Analyzing Info Text Structure

• Look for signal words & phrases

• Ask comprehension Questions

• Use graphic organizers

Okay, So How’s It Done?

Cause (why it happened) and Effect (what happened)

Signal Words & Phrases:because leads to on account of so consequently outcome therefore thus when/if – then effects of as a result of due toIn order to influenced by impact since is caused by for this reason reasons for

Questions to Ask• What were the specific events

that happened?• Why did the events happen?

What were the causes?• What were the results or

outcomes of these events happening? What was the effect?

• What is the significance of the event and/or the results (outcomes)?

Cause (why it happened and Effect (what happened)

cause

cause

cause Event

effect

effect

effect

Compare (how it’s similar) andContrast (how it’s different)

Signal Words & Phrases:both similarity either-oralso opposite yettoo different from buton the contrary just ascompared to instead ofon the other hand alikehowever in contrastas opposed to despiteunlike in comparison

Questions to Ask• How are ______ and

______ alike?• How is ______ different

from ______?• How is ______ both similar/

dissimilar to ______?• What is the difference

between ______ and ______?

Compare (how it’s similar) andContrast (how it’s different)

Whatever “it” is

A

alike different

Description: Explain a topic, concept, person, place, event or object (provide

characteristics, features and/or giving examples)

Signal Words & Phrases:position words (e.g., beside, near, in front of, above, along) in fact characteristics for instance made up ofappears to be features consists oflooks like for example

Questions to Ask• What is the subject being

described?• How is the topic being

described (i.e., where it is, what it does, how it works, what it looks like, its classification)

• What are the most important attributes or characteristics?

Description: Explain a topic, concept, person, place, event or object (provide characteristics, features and/or giving examples)

characteristics attributes

features examples

Topic, concept, person, place

event or object

Chronology/Sequence: Provide information in time order or the order in which events, actions, or steps in a

process occur

Signal Words & Phrases:First/second/third thendirections as soon asbefore prior to nextnow step lastafter followinginitially at the same timesimultaneously duringmeanwhile finally

Questions to Ask• What sequence of events is

being described?• What are the major events or

incidents that occur?• What happens first, next, last?• How is the sequence or cycle

revealed in the text?• What are the steps, directions,

procedures to follow to make or do something?

Chronology/Sequence: Provide information in time order or the order in which events, actions, or

steps in a process occur

Step 1

Step 2

Step 4

Step 3

1

2

3

4

Problem (what’s wrong) andSolution (how to fix it!)

Signal Words & Phrases:problem answer so thatsolution solved led todilemma cause issuepuzzle since advantagebecause as a result ofdisadvantage questionin order to

Questions to Ask• What is the problem?• Who has the problem?• Why is it a problem?• What is causing the problem?• What solutions have been

suggested or tried?• What are the various pros and

cons of various solutions?• Which solutions worked or

seem to have the best chance for solving the problem?

Problem (what’s wrong) andSolution (how to fix it!)

problem

ProblemSolutionproblem

problemsolution

solution

solution