Republic of the Philippines

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION COLLEGE

Tacloban City

Preliminary Period
1 Semester AY 2021-2022
st

1ST QUARTER
WEEK TWO

MODULE
in
ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND
PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

PREPARED BY:
MARIENELL C. PIÑEDA

TEXT STRUCTURES

INTRODUCTION
 Structure is an important feature of academic writing. A well-structured
text enables the reader to follow the argument and navigate the text. In
academic writing, a clear structure and a logical flow are imperative to a
cohesive text. Meaning is actually mapped onto the structure of language.

In this module, you determine the way an author arranges information in his
writing. Also, this helps you understand meaning and gather information while
reading the text and consequently provides ideas that enable you to organize
your thoughts as you write your own.

MELC

 Uses knowledge of text structure to glean the information he/she

needs.

PERFORMANCE
STANDARD

 The learner produces a detailed abstract of information.

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson students should be able to:
 identify the text structure used in the academic texts;

DIAGNOSTIC

Directions: Read the passages and determine how each is mainly structured.
Choose your answer from the list of words below and write the letter of your
choice on the space provided before the number.

a. cause - effect b. compare - contrast c. sequence

d. descriptive e. question – answer f. problem- solution

________1. Apple’s newly unveiled flagship is the iPhone XS which comes hot of
the heels of Sony’s latest contender, the Xperia XZ3. They’re both attractive,
but which is best? Let’s take a closer look. Both phones are prone to cracks and
scratches because of all that glass. But, they differ in water-resistant
capacity. iPhone XS has IP68 rating allows them to be submerged for up to half
an hour in up to 2 meters of water. While, the Xperia XZ3 has an additional IP65
rating which covers jets of water from any direction. With these, Japanese
manufacturer Sony has struggled to gain a foothold in the smartphone market,
while its American competitor iPhone has dominated.

________2. Since I made it to the honor roll every quarter this year, my mom is
going to buy me a new phone for my birthday. So, I feel so excited whether to
get an iPhone or a Galaxy. Getting one would give me a chance to go through my
old music collection. That would be cool. It’s worth a shot.
 _________3. What type of plant is a corn? Corn belongs to a family of grass. It
is a grass with seeds called kernels. Very few kernels grew on wild corn grass.
It took thousands of years of choosing the corn grass plants with the biggest
seeds, or kernels, to make what we enjoy today as corn on the cob. Now, we all
know that corn is a grass.

_________4. The foundation of every pizza is the crust, and good crust comes
from good dough. In making a dough, start by adding your yeast sachet to a cup
of warm water. Let the yeast activate, then add two cups of flour, two
tablespoons of olive oil, two teaspoons of sugar, and a teaspoon of salt. Mix
all of those together and wait half an hour for the dough to rise. Now, you’re
ready to roll the dough out!

________5. The purpose of any artwork is to communicate a message - to comment,

scream or sing about the world in which we find ourselves in. If there is no
emotion behind the work, there is no driving force – nothing to direct and shape
your decision making. So, why do you want to create an artwork? What is your
purpose in doing such?

________6. Thousands of people die each year in car accidents involving drugs or
alcohol. Lives could be saved if our city adopts a free public vehicle service.
By providing such a service, we could prevent intoxicated drivers from
endangering themselves or others.

_________7. Ice-cream is a delicious frozen treat that comes in a many different

colors and flavors. Two of my favorite flavors are strawberry and chocolate.
These flavors are delicious. I love the strawberry flavor for the granules of
the fruit slowly melts in my mouth as I savor the taste. Also, chocolate flavor
is mouth – watering for it gives you a bitter – sweet and creamy tastes. Even
though more chocolate ice-cream is sold across the country than strawberry, each
flavor tastes great inside of a milk shake.

_________8. People of all ages benefit from regular physical activity. Physical
activity leads to improved physical fitness. Consequently, it helps the body
systems to function at their optimal efficiency associated with an individual’s
ability to work effectively, to enjoy leisure time, to resist disease and to
respond easily to emergency situations.

