Informational Text Structures

Text Patterns
Description

Sequence Order
Chronological
Order of
Importance

Definitions

Key Word Examples

Example Phrases

Examples

Detail picture of a person, place,

thing, or an event
Can include attributes observed
by five (5) senses

Words that express: action, color,

shape, size, quantity, location,
direction, concepts, feelings, etc.

I heard . . . and turned to see

...
I smelled . . .

Thundering rain pelted the

house with quarter size
water droplets, and I
smelled the earthy
moistness in the air.

First, second, before, after, next,

finally, earlier, then, during, today,
etc.

Once I thought . . . but now

I...
We . . . until . . .

Parenthesis

Biggest, smaller, primary, minor,

minimum, maximum, highest,
utmost, etc.

First we must do . . . ; then,

we can . . .

Multiplication

Addition

Michigan and Colorado

have similar temperatures
during the year, but
Michigan has more
humidity.

Time Order
More important first
followed by less important

Cause & Effect

Provides reasons why something

happens

Because of . . .
Due to . . .
As a result of . . .

Produce is located . . . and

dairy products are
located . . .
. . . could be repaired
if . . .
. . . wont be changed
until . . .
Because of . . . we
now . . .
When . . . happened, I . . .

Compare & Contrast

View two or more items to

identify similarities and
differences
(compare similarities)
(contrast differences)

Compare: like, also, similarity,

both in the same way

. . . and . . . are both . . ., but

they differ in . . .

Contrast: but, still, yet,

on the other hand

While . . . and . . . have . . .

in common, they also

Central Idea
&
Supporting
Facts/Ideas

Presents a main idea and

provides supporting facts, ideas,
and examples to further explain
main idea

The following points support this

idea:

Position
&
Supporting
Evidence/Ideas

States a position about an

important issue and provides
supporting evidence and ideas to
support the position

Order of
Location
Problem & Solution

Order of arrangement: top-tobottom, front-to-back, left-toright, etc.

Sets up a problem and offers a
solution

Over, under, beneath, near,

behind, around, through, etc.
Reason for a problem
Proposed solution

Exponents

Division

Subtraction
The roads could be
repaired if funds are
available for road
construction.
The game was canceled
due to the rainy weather.

. . . is . . . than . . .

An example that illustrates this is .

. . For example
In addition, in fact, all in all,
equally important

. . . are an important part of . .

. They . . .

. . . should . . .
Evidence that supports this . .
.

Spiders are an important

part of our environment.
They eat destructive
bugs.
All eligible Americans
should vote. This is one
way for them to exercise
their citizenship rights.
Crestwood Middle School