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Pre / During Reading Strategy
TEXT STRUCTURE   

Author's Craft
Organizational Structure                                
Questioning the Author

Overview: Identifying text structure helps readers see how information in an expository text is organized (Armbruster, 1986).  Helping students identify and understand common text structures will enhance their comprehension.

Steps:

1. Select a passage that you want students to read and learn.  Determine the organizational pattern(s).

2. Explain to students that there are 6 text frames used in developing text books.

3. List the 6 text frames on the board and discuss signal words to look for in the text.

4. Follow with an appropriate Idea-Map

PROBLEM / SOLUTION: what is the problem? Effects? Causes? Solution?

CAUSE / EFFECT: what has happened? Cause? Effect? Factors? Results?

COMPARE / CONTRAST: What is alike? Different? Conclusions drawn?

GOAL / ACTION /OUTCOME: What is being done? Who? Why? Results?

CONCEPT / DEFINITION: Characteristics? Examples? Functions?

PROPOSITION / SUPPORT: Issue? Viewpoint? Support? Data?

(Buehl,1995)