CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.5

ELA4th GradeCraft and Structure

The Standard

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.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Informational Text

What This Standard Means

Students need to notice how an informational text is built. They should name the structure, such as time order, compare and contrast, cause and effect, or problem and solution. They also need to explain how that structure helps the reader follow the information.

Mastery looks like a student saying, “This section is cause and effect because it explains what happened after the drought,” and backing it with text clues. Students often mix up topic and structure. They may say “animals” instead of “compare and contrast.” Signal words help, but students also need to check the whole paragraph or section.

Ways to Teach It

Give pairs four short paragraphs and have them sort each onto labeled mats for chronology, comparison, cause and effect, and problem and solution.
Ask students to write: How did the author organize this section, and how did that choice help you understand the information?
Show one paragraph and ask students to circle two clues, name the structure, and write one sentence explaining their choice.
Bring in a simple news article and have students label how the reporter organized the facts for readers.