Text Frames

Identifying Text Structures Text Structures Sample Questions to Ask Signal

Words
Is there a problem that needs solving? Problem/Solution  What is the problem? Who has the problem? problem is,
 What is causing the problem? dilemma is, if-
If the focus of the text seems to be: What are negative effects of the problem? then, because,
 What is wrong and how it can be  Who is trying to solve the problem? so that,
taken care of  What solutions are recommended or question,
 What needs to be improved, attempted? answer,
changed, fixed, remedied  What results from these solutions? puzzle is
 Who is confronting problems in  Is the problem solved? Do any new problems solved
history develop because of the solutions?

That certain conditions lead to certain Cause/Effect  What happens (or happened)? Causes? if-then,
results?  What are the important elements or factors that reasons why,
cause this effect? as a result,
If the focus of the text seems to be:  How do these factors or elements interrelate? therefore,
 Why or how something works  Will this result always happen from these because, so
 Why or how something happens causes? Why or why not? that, for,
 Why things happen in science  How would the result change if the elements or due to,
factors were different? consequently,
since, hence
That certain things are similar or Compare/Contrast  What is being compared and contrasted? however, on
different?  What characteristics are compared and the other hand,
contrasted? but, different,
If the focus of the text seems to be:  What makes them alike or similar? alike, same as,
 How things are alike/different  What makes them not alike or similar? either/or, just
 How things are positive/negative  What are the most important qualities that like, likewise,
 What choice or options are make them similar? Different? in comparison,
possible  In terms of what’s most important, are they whereas, yet,
more alike or more different? nevertheless,
similarly,
wheras

Source: Buehl, D. (2007). A professional development framework for embedding comprehension instruction into content classroom s. In J. Lewis & G.
Moorman (Eds.), Adolescent literacy instruction: Policies and promising practices (p. 200). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
 Text Frames
That someone is doing something for a Goal/Action/Outcome  What is the goal? What is to be as a result of,
specific reason? accomplished? first, second,
 Who is trying to achieve this goal? third, then,
If the focus of the text seems to be:  What actions/steps are taken to after, while,
 Who is trying to do something achieve this goal? meanwhile,
 How to do something  Is the sequence of actions/steps important? finally, at last,
 What steps, directions, or  What are the effects of these actions? in the end,
procedures to follow What happens? resulting in,
 Were these actions successful for affect of
achieving the goal?
 Are there unexpected outcomes from
these actions?
 Would other actions have been more
That a concept needs to be understood? Concept/Definition  effective?
What is theCould something else have
concept? for example,
 been done?
What category of things does this characteristics,
If the focus of the text seems to be: concept belong to? for instance,
 What something is or looks like What are its critical characteristics? such as, is like,
 How something can be described  How does it work? What does it do? including, to
 How something can be classified  What are its functions? illustrate
 What are examples of it?
 What are examples of things that share
some but not all of its characteristics?

That a viewpoint is being argued and
supported?
If the focus of the text seems to be:
 Why accept an opinion,
hypothesis, theory, or argument
 What viewpoint is expressed in a
review, editorial, persuasion, or
appeal
 How conclusions are based on
research results or studies
Proposition/Support  What is the general topic or issue? for example,
 What viewpoint, conclusion, theory, therefore, first,
hypothesis, or thesis is being proposed? second, third,
 How is this proposition supported? before, after,
 Are examples/data provided to then, finally,
support the proposition? in conclusion
 Is expert verification provided to support the
proposition? Logical argument?
 Does the author make a convincing
case for the proposition?
 What are alternative perspectives to the
author’s proposition?

Source: Buehl, D. (2007). A professional development framework for embedding comprehension instruction into content classroom s. In J. Lewis & G.
Moorman (Eds.), Adolescent literacy instruction: Policies and promising practices (p. 200). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
 Text Frames

Source: Buehl, D. (2007). A professional development framework for embedding comprehension instruction into content classroom s. In J. Lewis & G.
Moorman (Eds.), Adolescent literacy instruction: Policies and promising practices (p. 200). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.