_________9. Linux and Windows are both operating systems. Computers use them to
run programs. Linux is totally free and open source, so users can improve or
otherwise modify the source code. Windows is proprietary, so it costs money to
use and users are prohibited from altering the source code.

_________10. If you use too much effort in pitching the ball without rest, a
serious elbow or shoulder may be on the horizon. If you complain of elbow or
shoulder pain, see a physician familiar with sports injuries. But then, it is
recommended to warm up properly by doing body stretching, running and gradual
pitching to prevent injuries. Of course, do not play all year round because your
body needs to recover from the physical demands of playing.

DISCUSSION
 While most pieces of non- academic texts follow the same or similar general
organizational patterns, different academic texts can have different text
structures. An academic text may present a main idea and then details, a cause
and then its effects, an effect and the causes, two different views of a topic,
etc. Therefore, it is important that you can recognize common text structures
found in academic texts. Recognizing common text structures found in academic
texts helps you monitor your comprehension.

In your previous module, you have learned to differentiate language used in

academic texts from various disciplines. You have understood that academic
language represents the language demands of school (academics). Academic language
includes language used in textbooks, in classrooms, on tests and in each
discipline. It is different in vocabulary and structure from the everyday spoken
English of social interactions. However, each type of communication both academic
and social has its purpose and neither is superior to the other.
Thus, academic language has unique characteristics of establishing ways in
organizing writing which can affect how one reads in a text of specific
discipline. Different genres, paragraph/sentence structures, level of text
difficulty, purpose, intended audience, overall organization, and knowledge of
resources for the text all affect how one writes and reads the text of specific
discipline.
Have you ever wonder how are the thoughts in academic texts organized? Now,
let us learn how academic texts are structured.

Common Text Structures

Text structure is how information in a text is organized. Being able to
identify the structure of a text can greatly increase students' comprehension of
the material being read. According to Taylor (1992), students who are taught to
identify the structure of expository and narrative texts have been found to have
better comprehension than students who have not received such instruction. The
following are the six basic structures that are commonly found in textbooks
and/or academic texts.

1. Compare-Contrast Structure. This type of text structure examines the

similarities and differences between two or more people, events, concepts,
ideas, etc. The selection below uses compare and contrast sentence structure.

Example:
Most mobile phones sold today have an operating system that is either
designed by Apple or Google. Both of these operating systems allow users to
connect to application stores and download applications. However, one major
difference between these two operating systems is that Apple makes the iOS
operating system powering their iPhones and iPads. In other words, the iOS
operating system only appears on products created by Apple. On the other hand,
Google makes the Android operating system that can be found on many different
mobile phones and tablets like Samsung, Sony and LG. So, which operating system
do you prefer - Android or iOS?

Obviously, the sample text presents a compare - contrast structure. How do

the signal words help in developing the structure of the text? How are the
similarities and differences of mobile phone’s operating system elaborated?
Analyze the graphic organizer that follows to further understand the structure
of the text.
 Apple Google

Apple makes the iOS Apple and Google makes the

operating system Android operating
Google operating
powering their iPhones system that can be
systems allow
and iPads.
It only found on many
appears on Apple users to connect to different mobile
application stores phones like
products.
and download
Samsung, Sony and
applications. LG.

2. Cause-Effect Structure. This structure presents the causal relationship

between a specific event, idea, or concept and the events, ideas, or concept
that follow. An action and its results are explained.

Example:
In the Philippines, it is the brown race that constitutes the majority and
the white or mestizo is the minority. It follows, therefore, that the mean and
measure in judging beauty is the Malay skin, hair, eyes, nose, lips, body, and
stance. As a result, film producers and directors consciously build up stars
whose dominant features are Malay like Nora Aunor, Angel Locsin, John Lloyd Cruz
and Daniel Padilla.

