--- title: "Structure of information texts" description: "Describe the overall structure of an informational text (chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) and explain how the author's chosen structure helps convey information and ideas" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/structure-of-information-texts-mt_oVwNnjYPUY source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/structure-of-information-texts-mt_oVwNnjYPUY.md retrieved: 2026-11-12 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Structure of information texts Describe the overall structure of an informational text (chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) and explain how the author's chosen structure helps convey information and ideas Subject: English · Area: Reading Comprehension · Ages 9 to 10 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/structure-of-information-texts-mt_oVwNnjYPUY ## Ready when they can - Identify which organisational structure an informational text uses (chronological order, compare/contrast, cause/effect, or problem/solution) and cite textual features that signal it - Explain how signal words suggest a text structure, then check that structure against the relationships between the ideas - Compare two informational texts on the same topic that use different structures and explain how each structure affects the way information is presented to the reader ## Lesson: How information texts are organized A text's structure is how its ideas are arranged. Chronological order follows events through time. Compare and contrast shows likenesses and differences. Cause and effect explains why something happens and what it leads to. Problem and solution presents a difficulty and an actual or possible fix. Description groups details about a topic. You have checked links between text parts. Now check links between ideas. Chronological order helps you follow events or steps. A sample report says: 'First, Jo unlocked the hall. Then the visitors arrived. Finally, Jo locked up.' The words first, then and finally mark the order. Dates and times can mark order too. Order alone does not show cause: ask whether one event made another happen. **Example.** A comparison says: 'The Green bus route is short. The Gold route is longer. Both stop at the school.' It compares route length and gives a shared stop. Both and similarly can introduce likenesses. Unlike, however and in contrast can introduce differences. Check what is being compared, not just which words appear. Cause and effect asks what caused what: 'Heavy rain soaked the path, so the path closed.' Because and as a result can link reasons and results. Problem and solution asks what needs fixing and how: 'The yard is muddy. We could add gravel.' A solution can be proposed; it need not have happened yet. Description tells what a topic is like. 'The room has pale walls, a low ceiling and two windows' groups details about one room. Identify description from what the sentences do. Missing signal words alone do not establish a structure. **Example.** Two reports can share a topic but organize it differently. One gives the gate's opening and closing times. Another explains that rain caused its closure. The first helps you follow when events happened. The second explains why. Name each structure and point to the relationship that supports your answer. Read the whole passage before naming its main structure. A text can mix structures. Events may happen in time order while the writer focuses on their causes. A problem/solution passage needs a problem and an actual or proposed response. An excerpt that gives only a problem does not reveal how the unseen text continues. Structure can help you predict likely next information. **Recap.** Name how the ideas connect: time, comparison, causes, problems and solutions, or description. Signal words help, but check the whole passage. A text can mix structures. *Lesson, questions and flashcards written for this dataset.* ## Practice 24 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Structural terminology](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/structural-terminology-mt_ujwtRoYJ34) - [Connecting Ideas in Texts](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/connecting-ideas-in-texts-mt_w4wKFP3jud) ## Opens up - [Comparing Structure in Information Texts](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/comparing-structure-in-information-texts-mt_-1okUh0Jdv)