ANALYZE THE

STRUCTURE

Essentia l
Question: Why
is it important
to structure a n
informa tional
text
eff ectively?

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO STRUCTURE

AN INFORMATIONAL TEXT EFFECTIVELY?
What common types of structure can you name?
Types of Structure:
Chronological order: listing steps in a process in the order
in which they happen or should be done; telling events in
time order
Cause and eff ect: showing how one situation or condition
causes or infl uences another
Comparison and contrast: pointing out similarities and
diff erences between items
Order of importance: proceeding from least important point
to most important, or from most to least important point.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO STRUCTURE

AN INFORMATIONAL TEXT EFFECTIVELY?
Thinking of the four types of structure we listed, what would
be an example of a text that would use that structure?
Chronological order: eff ective for a proposal to clean up a
polluted river. The proposal would explain the steps of the plan
in the order in which they should occur.
Cause and eff ect: a text about the aftermath of a hurricane
might use this structure eff ectively. The writer would show how
the forces of wind and rain caused severely damaging eff ects.
Comparison and contrast: work well for an argument
intended to convince readers that one plan is better than
another. The text might compare and contrast the advantages
and disadvantages of each plan.
Order of importance: to persuade readers of an idea, a write
might present evidence or reasons, by order of importance. He
or she might start with the least important reason and build to
the most important one or present the strongest idea fi rst.

WHEN WRITING
Paragraphs usually fall into one of the following
categories:

I. Introduction
II. Building of argument
III. Main argument
IV. Counter-argument
V. Conclusion/call to action

Can you identify what category each of Henrys 7

paragraphs would be categorized as?