If the text uses cause – effect structure, what do you think is the cause?
How about the effect? Have you spotted some signal words which help to elaborate
the causal relationship of ideas? The causal relationship presented in the text
is simplified in the following graphic organizer:
Cause Effects
The mean and measure in
judging beauty is the
Malay skin, hair, eyes,
In the Philippines, nose, lips, body, and
it is the brown stance.
race that
constitutes the Film producers and
majority and the directors consciously build
white or mestizo up stars whose dominant
is the minority. features are Malay like
Nora Aunor, Angel Locsin,
John Lloyd Cruz and
Daniel Padilla.

3. Sequence Structure. This text structure gives readers a chronological order

of events or a list of steps in a procedure.

Example:
 Egg is good for our health. One of the simplest recipe for egg is omelette.
It sounds like an expensive dish but actually it is very affordable and easy to
cook. To make an omelette like a pro, precook the toppings such as minced onions
and garlics, shred cheese, sliced tomatoes and other fresh herbs. Next, crack
the eggs into a bowl and add a splash of water. The steam from the water makes
the omelette light and fluffy. Then, whisk the egg-water mixture vigorously with
a fork until the whites and yolks are completely blended. After that, heat the
pan and add enough oil or butter in it. Pour the egg mixture into the hot pan
and let the egg set along the edges. After few seconds, sprinkle the precooked
toppings. Don’t forget then to season with salt and pepper. That’s it! You have
made the perfect omelette for breakfast.

How is the text mainly structured? Yes, you are right! The text uses
sequence structure. It presents the list of steps on how to make a perfect
omelette for breakfast. Take a look in the following graphic organizer to learn
sequence structure in details.

Heat the pan

and add
Whisk the
enough oil or
egg -water
butter in it.
mixture until
Crack the
the whites
eggs into a
and yolks are
bowl and add
blended.
a splash of
Precook the water. Pour the egg
toppings. mixture into
the hot pan
Sprinkle the and let the egg
precooked set along the
Don’t forget edges.
toppings.
then to
season with
salt and
pepper.

4. Descriptive Structure. This type of text structure describes something in

order of space and how something looks. It features a detailed description of
something to give the reader a mental picture.

Example:
Galileo was a thoughtful youth and doubtless carried on a rich and varied
reverie. He had artistic ability and might have turned out to be a musician or
painter. When he had dwelt among the monks at Valambros, he had been tempted to
lead the life of a religious. As a boy, he busied himself with toy machines and
he inherited a fondness for mathematics. All these facts are of record.
 Can you picture out the subject described in the text? How is the subject
being described? To answer these questions, let us study the following graphic
organizer:

He was a
thoughtful youth
and doubtless.

He had an
He artistic
tempted to ability. He
lead a Galileo might have
religious turned out
life. to br
musician
or painter.
He busied himself
with toy machines
and inhereted
fondness for
Mathematics.

5. Problem-Solution Structure. This type of structure sets up a problem or

problems, explains the solution, and then discusses the effects of the solution.

Example:
Dr. Ramos doesn’t want the eagles to vanish. These Philippine giant birds
are disappearing at an alarming rate. Dr. Ramos thinks that we should demand the
government to plan for immediate action in the preservation of this specie. He
also thinks that we should donate to Save the Eagles. Our donations will help to
support and empower those who are fighting the hardest to preserve the eagles.
With this, we can make a difference. We owe it to our helping and caring hands
to do something.

Based on the text, what is the problem discussed? What are the
recommendations drawn to address the problem? The graphic organizer below shows
the specific problem and solutions presented in the text:

Solutions
*Dr. Ramos thinks that we
Problem should demand the
Eagles are government to plan for
disappearing at an immediate action in the
alarming rate. preservation of this specie.

*He also thinks that we

should donate to Save the
Eagles.
6. Question - Answer Structure. This text structure starts by posing a
question then goes on to answer that question.
Example:
Why do we have schools? Schools deal important role in the society and they
have three main functions. First, students learn skills that will help prepare
them for society. Writing, reading, and mathematics are essential in global
market and workplace and individuals likely learn these skills in schools.
Second, schools serve communities by providing safe havens for students in
temporary living situations. Third, schools provide a conducive environment for
children to engage in productive activities during many days of the year while
their adult caretakers may be working. These are the reasons why we have schools
in our society.

