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Writers choose their words carefully to convey meaning. They rely on text structure, which includes the organizational structure of the text, to help convey this meaning. There are five basic types of organizational structures of the text:
- Description
- Sequence or Timeline
- Compare and Contrast
- Cause and Effect
- Problems and Solution
Sometimes you will see a writer use "signal words," which can give you a hint about what is coming next. Review each topic below to learn more about the different types of organizational structure.
Term |
Signal words |
Text example |
---|---|---|
Description Writers use description to convey how something looks, acts, feels, tastes, sounds and so on. |
describe |
To understand economic systems, we must first describe what it is. An economic system is the organizing structure of a society that chooses to answer basic economic questions such as what to produce, for whom to produce, who gets the goods and services, and how to produce goods and services. |
What signal words demonstrate that the text is an example of Description?
Term |
Signal words |
Text example |
---|---|---|
Sequence or Timeline Writers use sequence to explain how events or steps in a process take place. |
first |
There are three basic types of economies: traditional, command and market. In a traditional economy, economic decisions are made based on how things were done in the past. Occupations pass down from one generation to the next. Parents teach their children an occupation, which they then teach their children, and this continues on to each of the following generations. |
What signal words demonstrate that the text is an example of Sequence or Timeline?
Term |
Signal words |
Text example |
---|---|---|
Compare and Contrast Writers use compare and contrast to explain similarities and differences. |
similar |
A command economy is very different from a traditional economy. Instead of letting the traditional ways of doing things determine economic activity, a command economy involves having the government make those decisions. The government determines what to produce, for whom to produce, and how to produce goods and services. |
What signal words demonstrate that the text is an example of Compare and Contrast?
Term |
Signal words |
Text example |
---|---|---|
Cause and Effect Writers use cause and effect to explain how an event caused another to occur. |
causes |
In a market economy, the buyers and sellers make the economic decisions. Consequently, in this economic system, if the buyers do not like a seller’s product, the result is the seller goes out of business. Therefore, the seller wants to produce goods or services that people want to buy. |
What signal words demonstrate that the text is an example of Cause and Effect?
Term |
Signal words |
Text example |
---|---|---|
Problem and Solution Writers use problem and solution to describe a problem and the steps taken to solve it. |
because |
Although most people think of the United States as a market economy, it is actually a “mixed market” economy because the government does make some economic decisions. Market failures require the government to take steps to solve the problem through fiscal or monetary policy solutions. |
What signal words demonstrate that the text is an example of Problem and Solution?
Tip
Look for signal words to identify the organizational structure of the text used by the author.