Identify text structures
Key notes:
Authors use different text structures to organise their ideas in writing. Learning to identify these structures will help you to understand the relationships between ideas in informational texts. You can also use these structures to organise your own writing.
A cause-effect structure presents the causes and the effects of a particular event, trend or situation. This structure often uses words and phrases such as because, since, as a result, due to or consequently.
A compare-contrast structure presents similarities (comparisons) and differences (contrasts) between two or more things. This structure often uses words and phrases such as like, similarly or in the same way (for comparing) or on the other hand, in contrast or unlike (for contrasting).
A problem-solution structure presents a problem and suggests one or more possible solutions. This structure often uses words such as issue, question, puzzle, propose and answer.
A sequential structure describes a series of events that happens in a certain order. This structure often uses specific dates and times or words such as first, next, during, finally and while.
Learn with an example
🔥Read the text.
King Henry VIII of England had a desperate concern: he lacked male heirs. His wife, Catherine, had borne six children, but only their daughter Mary survived. Doctors said Catherine couldn’t have more children, and Henry wanted to find a new wife who could give him a son. However, under the rules of the Catholic Church, Henry couldn’t divorce Catherine. Henry asked the Pope to annul, or declare invalid, their marriage so that he could remarry, but the Pope refused. So the king came up with a a creative—and somewhat ruthless—way out. He formed his own church, the Church of England, and the 1534 Act of Supremacy declared Henry the head of this new church. The Archbishop of Canterbury, whom Henry appointed, annulled the royal marriage and freed Henry to wed a new queen, Anne Boleyn.
🔥Which organisational structure does this text primarily use?
- problem-solution
- compare-contrast
The text uses a problem-solution structure to show how Henry VIII, in search of a male heir, created the Church of England so he could remarry.
| problem | solution |
| lack of male heir from first wife | Create church of england to get annulment |
In the text, certain words and phrases help to organise ideas in a problem-solution structure. Notice the phrases desperate concern and way out:
King Henry VIII of England had a desperate concern: he lacked male heirs. His wife, Catherine, had borne six children, but only their daughter Mary survived. Doctors said Catherine couldn’t have more children, and Henry wanted to find a new wife who could give him a son. However, under the rules of the Catholic Church, Henry couldn’t divorce Catherine. Henry asked the Pope to annul, or declare invalid, their marriage so that he could remarry, but the Pope refused. So the king came up with a a creative—and somewhat ruthless—way out. He formed his own church, the Church of England, and the 1534 Act of Supremacy declared Henry the head of this new church. The Archbishop of Canterbury, whom Henry appointed, annulled the royal marriage and freed Henry to wed a new queen, Anne Boleyn.
🔥Read the text.
Experts in emergency preparedness recommend that families practise fire drills at home. Here’s what’s involved: First, discuss what each family member would do in case of a fire. Make sure that everyone knows the locations of the exits they should use in the event of a fire. Second, make sure that all smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are in working order, and make sure that someone knows how to use them. Third, practise using fire-escape ladders if you will need them. Fourth, establish a place where family members will meet up in the event of a fire. This could be a neighbour’s house or other nearby location. Finally, conduct a complete fire drill, exiting the house and using the equipment you’d need in a real fire.
🔥Which organisational structure does this text primarily use?
- compare-contrast
- sequential
The text uses a sequential structure to show how to conduct a home fire drill.
| Order | Event |
| 1 | discuss exits and plans with family |
| 2 | check smoke detectors and fire extinguishers |
| 3 | practise using ladders if needed |
| 4 | agree on a meeting place |
| 5 | conduct a full drill |
In the text, certain words and phrases help to organise ideas in a sequential structure. Notice the words first, second, third, fourth and finally:
Experts in emergency preparedness recommend that families practise fire drills at home. Here’s what’s involved: First, discuss what each family member would do in case of a fire. Make sure that everyone knows the locations of the exits they should use in the event of a fire. Second, make sure that all smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are in working order, and make sure that someone knows how to use them. Third, practise using fire-escape ladders if you will need them. Fourth, establish a place where family members will meet up in the event of a fire. This could be a neighbour’s house or other nearby location. Finally, conduct a complete fire drill, exiting the house and using the equipment you’d need in a real fire.
🔥Read the text.
