Text Structure

TEXT STRUCTURE

Written texts can be broadly divided into two categories: literature (fictional narratives, poetry and drama) and informational texts (which can have narrative or expository structures).

Within each category, there are particular genres, the understanding of which supports a reader's ability to extract meaning. A knowledge of the typical structure of these genres helps readers to form accurate expectations, to search through a text for given information, and to understand how different parts of a text link together. Thus, teaching children about the structure genres of text (and the structures of literature and informational texts more generally) can support children's comprehension.

(The Art & Science of Teaching Primary Reading, Christopher Such)

Literature

Through the experience and discussion of dramatic texts (i.e. play scripts), poetry, and narratives, children can be taught both implicitly and explicitly about the typical structure of these texts.

• For example, having learned that fictional narratives tend to contain central characters seeking to achieve a goal, children are more likely as they read to give particular attention to the motivations of characters or the obstacles they face, helping the children to construct and update a situation model.

• Equally, understanding the concept of a beginning, middle, and end - with conflict, rising stakes and a denouement (final part, the outcome) - can support children's comprehension (not to mention their ability to write stories themselves).

(The Art & Science of Teaching Primary Reading, Christopher Such)

Informational texts

Informational texts constitute an increasing proportion of classroom reading material as children progress through school. Just as with literature, there are different types and genres of informational text (e.g. essays, speeches, journalistic articles). Beyond the discussion of genre, there are further ways of considering the underlying structures of informational texts that children can be beneficially taught.

Oakhill, Cain and Elbro (2014) described five different structures for informational texts:

1. description

2. sequence

3. compare and contrast

4. cause and effect

5. problem and solution.

These are often combined within single texts. Considering these different structures of informational texts can help children to perceive the necessary inferences that they need to make, something that is especially important given that informational texts often contain unfamiliar concepts and vocabulary.

(The Art & Science of Teaching Primary Reading, Christopher Such)

Graphic organsiers

Different text structures can be related to different graphic organisers to support children's understanding. For example, the points within a compare and contrast informational text may be represented using a Venn diagram or a 'double spray' diagram.

Graphic organisers, such as flow diagrams, are equally suited to the description of literature text types and are an excellent way to visualise text structure and support children's understanding. Using these, and teaching other aspects of text structure, can be undertaken as an integrated part of reading sessions, supported by discussion and questioning. Such as teaching can also take place in writing sessions and across the curriculum, whenever a text in its entirety needs to be summarised and understood.

(The Art & Science of Teaching Primary Reading, Christopher Such)