Discovering Text Structures in Nonfiction
Grade 4 English Language Arts Learning how authors organize information
What Are Text Structures?
Text structures are the way authors organize information They help readers understand and remember what they read Like building blocks that fit together to make meaning Today we'll learn about three important structures
Three Text Structures We'll Explore
{"left":"Problem and Solution: Something is wrong and the writer tells how it was fixed\nChronological Order: Events told in the order they happened, from first to last","right":"Compare and Contrast: Shows how two things are alike and different"}
Meet Our Text: 'The Bright Night'
A story about Thomas Edison and the light bulb We'll find examples of all three text structures Pay attention to how the author organized the information Listen for problems, solutions, time order, and comparisons
Problem and Solution in Action
'The first electric lights that were made were so bright they hurt people's eyes and never lasted more than a few hours.'
Detective Work: Find the Text Structures
Work with a partner Choose one paragraph from 'The Bright Night' Identify which text structure it uses Write your answer on a sticky note with evidence
Think and Share
How does knowing the text structure help you understand the story better? Can you think of another book that used one of these structures?
You're Text Structure Experts!
You can now identify Problem and Solution You can spot Chronological Order You can find Compare and Contrast Use these skills in all your reading adventures!