“Not all reading is equal!
Different reading techniques are required for different reading structures. WHAT? Reading is reading … isn’t it? Yes and no. The structure of texts differs according to its content’s purpose.
Most writing falls into two main structures: Narrative and Expository.
A narrative tells a story and has one basic structure that will always have the following components:
· Characters - who is in the story
· Setting - time and place of the story
· Plot - conflict
· Moral - lesson
Narrative writing is easier to read. We all live narrative lives. We are all stories and have stories to tell. We are characters who live in a certain time and location. We all have conflicts, which cause problems in our lives. We learn lessons from dealing with the problems; not always good lessons, but we always learn something. It is called “experience”.
Expository explains (exposes) various information and uses many different structures which makes it more difficult to read. Learning to recognize the various structures makes reading much easier to comprehend. This resulted in the student’s comprehension improving and enjoying reading in the content areas.
These are examples of the most frequently used expository structures. They are helpful for all levels of reading from beginner to adult. Once I understood this, I noticed even my comprehension and enjoyment of reading increased.
· Compare-Contrast Structure—examines the similarities and differences between two or more people, events, concepts, ideas, etc.
How is a kitty like a puppy? (compare)
How is a kitty different than a puppy? (contrast)
· Cause-Effect Structure - examines the causal relationship between a specific event, idea, or concept, and the results that follow.
If you tell a lie (cause), what happens (effect)?
· Sequence - information is given in a specific order.
How do you build a snowman? First, second, next…
· Chronological - information is given following the order of time.
Make a timeline of the birthdays in your family (chronological).
· Problem-solution - the writing sets up a problem or problems, explains the solution, and then discusses the solution’s possible effects.
How can you solve the problem of your messy room?
· Descriptive - information given with the purpose of creating a visual or mental picture.
Tell me about the colors and shapes in the picture that you drew.
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