English II
Text Structures
IIB
Author’s Purpose:
a writer’s reason for writing. The
author ALWAYS has a reason for
writing.
Examples of Author’s Purpose
To entertain
To inform
To persuade
To explain
To instruct
To inspire
To complain
To encourage
Text Structure:
the way information is presented or
organized.
Each text structure helps an author to achieve
his or her purpose for writing.
Examples of Text Structures
Description
Comparing or
contrasting
Chronological order
Cause and effect
Process
Problem and solution
Description:
Using details or imagery to
present information.
Sometimes the author may use a description
“to emphasize” something.
This means he/she maybe be trying
to stress or call attention to
something in the passage.
Purple book pages 88-90.
Compare (Similarities)
and
Contrast (Differences):
To show how things are alike or different.
However
Although
On the other hand Yet
As opposed
In the same way
But
Like
Different
Similarly
Purple book pages 92-93.
Sequential Order
or Chronological Order :
giving events in the order that they
occurred in time.
Used for narrating a story or writing a biography.
Clues would be words like first, then, next, after,
before, and last.
Dates may also be used.
Purpose is usually to build on
events as they occurred,
which in some cases also
builds suspense.
Process
or Procedural Order :
giving the steps of a process in the order
they should be performed.
Similar to sequential order
but
instead of giving events in the order that they
occurred, a writer explains the steps of a
process in the order they should be
performed.
Order of Importance:
organizing details, reasons, etc. in
the order of their importance.
Either from most important to least important or
from least important to most important.
Often seen in persuasive writing.
Spatial Order :
organizing the description of items
according to their position or
closeness to each other.
Could be used to describe a room that acts as a setting in
a narrative.
Purple book pages 97-98.
Cause & Effect:
a relationship that explains how one
thing makes something else happen.
Can be stated or implied.
The cause answers the question “Why did this happen?”
because
(the) cause is
Due to
First
For
Since
Cause & Effect:
(continued)
The effect answers the question “What happened as a
result?”
As a result
Consequently
Resulted in
(the) result is
Therefore
Thus
Problem & Solution:
Giving a conflict or issue (the problem)
and its answer (the solution).
The problem can be a conflict or some other kind
of issue. The solution can be an answer or a
resolution to the problem.
Purple book page 101.
Reading 2 passages:
Sometimes an author may choose one type of
organization over another for a specific purpose.
And sometimes the 2 passages are not
related.
Reading 2 passages:
(tip)
Read the first passage. Identify the text structure . Look
at your answer choices and cross off any choices that do not
match the passage.
Then read the second passage and identify its
text structure. Look at your remaining answer
choices .
The correct answer SHOULD
Purple book page 103-105.
be obvious. 
Possible test questions
How does the organizational structure of this paragraph
support the author’s purpose?
How does the organizational structure of this paragraph
relate to the author’s purpose?
How does the organizational structure of this passage
help convey the author’s purpose?
How does the descriptive information in lines 1-42
support the author’s purpose in the passage?
Possible test questions
(continued)
Which statement below accurately evaluates the
organizational structures of the excerpts?
How do the organizational structures of the excerpts
support the author’s purpose?
In comparing the two paragraphs above, how does
structure support the meaning of the texts?
Terms
Vulnerable
Reveals
Visualize
Justifies
Persuasive tone
Appreciate
Chronology
Classify
Objective
Sincere
Emphasize
Demonstrate facets
Regarding
Commonalities
 Conveys
Intimidate
Isolation
Illuminate
Highlights
Consequences
Clarifies
Mississippi SATP English II
Revised: Multiple Choice
Student Review Guide for
Vocabulary/Reading