a general statement, proposition, or claim that can be explained a subject or topic that can be subdivided into parts or grouped according to a scheme information has hierarchical nature with details having a coordinate, or subordinate relationship to each other information of support is grouped by a unifying idea Main Idea-Detail Structure a general statement that is the main idea of the piece the main idea has several important ideas that are each developed details information is grouped by the important ideas may be used for description, explanation, to give reasons for an opinion may be directly stated by narrator may be inferred by reader based on what the character does, says, thinks, feels what other characters say about the character and how they act toward him/her appearance Physical Traits may be directly stated or inferred visual: appearance (size, shape, color, physical features) appeal to other senses: smell, hearing, touch, taste selected vocabulary to convey tone, author’s attitude toward the thing being described details arranged spatially, according to location: near to far, left to right, top to bottom, etc. Main Idea-Detail Structure a general statement that is the main idea of the piece the main idea has several important ideas that are each developed details information is grouped by the important ideas may be used for description, explanation, to give reasons for an opinion Chronological Order series of events that lead one to another reader uses what has happened in the sequence to predict what will happen next sequence followed to a final outcome or product chronological order, may include flashback or give logical steps in a process used in literary and history texts, texts that outline a process or procedure and texts that show stages used in science when sequence ends approximately where it began as in a life cycle: circle of boxes Uses Signal Words Uses Signal Words Uses Signal Words first, second, third next another one part, second part for example a reason because finally most importantly for example for instance in other words is characterized by refers to specifically that is thus usually where to begin with appears to be such as looks like for instance to illustrate an example characteristic feature described as look for the topic word (or a synonym or pronoun) to be repeated after afterwards at (time) before begin by finally first last later meanwhile next now once on (date) previously second since then steps (numbered or listed) then to finish to start until when Cause and Effect Chart Comparison/Contrast Venn Diagram Problem/Solution
Used with Cause/Effect Relationships an effect and its cause or causes how causes are linked to effects events that produce a product or an effect sequential chain of causes and/or interaction of various factors as well as multiple effects relationships that may be explicitly stated or implied through making connections among ideas and events Used with Items that have Similarities and/or Differences two topics: people/characters, places, things, ideas/concepts, time periods/events, sequences/ processes/operations the points that are being compared the ways two things are similar the ways two things are different comparison may be explicit or implied Used in Expository or Informational writing to explain a Problem that has been solved. The writing clarifies the Actions/ Solutions taken to resolve the problem Problem: desire or need that has been addressed is presented explanation is given to clarify why the problem existed or why accomplishing a particular thing was worthy, why there was a need actions to accomplish the desired outcome are enumerated and described Solution: description of end result, which demonstrates that the problem has been resolved or a course of action has been put in place that will eventually resolve it Used in Persuasive writing when the author of the selection has a perspective he/she wants to convince another person or group(the reader) to accept Problem: the author's perspective is presented explanation is given to clarify why the author wants something to happen, why it is a worthy proposition, why there is a need Solution: actions to accomplish the desired outcome are enumerated and described Uses Signal Words Uses Signal Words Uses Signal Words accordingly as a result because consequently due to effects of for this reason hence is caused by if…then is caused by may be due to nevertheless since so so that then therefore this led to/this leads to thus Similarities also as as well as both compared with/to in common in the same way like likewise same as similar to similarly Differences although but difference differently different from even though however in contrast on the other hand otherwise still unlike yet while less than more than a/the problem a need the question is one reason for one reason that a second/another reason a/the solution another is as a result consequently if ... then one answer is one thing to do should do Teaching with After-Reading Graphic Organizers Patterns of Organization/Text Structures