, it started to rain. As a result, firefighters were finally able to get the fire under control.
🐵Read the text.
The country of Zambia, in Africa, is home to many important wild animals. There are laws that protect these animals. Sadly, people still hunt them. So, the government brought in dogs to help in the fight against illegal hunting. The dogs can find traps before they catch wild animals. The dogs also aid wildlife officials in finding and catching the hunters. The dogs’ work has saved thousands of wild animals.
🐵Which text structure does the text use?
- problem-solution
- compare-contrast
The text uses a problem-solution structure to show how trained dogs help protect wildlife in Zambia.
| Problem | Solution |
| hunters killing wildlife in Zambia | dogs trained to find traps and catch hunters |
In the text, certain words and phrases help to organise ideas in a problem-solution structure. Notice the words sadly, help, aid and saved:
The country of Zambia, in Africa, is home to many important wild animals. There are laws that protect these animals. Sadly, people still hunt them. So, the government brought in dogs to help in the fight against illegal hunting. The dogs can find traps before they catch wild animals. The dogs also aid wildlife officials in finding and catching the hunters. The dogs’ work has saved thousands of wild animals.
let’s practice!
Read the text.
In the United States in 1964 and 1965, twenty thousand babies were born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). Some eleven thousand babies were born deaf, 3,500 with impaired vision and countless others with other health concerns. These babies’ mothers had contracted the rubella virus during their pregnancies. Medical researchers set to work to formulate a vaccine against rubella and prevent a repeat of this calamity. The first rubella vaccine was licensed in 1969. By 2004, with the help of the vaccine, rubella was eliminated in the United States.