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Text Structure Worksheets

Text structures are ways that texts can be organized. Some common types include chronological order, cause and effect, and compare and contrast. Some paragraphs use multiple types of text structures. Some use no discernible structure. That's why I made these worksheets.

These worksheets feature paragraphs that are clearly organized using one of these patterns of organization. Students are required to identify how the text is structured. Then, to help them focus their critical thinking skills, they are to use information from each passage in a graphic organizer. This will help them make connections between text and visual representations of text.

Text Structure Worksheet 1
Read the passages. Identify the text structure. Write information from the passage into the appropriate graphic organizer. Graphic organizers are available at the top of the page. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Worksheet 1. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Worksheet 2
Here's a fun and interesting text structure worksheet about dinosaurs. Read the passages and put the information from each passage into an appropriate graphic organizer. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Worksheet 2. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Worksheet 3
Here's an interesting text structure worksheet about natural disasters. Students read the following passages and determine the text structure. Then, put information from the text into the appropriate graphic organizer. Remember to focus on the main idea of each paragraph. This one is 4 pages. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Worksheet 3. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Worksheet 4
Here's another fun text structure worksheet. This one themed around pizza. Students read each passage and determine the text structure. Then, they put information from the text into the appropriate graphic organizer. This one is four pages long. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Worksheet 4. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Worksheet 5
Here is a single-sided text structure worksheet. It is themed around tornados. Students read five passages and write information from each into graphic organizers on a separate sheet of paper. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Worksheet 5. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Worksheet 6
Here is another single-sided text structure worksheet. This one is about schools. Students read five passages and determine the pattern of organization in each. Then they write information from the passages into appropriate graphic organizer on the backside or a separate sheet of paper. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Worksheet 6. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Worksheet 7
In this text structure worksheet, students will read five nonfiction passages about the American War for Independence. They will determine the structure of each passage and create visual representations of the text. Each should include information from the passages. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Worksheet 7. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Worksheet 8
Here's another double-sided text structure worksheet. This one has six passages related to modern phones. It will help your students master text structure. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Worksheet 8. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Worksheet 9
Here's another interesting double-sided text structure worksheet. This one is about cats. It has six nonfiction passages to give students practice with identifying text structure. Identify the pattern of organization and create graphic organizers to visualize the text. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Worksheet 9. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Worksheet 10
Get ready for some explosive fun with text structure! This worksheet features eleven nonfiction passages about fireworks. Students read the passages, identify the text structure, and represent the text using graphic organizers. Kaboom! Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Worksheet 10. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Worksheet 11
Beep, boop, beep! This worksheet has ten text structure passages about computers. Students read the passages, identify the text structure, and represent the information using the appropriate graphic organizer. This worksheet will require students to perform many literary computations. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Worksheet 11. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Worksheet 12
If the shoe were on the other foot, I’d love to complete this text structure worksheet about shoes. It has six passages to help your students practice and review their text structure skills. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Worksheet 12. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Worksheet 13
Here is another fun text structure worksheet. This one’s about dogs, so it could get a little ruff. Ha ha. Just joking. The language in this worksheet is a little less complex so younger students can find success with this one too. Students read passages, identify text structures, and use the text in graphic organizers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4-8.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Worksheet 13. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Lesson 1
Here is a PowerPoint slide show about text structure. It covers many patterns of organization including cause and effect, sequence, chronological, problem and solution, and compare and contrast. It also includes a ten question practice activity after the lesson. Check it out!
This is a preview image of Text Structure Lesson 1. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Lesson 2
Here is another PowerPoint slide show about text structure. It is a revision of my other text structure lesson. If I were trying to choose between the two text structure lessons, I’d go with this one. It’s an improvement over the previous lesson. This lesson features animated graphic organizers and a practice assessment at the end.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Lesson 2. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet 1
Are you teaching main idea? Are you reviewing text structure? Want to do both at the same time? Check out this reading worksheet. It features six nonfiction passages where students identify the main idea, represent the text structure, and come up with an appropriate title. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.
This is a preview image of Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet 1. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet 2
Aren’t robots great? Won’t it going to be great when they take over the world? Here’s another text structure worksheet. This time it is themed around robots. This worksheet features six more nonfiction passages where students identify and represent main ideas and text structure. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10.
This is a preview image of Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet 2. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet 3
Do your students keep forgetting their text structure lessons? Here’s another single-sided text structure worksheet with six nonfiction passages. This worksheet is themed around amnesia and memory loss. Students determine the main idea and text structure of each passage and then come up with an appropriate title. They also create graphic organizers that visually represent information from each paragraph. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.
This is a preview image of Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet 3. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet 4
Want to drive your students nuts? Give them this main idea and text structure worksheet about cars. Ha ha. That’s just a joke. We all know who’s driving whom where. This automotive-themed worksheet will give your students more practice with main idea and text structure. Students read each passage, come up with an appropriate title, put the main idea into their own words, and identify the text structure. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
This is a preview image of Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet 4. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet 5
Here are five exciting passages about cotton candy. Students read each passage, explain the main idea, create a graphic organizer representing the information in the text, and come up with a title representing the main idea of the passage. I hope your students enjoy this sweet activity. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 5-9.
This is a preview image of Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet 5. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet 6
This worksheet contains five nonfiction passages themed around bicycles. Students will almost feel like they are out riding a bike instead of doing school work, except that they will be doing school work. This is great practice for standardized tests. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 6-10.
This is a preview image of Main Idea and Text Structure Worksheet 6. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Main Idea & Text Structure Valentine's Day Worksheet
Your students will LOVE working through these six passages, expressing the main idea of each, titling them, and visually representing the text using graphic organizers. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 7-11.
This is a preview image of Main Idea & Text Structure Valentine's Day Worksheet. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Text Structure Booklet
Here is a constructive and fun text structure project. Students create booklets where each page defines a pattern of organization and includes an original example. Students may work alone or they may partner up, in which case they must draw a picture for each definition. Feel free to modify the project sheet to require all students to draw a picture. This student-centered text structure project will give students practice with writing an synthesizing their knowledge.
This is a preview image of Text Structure Booklet. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.

