Text Structure Signal Questions & Signal Words

Compare Problem
Cause and
and Sequence and Description
Effect
Contrast Solution

Cause is why Tells about a

Describes items or A topic, idea, person,
something happened. Shows how two or problem (and
events in order or place, or thing is
Effect is what more things are sometimes says
tells the steps to described by listing
happened. alike and/or how why there is a
follow to do its features,
(Sometimes the they are problem) then
something or make characteristics, or
effect is listed different. gives one or more
something. examples.
first.) possible solutions.

Signal Questions
What specific topic,
What is the
What items, person, idea, or thing is
What things are problem? Why is
events, or steps being described? How
What happened? being compared? this a problem? Is
are listed? Do they is it being described
Why did it happen? In what ways are anything being done
have to happen in (what does it look like,
What caused it to they alike? In what to try to solve the
this order? Do they how does it work, what
happen? ways are they problem? What can
always happen in does it do, etc.)? What
different? be done to solve
this order? is important to
the problem?
remember about it?

Signal Words
So
Same as First For instance
Because
Similar Second Such as…
Since
Alike Next Question is… To begin with
Therefore
As well as Then Dilemma is… An example
If…then
Not only…but also Before The puzzle is… To illustrate
This led to
Both After To solve this… Characteristics
Reason why
Instead of Finally One answer is…
As a result
Either…or Following One reason for the *Look for the topic
May be due to
On the other hand Not long after problem is… word (or a synonym or
Effect of
Different from Now pronoun) to be
Consequently
As opposed to Soon repeated
For this reason

Shared by: Laurie Thisius, USD 268

Text Structure Signal Questions & Signal Words

Shared by: Laurie Thisius, USD 268

 Structure Definition Signal Words Graphic Organizers Summary Questions Paragraph Frames

The author For example Concept Map What specific person, place, thing, event, or A ________ is a type of _________. It is made
explains a Characteristics are concept is being described?
Description topic, idea, Such as
up of ____________ and looks like
person, place, Looks like How is the topic described? (How does it ___________. Some ________ have
or thing by Consists of work? What does it do? What does it look
_________ such as _________. For example,
listing For instance like? Etc.)
characteristics, Most important _____________.
features, and What are the most important attributes or
examples. *Look for topic word characteristics?
(or synonym) to be
Focus is on one repeated throughout How can the topic be classified? (For ______ has several characteristics. One
thing and its the text. example, a robin can be classified as a type
components. of bird.) characteristic is _______. Another is ___,

which is important because ___________.

The author lists First, second, third Timeline What sequence of events is being Here is how a _________ is made. First,
items or events Next 1 2 3 4 5 described?
_________. Next, ____________. Then,
Sequence in numerical or
chronological
Then, after
Before, prior to Steps/Directions What are the major events or incidents that ______________. Finally, ____________.
order. Not long after occur?
While, meanwhile Step 1
Describes the Simultaneously Step 2 What are the steps, directions, or
order of events At the same time Step 3 procedures to follow? (What must be done
On (date) _________ happened. Prior to that
or how to do or Following first, second, etc.?)
make Finally Cycle/Circle _________ was ________. Then __________.
something. At last What is the beginning event?
After that _____________. In the end,
In the end
On (date) What other events or steps are included? ____________________.
At (time)
Directions What is the final outcome, event, or step?

The author Differs from Venn Diagram What items are being compared?
_____________ and ___________ are alike in
explains how Similar to
Compare two or more
things are alike
In contrast
Alike
What is it about them that is being
compared?
several ways. Both ________ and __________
have similar ___________. Both also ________
and and/or how
they are
Same as
As well as What characteristics of items form the basis as well as _________. On the other hand, one
Contrast different. On the other hand of the comparison?
way they differ is _________. Another
Both T-Chart
Either , or What characteristics do they have in difference is ___________. Although they share
Not only, but also common; how are these items alike?
_____, only ____ is the _____-est.
Yet, although, but,
However In what way are these items different?
On the other hand
Alike Different
* Also look for “-
est” words: best,
fewest, tallest, etc.

*All five text structures are tested on Kansas Reading Assessment C.Simoneau, K.Orcutt, T.Konrade © ESSDACK Side 1
 Structure Description Signal Words Graphic Organizers Summary Questions Paragraph Frames

The author lists Reasons why What happened? The reason why ________ happened was
one or more Reasons for Effect #1
because of __________. If ________ hadn’t
Cause causes or
events and the
If…then
As a result of
Why did it happen? What was the reason
for…? happened, then _________. Due to _________
and resulting
consequences
Therefore
Because of
Cause Effect #2
What was the effect(s) of the event? What
occurring, ______. This explains why _______.
Effect or effects. So happened as a result of….?
Since Effect #3
The cause of ___________is not easy to define.
Effect = What In order to What were the results or outcomes caused
happened? Leads or leads to by the event? Some people think the cause is ____________.
Effects of
Others believe the main cause is ___________.
Cause = What Caused by In what ways did prior event(s) cause or
made it Result Cause #1 influence the main event? Understanding the cause of _____________ is
happen? Outcome
important because _____________________.
Impact Will this result always happen from these
Purpose is to Influenced by Cause #2 Effect causes?
explain why or Brought about by
The effects of ________ are significant because
how something
happened, Cause #3 _______. One effect of ______ is __________.
exists, or
Another result is ________________________.
works.
Because of these outcomes, it important that
*Often there will
________________________________.
be an “if/then”
pattern

The author Problem is… Fishbone What is the problem(s)? ____________ had/is a problem because
states a Dilemma is…
________________. One possible solution is
Problem problem and
lists one or
Puzzle is…
Solved Problem
Who had the problem?
____________. This answer is good because
and more possible
solutions to the
Question
Answer Solutions
What is causing the problem?
____________. Therefore, _______________.
Solution problem. Because Why is this a problem? As a result, ____________.
Since Problem
May also This led to #2 What is wrong and how can it be taken care
include the pros The main difficulty of? The problem of __________ really boils down to
and cons for One possible Problem
the solutions. solution is… Solution What solutions are recommended or the issue of ______________. In the past, the
#2
One challenge… attempted? common solution was to_________________.
Therefore,
This led to, so that Problem What can be improved, changed, fixed, or However, this was only effective in terms of
If…then, thus #2 remedied?
__________________. There are now
What are the pros and cons of the solutions other solutions that might work. One option
offered?
would be to ______________________.

*All five text structures are tested on Kansas Reading Assessment C.Simoneau, K.Orcutt, T.Konrade © ESSDACK Side 2