Nonfiction Text Structure

What is text structure?

• The way in which an author builds an addition on the library

• The way in which an author builds a text to serve a specific function

• The way in which an author uses graphic organizers to help readers understand material

• The way in which a building is put together

Which of the following is NOT a type of nonfiction text structure?

• Cause and effect

• Problem and solution

• Description

• Exposition

When non-native species are introduced into new areas, the consequences often include widespread disruption of the native ecosystem. This has happened repeatedly in Australia, where native species evolved in an isolated environment. In the 1920s, several thousand camels were released into the Australian outback. Originally imported to do work, the camels weren't needed once gasoline engines arrived. Because they have no natural predators in Australia, the number of now-wild camels has increased into the hundreds of thousands. The Australian camel herd is now the largest on earth. These camels drink large amounts of water, thus exhausting water holes important to native populations. They also eat so many plants that they leave insufficient food for native birds and reptiles. The native ecosystem simply can't cope with the camels.

• Description

• Compare and contrast

• Chronological

• Cause and effect

• Problem and solution

Ancient Egypt's history was thousands of years long and involved three major kingdoms with intermediate periods of disorganization in the intervening years. The Old Kingdom ruled Egypt from 2686 to 2181 BCE. During this time, powerful pharaohs completed great pyramids. The kingdom collapsed into chaos and was followed by the First Intermediate Period. In 2055 BCE, the Middle Kingdom arose. It collapsed in 1786 BCE, the beginning of the Second Intermediate Period. The New Kingdom, which included King Tutankhamun's short rule, ran from 1567 to 1085 BCE. Egypt never returned to its former glory, and Alexander the Great of Macedonia conquered it in 332 BCE.

• Description

• Sequential/Chronological

• Compare and Contrast

• Cause and effect

Chewing your fingernails can be an issue not only for how your hands look, but for your health, too. Your fingers may become infected, and your teeth may suffer damage. If you want to stop, it's best to address nail biting with a combination of "carrots" (positive rewards) and "sticks" (adverse consequences). For a "stick," you can paint your nails with bitter-tasting nail polish or another bad-tasting substance. You can also try wearing a rubber band around your wrist and snapping the rubber band whenever you're tempted to nibble your nails. As a "carrot," treat yourself to a massage, yoga, or other stress-reducing activities. Once you've succeeded in getting your nails healthy again, it should be easier to remember not to bite them.

• Description

• Compare and contrast

• Cause and effect

• Problem and solution

People with asthma may experience difficulty breathing due to inflammation, or swelling, of the inner surfaces of their airways (the passageways by which air reaches the lungs). This inflammation makes the passageways sensitive to further irritation. Exposure to substances in the air such as pollen or smoke may then trigger an asthma attack. During an attack, the muscles around the airways contract, narrowing the space through which oxygen can pass. This can prevent oxygen from entering or exiting the lungs properly. Possible symptoms during an attack include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.

• Sequence

• Problem and solution

• Description

• Cause and effect

If you think an alligator is the same as a crocodile, think again. It's true that the two types of animals are related, and they look similar. Yet although both are large reptiles with scales and webbed toes, and both live near water in tropical or semitropical areas, there are important differences between them. An alligator lives only in fresh water, while a crocodile can live in brackish, or somewhat salty, water. An alligator's snout is also wider and "U"-shaped, whereas a crocodile's is longer and "V"-shaped. Finally, their behavior differs: it's generally agreed that crocodiles are more aggressive than alligators.

• Sequence

• Description

• Compare and contrast

• Problem and solution

During World War I, British and American warships were at grave risk of German U-boat, or submarine, attacks. Warships were easily visible against the surrounding ocean. So British artist Norman Wilkinson proposed a scheme to address this concern. Rather than trying to hide the ships, he suggested painting them with bright shapes to confuse the enemy. More than a thousand ships were painted with bold patterns, including complex patterns on the bow and stern to confuse onlookers about which end was which. This technique, called dazzle camouflage, may not have actually confused the enemy, but it was effective in making the crews of the "dazzle boats" feel safer.

• Description

• Compare and contrast

• Cause and effect

• Problem and solution

Everybody gets holey socks. But you don't have to throw them away; try darning instead. Here are quick sock-darning directions. First, gather some cotton thread, lightweight yarn, a lightbulb, a special darning needle, scissors, and a rubber band, plus your holey sock. To begin, put the sock over the bulb so that you can see the hole, and hold it in place with the rubber band. Next, thread the needle and start sewing. You'll sew long stitches back and forth across the hole, all in one direction, filling the hole with thread. Now comes the fun part. Thread the yarn onto a yarn needle and weave it in and out, up and down, through the threads, across the hole in the opposite direction from the threads. This creates a sturdy patch in your sock.

• Description

• Sequence

• Cause and effect

• Problem and solution

People have different learning styles, and it can be helpful to understand your own. For example, if you're a visual learner who acquires knowledge most easily by reading or seeing, the best study methods for you may be using flash cards, writing things down, or color-coding information to remember it more easily. On the other hand, if you're an auditory learner, you tend to learn best by hearing and listening. If that's the case, you may study more effectively by reading new materials aloud or having someone else read stories, directions, assignments, or questions to you.

• Description

• Sequence

• Compare and contrast

• Cause and effect