Text Structures/Organizational Patterns

Information is presented in a list, either in bulleted format, with numbers, or using commas. Order does not matter. Examples include "to do" lists & ingredients for a recipe.

• Generalization

• Cause and Effect

• Concept - Definition

• Enumeration/Listing

The text will present an issue/problem and ways it can be fixed/solved.

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

• Process

• Sequence

A series of events are presented in a specific order, often using signal words like "first", "next", "then" & "last".

• Sequence

• Process

• Concept - Definition

• Problem and Solution

The text will define a word or idea. This will be factual and something that can be confirmed in a reference material (dictionary, encyclopedia, etc).

• Process

• Generalization

• Concept - Definition

• Cause and Effect

A series of steps that will result in the creation of something (a product). "How-To" writing, directions in recipes, and tutorials are procedural texts.

• Sequence

• Process

• Cause and Effect

• Problem and Solution

Non-specific statements are made about a topic, person, idea, etc. Words like "mostly", "likely", "many", "usually", and "much of the time" are used through the text.

• Concept - Definition

• Enumeration

• Generalization

• Process

A series of events are presented in the order that they happen according to specific times and dates. Signal words: years, dates, times.

• Enumeration

• Process

• Sequence

• Chronological

The text will explain the reasons for an event and/or the results of different events. Signal words/phrases: because of, caused by, as a result.

• Enumeration

• Problem and Solution

• Sequence

• Cause and Effect

The text will discuss the similarities (comparisons) and differences (contrasts) between two things. Signal words: although, however, unlike, similarly

• Compare and Contrast

• Enumeration

• Concept - Definition

• Sequence