Thanks for checking out my resources on text structure! You may also want to check out my text structure activities, which includes lessons, tests, and projects. I hope that you found what you were looking for. Best wishes!

Text Structure
Common Core State Standards

Text Structure Anchor Standard
R.5 - Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.

RI.4.5 - Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text.
RI.5.5 - Compare and contrast the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in two or more texts.
RI.6.5 - Analyze how a particular sentence, paragraph, chapter, or section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the ideas.
RI.7.5 - Analyze the structure an author uses to organize a text, including how the major sections contribute to the whole and to the development of the ideas.By the end of year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, in the grades 4–5 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
RI.8.5 - Analyze in detail the structure of a specific paragraph in a text, including the role of particular sentences in developing and refining a key concept.
RI.11-12.5 - Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the structure an author uses in his or her exposition or argument, including whether the structure makes points clear, convincing, and engaging.
Click to VIEW Grade Level Standards for R.5
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162 Comments

  1. Sheryl

     /  February 13, 2012

    The site is AWESOME!!
    These worksheets are GREAT!!
    Easy to read and understand…great supplements to help reinforce instruction especially for visual learners.

    Reply
  2. Sheri

     /  February 11, 2012

    These are great for practice right before state assessments!!!! Thank you for sharing your hard work!

    Reply
  3. Laura

     /  January 29, 2012

    This site is awesome! I’ve been looking for brief passages and examples that show patterns of organization. Now, I found some…and more! THANK YOU!!!

    Reply
  4. Hill

     /  January 23, 2012

    This website is awesome! It has truly helped in planning unique activities for my students. I also love the online activities. This is great to use with my active voters which allows for a quick assessment! Thanks!:)

    Reply
  5. Trina Brown

     /  January 17, 2012

    These activities are awesome! I love the interactive graphic organizer! I love that you have provided a variety of different activities that all reinforce the same skill set. I often have trouble finding new materials in order to re-teach/reinforce a concept. Please know that you have impacted many, many students with this site! Thank you!

    Reply
  6. Tiffany Banniza

     /  January 11, 2012

    Seems I just cannot have too many resources for text format identification. THANKS so much!

    Reply
    • My pleasure. I’ve got a bunch more that I’m just waiting to add. Maybe I should stop moderating comments and get to that…

      Reply
  7. Debbie Durham

     /  January 3, 2012

    the BEST resources ….THANKS!

    Reply
  8. Cheryl King

     /  November 30, 2011

    Our district does not provide enough resources on Text Patterns, and these sheets are wonderful teaching tools. Thanks!

    Reply
  9. This website has been extremely helpful!! I use these daily for independent practice. I especially love how it requires them to justify their responses, thus making them to T-H-I-N-K!!!!!

