Preparing for the EOC Test & RAC 2012
Dec 30, 2015
This structure describes a series of events in numerical or chronological order that lead up to a conclusion.
Events can be separated by years or just a few seconds.
SEQUENCE QuestionsHow are the steps organized
(chronologically or numerically)?
What is the time span of the events?
What do the events describe?
Do the events describe a process?
SEQUENCE Key WordsFirst Today Now
SecondDate Since
Third Then Finally
Next Last Time
While During Following
After Until Previously
When Soon
The author describes several reasons why an event occurred or describes several effects from one cause, or the author describes a single cause/effect situation.
CAUSE/EFFECT QuestionsWhat is the cause?
What is the effect?
Is there more than one cause and effect?
What is the result?
What is the reason the result happened?
CAUSE/EFFECT Key WordsIn order to Since For this
reason
Therefore So that On account of
As a result Before The effect of
Consequently Due to Reasons why
Accordingly Because This led to
COMPARE/CONTRAST Questions
What things are being compared (places, objects, events, or ideas)?
How are they alike?
How are they different?
What are the most important similarities or differences?
COMPARE/CONTRAST Key Words
However In comparison Both
Different On the contraryYet
Although On the other hand But
Similarly Just like Also
Either/or Even though Too
Unlike As well Alike
Same as Just as
DESCRIPTIVE QuestionsWhat person, idea, or thing is
being described?
Which detail seems to be the most important?
Can you tell how the author feels about what he or she is describing?
DESCRIPTIVE Key WordsSuch as Characteristics Including
Is like Steps involved Across
Next to Appears to be Along
Beside For instance On top of
Above For example Under
Below To illustrate In front of
The author identifies a problem, gives possible solutions with possible results, and describes the solution that was finally chosen.
PROBLEM/SOLUTION Questions
What is the problem?
What caused the problem?
What are some possible solutions?
Who or what will work to solve the problem?
PROBLEM/SOLUTION Key Words
Problem Solution Solve
Because Difficulty Since
Hopeful Question Future
So that Dilemma Need
Answer Possibility Worry
Struggle If/then Threat
One reason for
COMPARE/CONTRASTMost states are divided into counties. A county contains towns and cities. It also contains the space in between them. However, the state of Louisiana is not divided into counties. Just like other states, it is divided into smaller parts, but the parts are parishes instead of counties.
COMPARE/CONTRASTMost states are divided into counties. A county contains towns and cities. It also contains the space in between them. However, the state of Louisiana is not divided into counties. Just like other states, it is divided into smaller parts, but the parts are parishes instead of counties.
PROBLEM/SOLUTIONNewspaper printing presses run very fast. It would be easy to print all the papers at once, but printers worry there might be a mistake in the paper. It would be a waste to reprint them all. The printers avoid this problem by running “test” papers, which they check for mistakes.
PROBLEM/SOLUTIONNewspaper printing presses run very fast. It would be easy to print all the papers at once, but printers worry there might be a mistake in the paper. It would be a waste to reprint them all. The printers avoid this problem by running “test” papers, which they check for mistakes.
DESCRIPTIVEThe Florida worm lizard does not have legs or feet. It is about eight inches long and looks like a giant earthworm because it is pink. It doesn’t have eyes or ears, but it has a mouth that looks like other lizards’ mouths. Its body is covered with scales.
CAUSE/EFFECTThe American West is home to “ghost towns.” These empty places once were bustling towns. They were built during the Gold Rush, when many people moved west to strike it rich. Most of them never found gold. As a result, they moved back east – so the towns became ghost towns.
CAUSE/EFFECTThe American West is home to “ghost towns.” These empty places once were bustling towns. They were built during the Gold Rush, when many people moved west to strike it rich. Most of them never found gold. As a result, they moved back east – so the towns became ghost towns.
SEQUENCETo make butter, first you milk a cow. Then, you separate the cream from the milk. Next, you put the cream in a churner. You use the churner to mix the cream. After a long time, the cream starts to become solid. After mixing even longer, a lump of butter forms.
SEQUENCETo make butter, first you milk a cow. Then, you separate the cream from the milk. Next, you put the cream in a churner. You use the churner to mix the cream. After a long time, the cream starts to become solid. After mixing even longer, a lump of butter forms.