Organizational text features

Introducing Organizational Features

of Informational Texts

Essential Question????? What organizational features help me

comprehend informational text?

Vocabulary to know!! Chronological order Logical order Cause-effect Classification schemes

We will start with Chronological Order

What does the word Chronological mean?? arranged in or according to the order of

time… in other words…gives information in order of occurrence.

How will this help you with informational text you ask???

Well, it will help you sequence events!!

When would you come across something that is in chronological

order? Biographies News articles Current events Historical recounts Diary Autobiographies

What are some of the characteristics of something that is in chronological

order? Shows passage of time Chronicles events Retell real life Who, what, when, why, and where

Here is an example of chronological order in a paragraph…

Jessica was born in a small town where she lived until she was three years old. Next, she moved to the big city of Atlanta. There she stayed until she graduated high school. Next, she went away to college in New York city. She stayed there for four years where she met the man of her dreams and decided to get married. In addition to marriage she moved to Houston, Texas. There she started to work in the medical field. After a few years she had her first child, Thomas. After her son was a few years old Jessica decided that they would move back to the same small town where she was originally from. Finally back at home she was at last happy.

What do the underlined words represent…

Jessica was born in a small town where she lived until she was three years old. Next, she moved to the big city of Atlanta. There she stayed until she graduated high school. Next, she went away to college in New York city. She stayed there for four years where she met the man of her dreams and decided to get married. In addition to marriage she moved to Houston, Texas. There she started to work in the medical field. After a few years she had her first child, Thomas. After her son was a few years old Jessica decided that they would move back to the same small town where she was originally from. Finally back at home she was at last happy.

The underline words represent a change in time.

Key words to watch for…

Finally Before

After Next

Then In addition

First Second

Earlier Later

How could you represent the events that just occurred?

In a flow map…circle map…???

What is the first event?

Now let’s try it with a whole book!

Logical Order We’ve already discussed what

chronological order is. Now we need to differentiate it between logical order.

What does the word logical mean you ask: Capable of reasoning or of using reason in

an orderly cogent fashion. Huh???

Logical Order This simply means

“the order of events makes sense.”

How can you tell the difference in logical order and chronological order.

Logical Order Chronological Order

The order of events that

makes sense.

Is the order of events in

which they actually

occurred.

Where would you find something that was in logical order?

A cook book Directions Fictional stories

Key words to watch for…Until Before

After Next

Finally Lastly

First/Last Then

On (date) At (time)

Let’s see this in action…

Let’s now put the events in order

Let’s put everything together so far…

Chronological order???

Logical order???

Words to watch for???

Thinking map to use???

Now we will discuss the next organizational feature…

Cause & Effect What is cause and effect?? Cause: something that brings about an

effect of result. Effect: something that follows an action. This gives reasons/explanations for

happenings.

Where would you see this?? In a book about how something works. In a book about why an animal is

endangered. In a book about the causes of acid rain. A history book.

Here is a few examples… We observed the crocodile as it stalked a

raccoon and then it finally attacked. As a result of the noise we made, the rabit

bolted… People bumps make me shiver. When the

temperature drops below 45 degrees. My skin crinkles into people bumps.

Key words to watch for…Since Because

This led to On account of

Due to May be due to

For this reason Consequently

Then, so Therefore

Thus Makes

If Then

Results in Creates

What thinking map could you use to show cause and effect?

A Multi Flow Map

Let’s see this in action..