Text Structure Signal Questions & Signal Words

Compare Problem
Cause and
and Sequence and Description
Effect
Contrast Solution

Cause is why Tells about a

Describes items or A topic, idea, person,
something happened. Shows how two or problem (and
events in order or place, or thing is
Effect is what more things are sometimes says
tells the steps to described by listing
happened. alike and/or how why there is a
follow to do its features,
(Sometimes the they are problem) then
something or make characteristics, or
effect is listed different. gives one or more
something. examples.
first.) possible solutions.

Signal Questions
What specific topic,
What is the
What items, person, idea, or thing is
What things are problem? Why is
events, or steps being described? How
What happened? being compared? this a problem? Is
are listed? Do they is it being described
Why did it happen? In what ways are anything being done
have to happen in (what does it look like,
What caused it to they alike? In what to try to solve the
this order? Do they how does it work, what
happen? ways are they problem? What can
always happen in does it do, etc.)? What
different? be done to solve
this order? is important to
the problem?
remember about it?

Signal Words
So
Same as First For instance
Because
Similar Second Such as
Since
Alike Next Question is To begin with
Therefore
As well as Then Dilemma is An example
Ifthen
Not onlybut also Before The puzzle is To illustrate
This led to
Both After To solve this Characteristics
Reason why
Instead of Finally One answer is
As a result
Eitheror Following One reason for the *Look for the topic
May be due to
On the other hand Not long after problem is word (or a synonym or
Effect of
Different from Now pronoun) to be
Consequently
As opposed to Soon repeated
For this reason

Shared by: Laurie Thisius, USD 268

Text Structure Signal Questions & Signal Words

Shared by: Laurie Thisius, USD 268