Among American Robins, the female does most of the nest-building. She starts by selecting a good site. Usually, this is a place protected from rain, wind and sun, often on tree branches hidden by leaves. Then, using grasses and small twigs, she forms a cup-shaped nest. After forming this cup, the robin adds mud to reinforce it and cement it to its location on the tree branch or other base. Finally, she lines the nest with soft grasses and hairs. All this usually takes about five or six days, and it results in a fine home, about fifteen to twenty centimetres across and seven to fifteen centimetres high.
🔥Which organisational structure does this text primarily use?
- cause-effect
- sequential
The text uses a sequential structure to show how a robin makes a nest.
| Order | Event |
| 1 | select a site |
| 2 | form cup with grass and twigs |
| 3 | add mud |
| 4 | line with soft grasses |
In the text, certain words and phrases help to organise ideas in a sequential structure. Notice the words starts, then, after and finally:
Among American Robins, the female does most of the nest-building. She starts by selecting a good site. Usually, this is a place protected from rain, wind and sun, often on tree branches hidden by leaves. Then, using grasses and small twigs, she forms a cup-shaped nest. After forming this cup, the robin adds mud to reinforce it and cement it to its location on the tree branch or other base. Finally, she lines the nest with soft grasses and hairs. All this usually takes about five or six days, and it results in a fine home, about fifteen to twenty centimetres across and seven to fifteen centimetres high.
let’s practice!
Read the text.
In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy swept onto the East Coast of the United States with peak winds hitting 160 kilometres per hour. In addition to the strong winds, the storm generated heavy rain and flooding and resulted in more than one hundred deaths. Sandy also contributed to storm surges and rising water levels all along the coast, from the US state of Florida to the US state of Maine. Parts of New York experienced tides more than three and a half metres above normal. More than eight million people lost their electricity. Dunes, boardwalks and homes were destroyed. Overall, the storm produced more than fifty billion dollars in property damage and other losses.
Results
#1. Which organisational structure does this text primarily use?
Read the text.
In the 1990s, a group of women in the African country of Gambia organised to take action on plastic bags. Lacking any recycling schemes, people had been throwing their used plastic bags on the ground, along with other rubbish. Because plastic doesn’t decompose the way other waste does, piles of bags accumulated. What could they do? The women came up with a novel answer for the plastic bag puzzle. They collected and cleaned old bags, then reused them by cutting them into strips and crocheting or knitting items such as purses from the plastic. Selling their handiwork at markets, the women raised money for additional recycling schemes, which enabled them to further reduce plastic litter.
Results
#1. Which organisational structure does this text primarily use?
Read the text.
Experts in emergency preparedness recommend that families practise fire drills at home. Here’s what’s involved: First, discuss what each family member would do in case of a fire. Make sure that everyone knows the locations of the exits they should use in the event of a fire. Second, make sure that all smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are in working order, and make sure that someone knows how to use them. Third, practise using fire-escape ladders if you will need them. Fourth, establish a place where family members will meet up in the event of a fire. This could be a neighbour’s house or other nearby location. Finally, conduct a complete fire drill, exiting the house and using the equipment you’d need in a real fire.
Results
#1. Which organisational structure does this text primarily use?
Read the text.
As Africa’s population of wild lions decreases, Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park provides an important habitat for the remaining lion population. However, lions and local villagers living around the park often come into conflict: lions kill valuable livestock, and villagers shoot the lions. To address this issue, the Ruaha Carnivore Project has worked closely with villagers. The Project has introduced stronger fences, warning systems and guard dogs to reduce livestock losses. To further encourage animal conservation, the Project provides education about the importance of protecting lions. Importantly, the Project has also provided benefits, such as local health care and scholarships, to compensate villagers for the dangers they endure. These efforts have paid off, as both the villagers’ livestock losses and lion deaths have declined.
Results
#1. Which organisational structure does this text primarily use?
Read the text.
You may have heard that eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Perhaps that’s not strictly true, but it is correct that including fruit in your diet can result in better overall health. Because it is so full of vitamins and nutrients, eating plenty of fruit can help reduce the risks of heart attaks, strokes and even some types of cancer. Many fruits, including bananas and melons, are also particularly rich in potassium, which may be helpful in lowering blood pressure. Additionally, the fibre in fruit can help combat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Results