Expository text structure

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1

Expository text structure

Lesson goals

At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Students know about the different text structures
• Students will be aware of the different types of text structures

What is (expository) text structure?

It means the organization of text. 

Good readers use text structure to help them understand what they read.

Once we determine the text structure, we can use the structure to find key information to help us understand the passage (text).

We're going to watch a clip that discusses the different types of text structures. Listen to clip and find out how many text structures there are!

How many types of text structures was mentioned in the video?

1. The cause-effect text structure informs the reader how or why an

event happened, which is referred to as the cause, and what

resulted from an event, which is referred to as the effect. For

example, a newspaper article could present a cause as “cold

temperatures in the mountains” and an effect as “heavy snowfall

conditions in the mountains.”

2. The chronology/sequence text structure informs the reader of the order of events or steps in a process. For example, a historical

document could present the sequence of events on a timeline to

show the chronology—or the order in time—of when each event

occurred.

3. The compare/contrast text structure informs the reader of how

two or more things are alike or different. For example, a political

speech could present how two presidential candidates are alike

and how they are different.

4. The description/categorization text structure informs the reader of

how something looks, moves, or possibly works; or it may inform

the reader of a definition or characterization. For example, an

instruction manual could present a description of the features on a

car and how to operate the features.

5. The problem-solution text structure informs the reader of what is

wrong and how to fix it. For example, a scientific account could

present a problem—tigers are an endangered species—and a

solution—preserving the landscape where tigers live.

Text structure

• We have talked external text structures – things like titles, headings, graphs, pictures, bolded words, indexes, tables of content, etc. They help us to use access and understand information more easily.
  
• Now we will talk about internal text structure – the way the text is written – to also help us get information from non-fiction text more easily.
  
• There are five types of text we are going to discuss: definition/description, problem-solution, sequence/time, comparison and contrast, and cause and effect.
  

Passage #1 – Chemical and Physical Changes
All matter, all things, can be changed in two ways: chemically and physically. Both chemical and physical changes affect the state of matter. Physical changes are those that do not change the make-up or identity of the matter. For example, clay will bend or flatten if squeezed, but it will still be clay. Changing the shape of clay is a physical change, and does not change the matter’s identity. Chemical changes turn the matter into a new kind of matter with different properties. For example, when paper is burnt, it becomes ash and will never be paper again. The difference between them is that physical changes are temporary or only last for a little while, and chemical changes are permanent, which means they last forever. Physical and chemical changes both affect the state of matter.

1. Sequence
2. Cause and effect
3. Description
4. Compare and contrast

Text structure

• We have talked external text structures – things like titles, headings, graphs, pictures, bolded words, indexes, tables of content, etc. They help us to use access and understand information more easily.
  
• Now we will talk about internal text structure – the way the text is written – to also help us get information from non-fiction text more easily.
  
• There are five types of text we are going to discuss: definition/description, problem-solution, sequence/time, comparison and contrast, and cause and effect.
  

Text structure - Description

In the following clip, you're going to learn a little about the description text structure. 

Text structure

• Where going to practice the text structures with the use of graphic organizers
• You may work in pairs to complete this exercise.  

Present simple

Which signal word(s) demonstrate when you have to use the present simple?

1. Always
2. Look!
3. Usually
4. Right now

When do we use the present simple?

1. fact or habit
2. temporary situation
3. something is happening now
4. plan for the future

Exercise 1a: Present simple

1. My parents often watch westerns. (watch)

2. They are hungry. (be)

3. Mum washes all the dirty clothes. (wash)

4. Peter has got a brother. (have)

5. Dad buys a new plasma TV. (buy)

6. The boys play football. (play)

7. In summer it is hot. (be)

8. I am good at school. (be)

Exercise 1b: Present simple

1. They wash the car. They don't wash the car.

2. I get up early. I don't get up early.

3. They walk to school. They don't walk to school.

4. Jim eats an orange. Jim doesn't eat an orange.

5. My sister listens to her new CD. My sister doesn't listen to her new CD.

6. Ann cleans her shoes. Ann doesn't clean her shoes.

What is a text structure?