Analyzing Structures of Informational Text

Signal words and phrases help a reader determine a text’s

• Features

• Thesis

• Evidence

• Organizational Pattern

The essay outlines a cause for

concern, why it’s a concern, and

what can be done to resolve it.

• Problem and Solution

• Chronological Order

• Compare and Contrast

• Description

The essay describes why something

happened and other events that

occurred because of it.

• Problem and Solution

• Cause and Effect

• Description

• Chronological Order

The essay offers a sequence

of events or steps to follow.

• Problem and Solution

• Cause and Effect

• Chronological Order

• Description

The essay describes two elements

or people and discusses how they

are alike and different.

• Problem and Solution

• Cause and Effect

• Chronological Order

• Compare and Contrast

The essay uses vivid details to

discuss a topic, offering information

to help you learn more about it.

• Description

• Compare and Contrast

• Chronological Order

• Cause and Effect

Why does an author include subheadings in the passage?

• to organize the information and inform the readers what the paragraph is about

• to make the passage look more attractive, well-structured, informative, and easier to read

• to give readers the opportunity to read only parts of the passage that appeal to them

• to make it easier for the author to categorize and edit the passage after writing it

"The government first began recognizing the holiday through ordinances in 1885 and 1886. The first bill to become a law recognizing Labor Day was passed in Oregon in February of 1887. By June of 1894, the majority of states had recognized the holiday, so the federal government passed a law making the observance of Labor Day each first Monday in September a legal holiday."

What organizational patterns did the author use for this passage?

• Description

• Cause and Effect

• Compare and Contrast

• Chronological Order

Annie is reading an essay about how using bicycles for transportation can help reduce the level of pollution. Choose the organizational pattern that the following question can help to identify.

How do bicycles influence the level of pollution?

• Cause and Effect

• Chronological Order

• Compare and Contrast

• Description

What are two purposes of subheadings?

• What are two purposes of subheadings?

• to introduce new information

• to make the text easier to read

• to make a text appear more professional

• to organize the text