Read the five texts. Circle how each text named in a question is organized.
Read this first
Five short texts
Text A A coral reef is full of color. Bright fish dart between branches of orange and purple coral, and tiny shrimp hide in the cracks.
Text B Mia's bike tire kept going flat. She found a small nail stuck in the tire. Her dad fixed the problem by patching the hole.
Text C Summer and winter are different. Summer days are long and warm, but winter days are short and cold.
Text D To plant a bean, first dig a small hole. Next, drop in the seed and cover it with soil. After that, water it gently. Finally, put the pot in a sunny window.
Text E Because the ice on the pond was thin, it cracked under the heavy rock.
Different texts are organized in different ways, and comparing them shows how the structure fits the purpose. A sequence tells things in order, a problem and solution paragraph names a problem and how it is fixed, cause and effect explains why something happened, compare and contrast tells how things are alike and different, and a description paints a picture of one thing with details.
On this fifth grade sheet five short texts, Text A to Text E, are printed together, and each of five questions names one of them and asks how it is organized. Each version has different texts, and the answer key gives every answer.
What your child will learn
Know five ways texts are organized
Use signal words as clues
Compare how different texts are built
Tell a description from a sequence or a comparison
Common Core standard: RI.5.5
Worked example
“First, mix the flour and the eggs. Next, pour the batter into a pan.” The words first and next show the structure is sequence.
Common mistake
Calling a description a compare and contrast text because it names several details.
Helpful hint
Look for signal words: first and next (sequence), because and as a result (cause and effect), both and but (compare and contrast), problem and solved (problem and solution). A description has none, and just tells what something is like.
What is the most common mistake with compare text structures?+
Calling a description a compare and contrast text because it names several details.
How can I help my child with compare text structures?+
Look for signal words: first and next (sequence), because and as a result (cause and effect), both and but (compare and contrast), problem and solved (problem and solution). A description has none, and just tells what something is like.
Are these 5th grade reading worksheets free to print?+
Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.
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