    Reply
  10. Mrs. Whitaker

     /  November 18, 2011

    I absolutely love this website. It is truly the best site for finding activities to teach children to identify text structures. Thank you vey much for this awesome site!

    Reply
  11. Katherine

     /  November 13, 2011

    Thank you for the worksheets. These will be wonderful in reinforcing the lesson on text structure. My students need practice, and these follow the notes I gave last week perfectly! Nice stuff!

    Reply
  12. Wonderful site all together-you don’t know how much easier you’ve made making centers for me!!

    Reply
  13. Mrs. Steinhardt

     /  November 2, 2011

    These are great. So often it is hard to find clear examples of the different types of text. I love these!

    Reply
  14. Tim Miles

     /  October 12, 2011

    Awesome setup, easy to use and incredibly useful content!

    Reply
  15. Okechukwu

     /  October 11, 2011

    Thanks, I can’t say enough thanks for the worksheets.

    Reply
  16. Jeff Cumbo

     /  October 10, 2011

    Thank you so very much for this wonderful resource.

    Reply
  17. Erika

     /  October 4, 2011

    Thank you soo much for your help! These are the best that I found on the web by far. I plan to do a “puzzle” activity by having the text structures on opposite sides and the students finding the correct match. I am also going to plan a competition where the table who could organize the structures correctly furst and show proof wins (a tootsie is all I can afford!)

    Reply
  18. Ms. T.

     /  September 30, 2011

    These were great! Thank you so much for the effort you put into putting these materials together in such an organized manner!

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  October 4, 2011

      Happy to help. I’ll be uploading more in the next few weeks. Thanks for visiting.

      Reply
  19. Lori Ocampo

     /  September 21, 2011

    Thanks for the worksheets….I am so tired of having to re-invent the wheel or purchase with my own money….Thanks again for the help and support!

    Reply
  20. Angela Amezaga

     /  September 20, 2011

    Thank you so very much for the time and effort you have dedicated to this website. It is so helpful! I use if very often and I recommend it all the time.

    Reply
  21. Linda

     /  September 18, 2011

    fantastic…just what i needed for teaching organizational structure next week….what a time-saver

    Reply
  22. Ashley

     /  September 11, 2011

    This is fantastic!!! Thanks for sharing your materials!

    Reply
  23. Mercy Dybas

     /  September 10, 2011

    I just have to say Thank you! to you for being so generous and sharing your amazing work. I have ESE and failing students that need your structured and very well done worksheets! I will be forever grateful I hope that one day I could return the favor! I so appreciate it!

    Reply
  24. Wonderful site! Will definitely be using this site with the kids in my reading class this year. Finally something for kids not in elementary school!

    Reply
  25. This is a great site. I love the assessment piece where students can print their results. It helps me know the pieces I need to reteach. Thank you for sharing your resources.

    Reply
  26. sheri

     /  August 17, 2011

    These worksheets are so helpful especially having a 4 yr. old & 1 yr. old @ home & thus having very little time. 🙂 It is just trying to get used to the new core standards and creating a new pacing calendar. I feel like I hit the gold mine. Thanks so much for sharing your lessons, worksheets, power points etc.
    I REALLY appreciate it!!

    Reply
  27. Cat L.

     /  July 14, 2011

    Mr. Morton,

    I am a first year teacher, and I cannot believe the quality and organization of the worksheets you have posted on your site. As I travel around Google trying to find things I can use, yours truly stand out in the crowd. I am bookmarking you, and hope to see more from you in the future! THANK YOU for making my first year a little less stressful!!!

    Reply
  28. lsnook

     /  April 18, 2011

    These pages and powerpoints were exactly what I needed to preview standards for my Ohio achievement tests. Thanks. Linda

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  April 18, 2011

      Pleased to hear it, Linda. Check back for new interactive worksheets and updates.

      Reply
  29. HRice

     /  April 13, 2011

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this! THANKS so much for sharing!

    Reply
  30. Connie

     /  April 10, 2011

    Mr. Morton,
    I appreciate your dedication and obvious love of teaching. I found this website last week and used the text structure ppt and worksheets. My students had light bulbs going off all day long! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. I will be teaching author’s purpose this week and look forward to the class participation and excitement.

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  April 12, 2011

      So pleased to hear it, Connie. May you and your students find great success in the class room.

      Reply
  31. S

     /  April 4, 2011

    Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!

    Reply
  32. Tracey

     /  April 1, 2011

    Are there answer sheets to these worksheets? Great resource!