Looking closely at the text, have you seen some signal words used in this
structure? Have you found these signal words - first, second and third? These
signal words are used to enumerate the answers of the question posted. Do the
details in the text support and provide answers to the question? Check out the
graphic organizer on the next page to help you find answer with the latter.

Answer 1 :
Students learn skills that will help prepare them for society .
Question:

Answer 2 :
Schools serve communities by providing safe havens for
students in temporary living situations .
Why
do
we Answer 3 :
Schools provide a conducive environment for children to
have engage in productive activities during many days of the year
schools? while their adult caretakers may be working .

At this stage, you should have several ideas on the common text structures
used in academic texts. Keep in mind these ideas because you are going to use
your knowledge on text structures for enhancing your skills in gleaning
information.

LESSON ACTIVITY

Activity 1: Bring Down Your Memory Lane!

Directions: Read the selection entitled ‘From the Autopsy Surgeon’s Report’.
Pick – out at least five (5) academic terms used in the discipline and write
their specific meaning. Write your answers in the table.

From the Autopsy Surgeon’s Report

Death occurred from the effects of asphyxia, cerebral anemia, and

shock. The victim’s hair was used for the constriction ligature. Local marks
of the ligature were readily discernible: there were some abrasion and a
slight ecchymosis in the skin. But, I found no obvious lesion in the blood
vessels of the neck. Cyanosis of the head was very slight and there were no
pronounced hemorrhages in the galea of the scalp. I should judge that very
great compression was effected almost immediately, with compression of the
arteries as well as of the vein, and that the superior laryngeal nerve was
traumatized in the effect of throwing the victim into profound shock. The
lungs revealed cyanosis, congestion, over aeration, and sub pleural
petechial hemorrhages.

Specific Meaning
Academic Term (Operational Meaning in the Discipline)

Eventually, you are ready to prove your understanding about the topic and this
can be realized by getting involved in the following activities.

Activity 2: Spot the clues!

Directions: Read the text below. Circle the signal words used and determine the
text structure applied in the text.

Working on a computer may be easier and safer than working in a mine. However,
it doesn’t come without risks. Using a computer for a long time can lead to poor
eyesight, muscle loosening, back pain, and injuries to the hands and wrists. If
you find yourself working or playing on a computer quite regularly, take a few
steps to prevent these problems and you’ll thank yourself later. To address
this, taking frequent breaks when you are computing for a long time is
recommended. Specifically, you have to get up, walk around, stretch your hands
and wrists, and straighten your back every once and a while. Undeniably, it can
be hard to pull yourself away from your computer once you get into a zone, but
your body will thank you later if you do. Thus, make your health a priority and
don’t worry so much about what is happening on that little screen.

What is the structure used in the text?

____________________________________________

Why do you think so?

____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
__

_______________________________________________________________________________

_ It seems that you did it like a pro. So, challenge yourself for another one.

Let us continue!

Activity 3: Read to find out!

Direction: Read the text entitled Studying for a Test and answer the questions
that follow. Write your answers on the space provided.

Studying for a Test

Believe it or not, as important as it is, many students do not know how
to study for a test. Well, studying for a test is easy. The first that you must
do is take out your notes. Open your notes up to the section that you are
supposed to review. Read what you wrote in your notebook. When you are done,
close your notebook and see if you remember the ideas that you were studying.
Still don’t remember? Open your notebook back up a try again.
Source: www.ereadingworksheets.com

1. What does the author want to convey to the readers?

_____________________________________________________________________________
_
_____________________________________________________________________________
_
_____________________________________________________________________________
_ __________________________________________________

2. How does the author present his ideas?

_____________________________________________________________________________
_
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

3. What are the signal words used in the text?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
4. How do the signal words help in organizing the author’s ideas?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
You’re doing great! How do you find the activities? Do they help you learn more
about the lesson? Indeed, the activities help you understand more about academic
text structures.

