Text Structure STAAR

If you’ve ever been to a Mexican restaurant, you’re probably familiar with tacos and enchiladas. While both are delicious dishes, they do have some differences. Tacos can be served on either flour or corn tortillas, and they can be filled with pretty much whatever toppings you like, such as tomatoes, meat, cheese, lettuce, and more! Enchiladas, on the other hand, are usually made with just cheese, chicken, beef, or pork. Tacos can be served with or without salsa, while enchiladas are almost always topped with some sort of sauce. The next time you eat out, order them both and see for yourself!

The author organizes this paragraph in a compare-and contrast pattern to illustrate

• the history of tacos and enchiladas

• why tacos are more popular than enchiladas

• how tacos and enchiladas are different

• where the best enchiladas are made

Have you ever been to a party and seen that the host has set up a taco bar? This is a fun way for party guests to serve themselves and create a taco that is just the way they like it. Creating your own taco bar is easy! First, purchase the ingredients, such as tortillas, several types of meat, beans, rice, cheese, and tomatoes. Then, prepare the ingredients. Next, you will need to put each ingredient into a separate bowl to keep the taco bar organized. Finally, set out paper plates, napkins, and silverware for your guests to use. Now you’ve got a delicious treat for your guests to enjoy!

By organizing this paragraph sequentially, the author is able to

• explain the steps for setting up a taco bar

• explain the benefits of having a taco bar

• compare a taco bar to other food options

• explain how to make tacos

Tacos are an extremely popular food, but their origins are unclear. Many historians have a theory that tacos did not make an appearance in America until 1905, when migrant workers from Mexico began working on railroads and and mines in America. In the years to come, as Mexican immigrants became acclimated to the food served in America, they began to incorporate American toppings into this traditionally Mexican dish. For example, they started including cheddar cheese and iceberg lettuce as taco toppings. In the 1940s, Mexican chefs created the hard taco shell that is commonly used today, and in the 1960s, Taco Bell was created. Tacos became a fast food staple soon afterwards.

A chronological order is used in this paragraph to—

• Illustrate how tacos have changed over time

• Explain the history of the taco

• Show that historians do not know when the taco was created.

• tell when Taco Bell was created

It’s happened to almost everyone. You’ve spent time creating the perfect taco with all the toppings you love. You take a big, delicious bite, and—CRACK! Your taco shell breaks in half, and now your carefully selected toppings have spilled out onto your plate. This is a common problem that many taco enthusiasts face. Thankfully, there is a solution. Taco bowls are an equally tasty way to eat your taco without spilling everything inside. Simply put all of your taco toppings in a bowl, and then top your dish with tortilla chips or a crushed up hard taco shell. It will taste exactly the same and will be easier to eat! The next time you eat a taco, give this method a try.

The author organizes this paragraph in a problem-and-solution pattern to—

• Explain a frustrating part of eating tacos

• Explain how to fix a common obstacles to enjoying tacos

• Describe how to make a taco bowl

• Persuade the reader to stop eating tacos

When it’s a hot and sweltering summer day, many people reach for a cold ice cream cone or a freezing popsicle. But if you’re going to enjoy one of these sweet treats, you better act fast! Because these desserts are frozen, they will melt if you leave them out for too long. After you take them out of the freezing, try to eat them right away. Waiting too long will result in a sticky mess that you have to clean up.

By organizing this paragraph using a cause-and-effect pattern, the author is able to—

• Explain why ice cream is so popular

• Describe popular summer desserts

• Persuade the reader to avoid these types of desserts

• . Explain what will happen if these treats are not eaten quickly

Making an ice cream sundae is an activity that is easy and enjoyable! You only need a few materials to create a dessert that everyone will love. First, decide what type of ice cream you want to use. Something simple, like chocolate or vanilla, will go well with many different toppings. Next, decide what toppings you want to use. Popular ice cream toppings include chocolate syrup, sprinkles, maraschino cherries, Oreos, and gummy worms. Finally, scoop your ice cream into a bowl and add however many toppings you’d like. Voila! Now you’ve got a delicious treat that was made just the way you like it.

A sequential pattern is used in this paragraph to—

• . inform the reader about popular ice cream toppings

• explain how to make an ice cream sundae

• compare an ice cream sundae to other types of desserts

• explain why chocolate or vanilla ice cream is better than other flavors

If given the choice, would you choose to eat a popsicle or an ice cream sandwich? Both are delicious desserts that are perfect for warm days. However, they taste very different. Popsicles are more likely to be fruit-flavored, while ice cream sandwiches are normally just chocolate or vanilla. There is also a difference in how you eat each sweet. Popsicles are formed around a wooden stick, so if you don’t eat the popsicle fast enough, the popsicle will begin to melt onto your hand. An ice cream sandwich can melt too, but it comes in a wrapper that can protect your hand from getting messy.

The author organizes this paragraph in a compare-and contrast pattern to—

• describe how popsicles taste

• . describe how popsicles and ice cream are similar and different

• describe popular ice cream sandwich flavors

• describe how popsicles and ice cream sandwiches are packaged

t’s no secret that ice cream cones are delicious, especially when you get a cone that includes your favorite toppings mixed in with your ice cream. However, if you wait too long to eat your ice cream, you’ll soon find it dripping all over your hands, wrists, and arms. This is an annoying problem to have when you’re just trying to enjoy your dessert. Eating your ice cream out of a bowl can solve this common problem. Most ice cream shops will serve your ice cream in a bowl if you ask them, and you will be able to add all the toppings you want! It will still melt if you eat it too slowly, but at least it won’t melt all over you.

By organizing this paragraph using a problem-and-solution pattern, the author is able to—

• explain why ice cream melts

• describe a common problem related to eating ice cream

• explain how to enjoy ice cream without getting messy

• explain why eating ice cream in a bowl prevents it from melting

Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are one of the most popular snacks among students today, but do you know the history of these tasty chips? Hot Cheetos were created by a janitor, Richard Montanez, who had been working in the Frito-Lay plant in California since 1976. One day, a machine at the factory malfunctioned and some Cheetos were not dusted with the famous orange powder. Richard took those Cheetos home and topped them with chili powder. Soon afterwards, he pitched his idea for a spicier version of Cheetos to company executives. His idea was accepted, and he is now in charge of the Frito-Lay Hispanic marketing team.

The author organizes this paragraph in a chronological order to

• Explain how Flamin’ Hot Cheetos were created

• Explain how Flamin’ Hot Cheetos got their name

• Compare Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to regular Cheetos

• Explain how to make Flamin’ Hot Cheetos at home

When it comes to chips, do you prefer hot and spicy chips, or are you partial to more mild flavors? Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are similar to their non-spicy counterpart in several ways. Both Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and regular Cheetos will leave your fingers coated in crumbs if you eat too many. In addition, both types of Cheetos are sold in both crunchy and puffy varieties. However, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos definitely have more of a kick than the regular type of Cheeto. If you can handle spicy foods, you may enjoy them, but if your eyes start to water at the thought of a spicy snack, you should probably stick to the regular orange Cheetos.

By organizing this paragraph using a compare-and-contrast pattern, the author is able to—

• Persuade the reader that Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are superior

• Describe how Flamin’ Hot Cheetos taste

• Illustrate how popular Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are

• Explain what both types of Cheetos have in common