Reading: Understanding Text Structure, Cohesion & Coherence: B1 Lesson 2: Recognizing Common Text Organization Patterns
CEFR Level: B1 (Intermediate)
Target Reading Sub-skill: Understanding Text Structure, Cohesion & Coherence
Specific Focus: Recognizing Common Text Organization Patterns (e.g., chronological order, simple comparison)
What You Will Learn
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Understand that texts are often organized in common patterns.
- Identify chronological order (time order) in a text and recognize signal words.
- Identify simple comparison/contrast patterns in a text and recognize signal words.
- Use these patterns to better understand how ideas are presented.
Hello Cambodian Learners!
Writers organize their ideas in different ways to make them clear. Just like when you build a house, you follow a plan, writers use "text organization patterns." Understanding these patterns helps you follow the writer's thoughts. Today, we'll look at two common patterns: chronological order (telling things in time order, like a story about the history of Battambang) and comparison/contrast (showing how things are similar or different, like comparing two types of Cambodian fruit).
Common Text Organization Patterns
Click on the example paragraphs to hear them.
1. Chronological Order (Time Order)
This pattern presents events or steps in the order they happen or happened.
Signal words: first, next, then, after that, finally, before, after, dates (1990, 2023), times (8 AM, noon).
Example: First, I woke up at 7 AM. Then, I had breakfast. After that, I went to my English class. Finally, I returned home in the evening.
2. Comparison and Contrast
This pattern shows how two or more things are similar (comparison) or different (contrast).
Signal words for Comparison (similarities): similarly, like, also, too, both, same as.
Signal words for Contrast (differences): but, however, although, different from, on the other hand, while.
Example: Life in the city is very different from life in the countryside. Cities are often crowded and noisy, but the countryside is usually quiet and peaceful. However, cities offer more job opportunities and entertainment. Both city and country life have their own advantages.
Practice Time!
Activity 1: What's the Pattern?
Read each short text. Decide if it mainly uses Chronological Order or Comparison/Contrast. Click the correct button.
Activity 2: Understanding the Pattern
Read the text and answer the question about its organization or content related to the pattern.
Quick Quiz!
Great Job!
Recognizing text organization patterns is a very helpful skill for understanding how a writer has structured their ideas. This makes reading easier and more effective!