Text Structure
Text
structure is understanding how different types of text are organized.
It provides students with a mental outline for categorizing and processing
what they read... which enables them
to move information in to the long-term memory part of their brain.
Classroom Poster | Student Bookmarks
Teaching students how to preview a text is very important. By helping them to learn how the text is laid out they will be tapping in to the organizational structure of the text. Doing this activity individually or in groups, along with a class discussion will also help to activate prior knowledge.
Steps for Previewing:
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Think about what you already know about the topic.
- Read the introductory sentence or paragraph.
- Look at all the pictures, graphs, and charts. Read the captions.
- Read all headings and sub-headings.
- Read the chapter review or summary, as well as the review questions.
Expository text includes non fiction books, textbooks, newspapers, essays and magazines. These materials o not follow a set beginning, middle, end pattern. Information is organized according to the type and purpose of the information.
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Organizational Patters
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Visual
Tool Example
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Description
or listing
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Spider
or Bubble Map
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Definition
and Example
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Concept
Map
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Compare
and Contrast
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Venn
Diagram
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Cause
and Effect
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Fishbone
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Problem
and Solution
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Problem-Solution-Result
chart
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Sequence
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Time Line | Flow Chart |
**Remember the drawing tools in Word, Kidspiration or Inspiration are perfect for making templates for word maps. There are more ideas for graphic organizers on the Prior Knowledge page.
Graphic Organizers for Narrative Text
Narrative text tells a story and is organized into a sequential pattern that includes a beginning, middle, and an end. These kinds of graphic organizers work well for narrative text.
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Story
Map
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Story
Board
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Flow
Chart
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Probable
Passage
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**Remember the drawing tools in Word, Kidspiration or Inspiration are perfect for making templates for word maps. There are more ideas for graphic organizers on the Prior Knowledge page.