INFORMATIONAL TEXT

STRUCTURE
9 Main Informational Text Structures
 1. Definition/elucidation
 2. Description
 3. Recount of a Sequence
 4. Cause-Effect
 5. Problem-Solution
 6.Comparison and Contrast
 7. Enumeration
 8. Classification
 9. Thesis-evidence
Give Information
 Recount of a sequence
 Description
 Enumeration
Give Explanation
 Definition
 Description
 Enumeration
 Classification
To argue a point or position
 Thesis evidence
Convey Information
 All of the above mentioned
Narrate an event or process
 Chronological rendition or recount is written
3 approaches to a text to help
determine its structure
 1. Noting language cues
 2. making a graphic representation of the text
 3. Outlining
1. Noting language cues
 Must be aware of certain keywords that characterize each
text structure
2. making a graphic representation of the text

 Text mapping- is the general term for graphically

organizing and representing the various parts of a
text in a manner that shows how the parts relate to
each other
3. Outlining
 Presents the framework of a text by showing its
main ideas and subtopics
LANGUAGE CUES AND
VISUAL REPRESENTATION
OF TEXT STRUCTURES
1. DEFINITION
 Explains the nature of something.
 Describes the thing being defined and/or cite examples of it
 Words that signal:
is/are
For example
Can be
Is defined as
means
 Words that refer to composition
 -contain
 -make up
 -involves

 Words that suggest a likeness

 -appears to be
 -refers to
 General words that refer to a class or genus
 -form of (exercise)
 - a branch of (engineering)
 -a type of (worship)
 - a kind of (ship)
2. DESCRIPTION
 Gives concrete details about appearance, characteristics,
and actions

 Words that signal description

 -Adjectives to describe
 size (huge, small)
 shape (spherical, octagonal)
 Texture (rough, smooth, velvety)
 Color (green)

 Adverbs to qualify an action or thing (evenly, roughly,

consistently)

 Adjective phrases (10-galloon container, a four-day

weekend, 2-day-old chicks)
3. RECOUNT OF A SEQUENCE
 - a recount of a sequence is a chronological narration of a
historical period, a sequential description of a process or a
procedure.

 Signal words
 -first -after -meanwhile
 -second -then -during
 -now -finally -dates (for historical account)
 -before -while
 May be used to show the sequence of events or actions
 Arrows are important to show the linear flow.

Packag
Cutting Drying Sorting ing

 Flowchart
4. CAUSE-EFFECT
 -presents reasons why a situation is obtained
 In academic writing it is the effect that is usually presented
first to achieve a more dramatic effect.

 Signal words are expressions that indicate effect or

consequence or result, such as
 -so -consequently -thus
 -so that -explanation for
 -as a result -accordingly
 Expression that indicate cause are
 -due to
 -as a result of
 - because of
 -a cause of
 Cause-effect can be visually represented this way

Effect
 1

Cause Effect
1 2

Effect
3
5. PROBLEM-SOLUTION
 - starts off with a negative situation (a problem) and ends with
a positive situation (a solution)

 Key expression:
 -the problem dilemma is
 -if/then
 -so that
 -solves
 -an answer to
 -addresses the problem of
 Solution
1

Solution
Problem 2

Solution
3
Problem Who
What
Why

Attempted Who
Solution
What

Result What

Why

Final Positive
Outcome
Negative
6. COMPARISON AND CONTRAST
 -similarities and differences are presented

 Expressions that point to similarities

 - similarly
 -in like manner
 -in the same way
 Expressions that point to differences
 - on the other hand
 -on the contrary
 -the opposite
 -compared to
 -in contrast
 -although
 -unless
 -however
 -comparative (better than, more)
 Superlative (best, most)
7.ENUMERATION
 A listing

 listing of
 -parts
 - characteristics
 -example

 Often appears as a numbered list or a bulleted text

 Words that indicate enumeration
 - to start with
 -first
 -second
 In addition
 -next
 -then
 -another
 -finally
 -also
8. CLASSIFICATION
 - presents grouping, types, classes, categories and sub-
categories

 Examples:
 -types of personalities
 -groupings in a school
 -species of animals
 - categories of films and television shows
 Language cues:
 - there are several types/kinds of
 -a part of
 -an example of
 -groups/kinds/ways/types/classes of
 -another kind of
 -divided into
 Concept

Semi-
Concrete Abstract
concrete
concepts concepts
concepts
9. THESIS-EVIDENCE
 -To serve the purpose of arguing a point/ position or
interpretation

 May be arranged
 -deductively (general statement or thesis followed by
supporting details)
 -inductively (details from which an inference or thesis is
drawn
 Signal words
 - assert
 -claim
 - prove/show that
 -allege that
 -evidence
 -proof argument
 Thesis/Main
Idea

Evidence
1
Evidence
2
Informational Text Structure Sample Language Cues