IXL | Identify text structures | 6th grade language arts

Read the text.

In 1969, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross identified certain stages of mourning that people go through when they experience a loss. In the first stage, the person denies what has happened. Next comes anger, and then bargaining: "If I promise to do this, then everything will be better." This is often followed by depression—sadness about the loss. The final stage of grief is acceptance. Acceptance isn't the same as happiness, but rather is an acknowledgement of the need to get on with living despite the loss. Kübler-Ross said that these feelings are all a natural part of mourning, but that each person grieves in his or her unique way.

Which organizational structure does this text primarily use?

sequential

problem-solution

ref_doc_title.

Learn with an example

question

Read the text.

Traveling from state to state, especially if you're in a car, you may notice that the price of gasoline varies widely. Many factors combine to determine the price that a gas station charges. Gasoline is refined from crude oil, so if the price of crude oil increases, then gasoline prices also rise. The price of gas also depends upon the tax that the individual state charges. The higher the taxes that are imposed on gasoline, the higher the total cost of gas becomes. In addition, during the summer, more people want to drive, so the demand for gas is higher. Higher demand pushes prices higher. In winter, when fewer people drive, lower demand sends prices lower.

Which organizational structure does this text primarily use?

cause-effect

problem-solution

key idea

Authors use different text structures to organize their ideas in writing. Learning to identify these structures will help you to understand the relationships between ideas in informational texts. You can also use these structures to organize your own writing.

A cause-effect structure presents the causes and the effects of a particular event, trend, or situation. This structure often uses words and phrases such as because, since, as a result, due to, or consequently.

A compare-contrast structure presents similarities (comparisons) and differences (contrasts) between two or more things. This structure often uses words and phrases such as like, similarly, or in the same way (for comparing) or on the other hand, in contrast, or unlike (for contrasting).

A problem-solution structure presents a problem and suggests one or more possible solutions. This structure often uses words such as issue, question, puzzle, propose, and answer.

A sequential structure describes a series of events that happens in a certain order. This structure often uses specific dates and times or words such as first, next, during, finally, and while.

solution

The text uses a cause-effect structure to show some of the factors that affect the price of gasoline.

Cause	Effect
price of crude oil increases	price of gasoline increases
higher gasoline tax	higher cost of gasoline
higher demand in summer	higher prices in summer
lower demand in winter	lower prices in winter

In the text, certain words and phrases help to organize ideas in a cause-effect structure. Notice the phrase if . . . then and the words depends, becomes, pushes, and sends:

Traveling from state to state, especially if you're in a car, you may notice that the price of gasoline varies widely. Many factors combine to determine the price that a gas station charges. Gasoline is refined from crude oil, so if the price of crude oil increases, then gasoline prices also rise. The price of gas also depends upon the tax that the individual state charges. The higher the taxes that are imposed on gasoline, the higher the total cost of gas becomes. In addition, during the summer, more people want to drive, so the demand for gas is higher. Higher demand pushes prices higher. In winter, when fewer people drive, lower demand sends prices lower.

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Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

E.1Compare and contrast in informational texts

E.2Match causes and effects in informational texts

E.3Match problems with their solutions

R.1Transitions with conjunctive adverbs

F.1Determine the order of events in informational texts

F.5Identify and analyze text structures

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