Recognizing Text Structure Types

Read the following paragraph. Which text structure is used?
Have you ever made macaroni and cheese? It’s simple! First, boil some water and make some macaroni. Then, make your cheese sauce. After the cheese sauce is ready, mix it with the macaroni. Bake the entire thing in the oven. Finally, it’s time to eat!

• chronological order
• compare and contrast
• description
• problem and solution

Read the following paragraph. Which text structure is used?
The cardinal and the cedar waxwing are two common birds. Both have crests on their heads. Both are common at birdfeeders. But the birds have some differences. The male cardinal is a bright red, while the waxwing is brown.  The cedar waxwing often migrates from place to place. On the other hand, the cardinal stays in one place year after year.

• compare and contrast
• problem and solution
• description
• cause and effect

Read the following paragraph. Which text structure is used?
Park School had a terrible problem. Every day at recess, students would argue over the slides. Teachers had to spend time every day taking care of the arguments. Finally, one teacher came up with a great solution. They bought another set of slides that everyone could enjoy.

• problem and solution
• cause and effect
• compare and contrast
• description

Read the following paragraph. Which text structure is used?
 Baby painted turtles spend all winter in their nests. They have special chemicals in their blood that can keep their blood from freezing. As a result, baby painted turtles can survive freezing temperatures!

• compare and contrast
• cause and effect
• problem and solution
• chronological

Read the following paragraph. Which text structure is used?
 The Chesapeake Bay faces an uncertain future. Issues such as pesticides, too many nutrients, and habitat loss all threaten the Bay’s water quality and animal life. However, scientists are hopeful that the future may be brighter. If everyone in the Chesapeake Bay watershed works together, solutions may be found.

• cause and effect
• problem and solution
• compare and contrast
• description

Read the following paragraph. Which text structure is used?
The pond was a beautiful place to visit. The falling leaves, all different colors, decorated the surface of the water. At the edges of the pond, small wildflowers grew. The golden forest glowed faintly in the distance.

• compare and contrast
• main idea/description
• chronological
• problem and solution

Choose the clue words that indicate chronological order.

• first, next, finally, 8:30, after
• cause, effect, as a result of, because
• problem, solution, promise, struggle
• compare, contrast, similar, different

This text structure is "how are things in the text similar or different."

• Main Idea and Details
• Problem and Solution
• Cause and Effect
• Comparison

This nonfiction structure is used when an author or writer conducts an interview.

• Description
• Question and Answer
• Chronological
• Cause and Effect

The text structure that discusses what is specifically being described is ______________.

• Comparison
• Description/MI & D
• Cause and Effect
• Problem and Solution