Text Structures

Description of Text Structures

• OBJECTIVES:
  • Identify text structures.
  • Distinguish text structures based on examples.
  • Create an example of a chosen text structure.

Introduction of Text Structure

Text Structure refers to the organization of information in a passage. It helps organize a written text, giving its different views. Understanding text structures gives readers a better shot at determining important information when reading. Stephanie Harvey: "If students know what to look for in terms of text structure, they grasp the meaning more easily."

Parts of the Lesson

• Description
• Compare
• Contrast
• Sequence
• Cause and Effect
• Problem and Solution

Description

Description is a text structure that features a detailed description of something to give the reader a mental picture.

• Uses the senses to describe:
• Sight: black, blue, shimmering, snowy, dirty
• Smell: aromatic, foul, odorless, perfumed
• Taste: juicy, peppery, fruity
• Touch: soft, smooth, rough, cold, warm, hot
• Sound: noisy, piercing, ringing, rumble, sob
• Signal words: Illustrates, Describes, As an illustration, By observing, Depicts, To illustrate

Example:

Example 1: It was the moment of truth. The deadline was approaching, and the printer had one job—print my papers. But no, instead of smoothly humming to life, it let out a loud, dramatic cough, like it was about to give up on life. The paper got stuck halfway through, and the printer made a noise that sounded like a dying robot. I tried to pull the paper out gently, but it ripped, leaving me with a shredded mess of frustration. Every time I hit "Print," it blinked at me like it was laughing at my misery. As the clock ticked down, I could almost hear it say, "You thought I was on your side? Think again."

Example 2: He sat in his seat, feeling the pressure building up inside him. The thought of using the school bathroom made his stomach churn with unease. He glanced nervously at the clock—there was no way he could hold it until the bell rang. The sudden whirr of the electric fan overhead only made things worse. As the cool breeze blew directly at him, a wave of goosebumps prickled across his skin. His body shivered, but not from the chill—his unease grew with every passing second. The fan seemed to mock his discomfort, its steady hum a reminder of the situation he was desperately trying to avoid.

Compare

Compare examines the similarities between two or more people, events, concepts, ideas, etc. It requires the reader to organize the material in such a way as to make the connections between/among the items clear and explicit.

• Signal words: As, Alike, And, In similar fashion, At the same time, Both, By the same token, Comparable, In comparison, than

Examples:

• Shelly’s puppy is as cute as him.
• Jennie is wiser than Deb.
• Both twins have brown eyes.

Contrast

Contrast shows how two or more things are different. It doesn't always mean good vs. bad; it just shows how one thing is different from another.

• Signal words/phrases: Although, Yet, Better, But, By contrast, However, More or less, Neither/nor, Either/or

Examples:

• Mary wants a dog while Sherlock wants a cat.
• Cats are cuter than dogs. But dogs are friendlier than cats.
• Her hair is different from her twin.

Example with Detailed Explanation:

DNA and RNA are both nucleic acids, but they differ in structure and function. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is double-stranded and stores genetic information in cells. RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is single-stranded and plays a key role in protein synthesis. While DNA contains the sugar deoxyribose, RNA contains ribose. Additionally, DNA uses the base thymine, while RNA uses uracil. Both are essential for genetic processes, but DNA is mainly involved in long-term storage of genetic data, while RNA is crucial for translating that information into proteins.

Assets and liabilities are key financial concepts, but they represent opposite sides of a balance sheet. Assets are resources owned by a person or business that provide future economic benefits, such as cash, property, or equipment. Liabilities, on the other hand, are obligations or debts owed to others, like loans or unpaid bills. While assets increase a person’s or company’s net worth, liabilities decrease it. Assets can generate income or appreciate in value over time, while liabilities require repayment, often with interest. In summary, assets contribute to wealth, while liabilities represent financial obligations that can reduce wealth.