Problem SolutionCause EffectDescriptiveSequence

ChronologyCompare/Contrast

Expository Text Structure

Two ideas interact with each other . One is the cause and the other is the effect.

Examples

•Environmental disasters

•Natural disasters

People rely on oil for many every day needs.

Oil tankers are used to transport oil, and oil spills into the ocean. Animals and

plants become coated with oil.

Cause and Effect

Cause/Effect Graphic Organizer for Writing

Signal Words:•Reasons why•If…then•As a result•Therefore•Because

Problem SolutionThe writer states a problem or poses a question that is followed by a solution.

The Nashua River begins as a pristine river surrounded by forests.

Europeans arrive, the wilderness turns into farms and later into cities. Paper mills, runoff, and wastewater pollute the river.

A campaign is started to clean up the river, and although the river is never as clean as it once was, it is now much cleaner.

Signal words:•Problem is..•Dilemma is…•Puzzle is…•Solved•Question•Answer•Because•Since•This led to

Problem and Solution Organizer for Writing

DescriptiveThe author describes a

topic by listing characteristics, features,

and examples

Signal Words:•For example•For instance•Specifically•Characteristics are•Such as•Looks like•In addition

SequencePresents information that occurs in a series or in steps such as the growth of living organisms or a recipe

Flow Chart

Sequence Text Structure Graphic Organizers for Pre-Writing

Use Flow charts for steps in

directions or life cycles, for example.

Signal WordsFirst Next Then Finally

Chronology

Use a timeline for biographies or other

time chronologies

Timelines

Compare/Contrast

Signal Words Same as similar alike as well as either

both different from

yesterday today