    Reply
  33. Ms. V

     /  March 31, 2011

    I Love this Text Structure stuff! My kids were struggling with this! I shared with my colleagues. Sorry to ask, but are there Answer keys for this stuff? I want to make sure I am correct. 🙂

    Reply
  34. Mrs. Davis

     /  March 26, 2011

    Thanks for the worksheets. I have been teaching for three years, and this is the first time that I have found something useful in helping me teach text structures. You are wonderful!

    Reply
  35. Akins 01

     /  March 21, 2011

    Thanks so much for sharing! I can’t wait to introduce the material found at your site. My students will be tested this year on text structure and I have been looking everywhere for material to assist my students.

    Reply
  36. Christine

     /  March 21, 2011

    Thank you so much for sharing your work. It is very well structured and covers the topic in an organized manner. I think it will be a great help to my students.

    Reply
  37. Linda

     /  March 20, 2011

    Teaching text structure utilizing trade books or textbooks is not easy since most authors utilize a variety of structures within their writing. These short passages along with the graphic organizers are an excellent guide for scaffolding student learning.

    Thank you

    Reply
  38. Betty Woodson

     /  March 16, 2011

    This is outstanding!!! I cannot wait to share this with my students and co-workers.

    Reply
  39. Vickie

     /  March 13, 2011

    Dear Mr. Morton,

    Thank you so much for these worksheets. This will be a fabulous activity to truly put students’ ability to determine the correct organizational pattern into practice. Interesting coincidence — My students call me Ms. Mort for short! 🙂

    Reply
  40. Eve

     /  March 12, 2011

    These lessons and activities are practical and relevant. I’m certain my students will benefit enormously from using them.

    Reply
  41. Samantha

     /  March 12, 2011

    Thanks for the worksheets, you have done a wonderful job! You have saved this new teacher a headache and a full weekend’s worth of battling word documents…

    Reply
  42. Vanessa Miles

     /  February 21, 2011

    Thank you for taking the time to put together these worksheets. I have been looking for short passages to practice finding structure.

    Reply
  43. Lisa Flagg

     /  February 17, 2011

    Thank you very much for wonderful worksheets to allow students to see various organizational patterns at one time. Great worksheets.

    Reply
  44. julieta

     /  February 14, 2011

    This is great! Thanks for sharing this with us.

    Reply
  45. Amanda

     /  February 8, 2011

    I just found your site today. Love it! I can’t wait to use these with my students.

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  February 10, 2011

      I’m Pleased to hear it, Amanda. Thanks for taking the time to comment. May your implementation be successful.

      Reply
  46. Cira Marti

     /  January 27, 2011

    I loved these! Thank you so much for sharing. I will use with my students and share with the teachers at my school. We have been looking desperately for something to help our students with text structure. This is perfect!

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  January 27, 2011

      I’m pleased to hear it.
      I plan on expanding this area of the site in the future. Thank you for your interest and taking the time to comment.

      Reply
  47. Mrs. Puryear

     /  January 19, 2011

    I got excited when I saw the way these were set up. However, in Oklahoma, we combine sequence and chronological as 1 text structure. Then, we add descriptive. It can be difficult to teach concepts like this when there is not one standard. So, I will modify these to suit my needs, but a great idea!

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  January 19, 2011

      Thanks so much for your interest, Mrs. Puryear. I understand that the lexicon can vary from state to state, and I look forward to the day when the curriculum is nationally unified. I applaud you for taking the initiative to modify the assignments to meet your needs, and I encourage you to check back for updates occasionally as I intend to continue improving the site. Thanks again for taking the time to comment.

      Reply
  48. Mrs. Miller

     /  January 15, 2011

    These examples were so very helpful! Thank you!

    Reply
  49. Katie

     /  January 13, 2011

    Thank you so much for these worksheets! I have spent hours before looking for extra practice in identifying text structure or order of ideas with little results. These worksheets are great, and I’m sure my students will find them helpful.

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  January 14, 2011

      That makes me happy. Taking the time to leave these comment really inspires me to continue improving the site. Thanks again for your interest and appreciation.

      Reply
  50. I think this is fantastic. Well organized and easy to understand. Looking forward to using it with my students. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Mr. Morton

       /  January 8, 2011

      Thanks Nancy. I hope that the implementation goes well in your classroom. I intend to continue expanding and improving the site, so check back soon for more resources that you may find useful. Thanks again for your interest.

      Reply

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