ASSESSMENT

Check your skills on identifying text structures by answering the activity

below:

Directions: Read the passages below and determine how each is mainly structured.
On a sheet of paper, answer the questions that follow and put the information
from each passage in an appropriate graphic organizer. Feel free to make changes
of the graphic organizer if necessary.

Passage 1
Earthquakes happen all over the world in areas called
seismic zones. Seismic zones occur where the plates of crust
covering the Earth’s surface meet each other. Inside the Earth, the
mantle is always moving, which in turn moves the plates. These
plates push against each other, building up tension between them.
When the tension between plates becomes too great, they grind
against each other, causing the Earth’s surface to tremble and
shake.

Passage 2
I have noticed that a lot of people are confused about
mobile data and Wi-fi. Some people think that they’re the same
thing. Both mobile data and Wi-fi allow you to connect to the
internet. However, there are some important differences between
them. Mobile data is provided by the mobile phone company. Whereas,
Wi-fi is comes through cable or phone lines. Mobile data gives you
internet access anywhere that your phone can get a signal. But, you
can only get Wi-fi access when you are near a router. Customers are
usually given a nearly unlimited amount of Wi-fi data, like an all-
you-can-eat buffet. On the other hand, mobile data is often sold in
limited portions, like an expensive restaurant. It is important to
know which you are using so that you aren’t charged additional fees
for going over your mobile data plan limits.

Passage 3
In the center of Luna’s Spoliarium painting are fallen
gladiators being dragged by Roman soldiers. At the left side,
spectators ardently await their chance to strip off the combatants
of their metal helmets and other armory. In addition, emotions are
featured on the left and the right side presents a sober mood. It
can be seen also in the right side; an old man carries a torch
perhaps searching for his son while a woman weeps the death of her
loved one.
Passage 4
The first step of changing oil in a car is to gather
supplies. After you have collected all of the tools and supplies,
prepare your vehicle. Start the car and let it run for one to two
minutes to warm the oil and the engine. Then, find a flat surface
to jack the vehicle from the center under the engine. Next, locate
the oil filter and oil drain plug. Put on work gloves to protect
your hands and position an oil drain pan under the engine then
remove the plug the rest of the way.

Passage 5
What is an ice cream headache? It is when a painful
sensation resonates in your head after eating something cold
(usually ice cream) on a hot day. This pain is produced by the
dilation of a nerve in the roof of your mouth. The nerve center is
overreacting to the cold by trying to heat your brain. It is an ice
cream headache when you feel those sensations which have turned
many smiles to frowns.

Passage 6
Some students have poor attendance. The school has tried
many ways of addressing this such as teachers have sent letters
and/or have talked to parents immediately, school has scheduled
parent/ teacher/ guidance counsellor/ school prefect of discipline
conferences with students who are habitually absent. Hopefully,
this will help more students get to school every day.

1. Which passage is cause - effect? Put information from the passage

in the graphic organizer.

Passage Number: ____________________________

Effect
Cause

Effect

2. Which passage is sequence? Put information from the passage in

the graphic
organizer.
Passage Number: ____________________________

3. Which passage is problem-solution? Put information from the

passage in the graphic organizer.

Passage Number: ____________________________

Solution
Problem

Solution

4. Which passage is compare-contrast? Put information from the

passage in the graphic organizer.

Passage Number: ____________________________

What is being compared and contrast?

Similarities Differences
5. Which passage is descriptive? Put information from the passage in

the graphic organizer.

Passage Number: ____________________________

Detail
t being Described

Detail
Thing/Place/Even

Detail

6. Which passage is question- answer? Put information from the

passage in the graphic organizer.

Passage Number: ____________________________

Answer

Question
Answer Answer

Answer

ANSWER KEYS

DIAGNOSTIC
1. QUESTION- ANSWER
2. DESCRIPTIVE
3. PROBLEM-SOLUTION
4. SEQUENCE