In the SOL, what is analyzed to determine the text structure of informational texts?

• A. The thematic elements of the passage
• B. The author’s background
• C. The style and tone of writing
• D. The organizational patterns (chronological, cause/effect, problem/solution, compare/contrast)

Answer: (D)

The main idea tested is how to identify the way information is organized in an informational text. Text structure refers to the pattern the author uses to present ideas, and you reveal that structure by looking at how information is arranged and connected. In informational passages, analyzing organizational patterns—such as chronological order, cause/effect, problem/solution, or compare/contrast—shows the shape of the text and how the author builds understanding for the reader. This focus on arrangement helps you anticipate what comes next and see how ideas relate to one another.

The other elements don’t reveal how the information is organized. Thematic elements describe what the text is about, not how it’s put together. The author’s background can influence perspective but doesn’t determine structure. Style and tone concern language and attitude, not the way ideas are arranged. So the option about organizational patterns best captures what to analyze to determine the text structure. For example, a sequence of events points to chronological structure; explaining why something happens indicates cause/effect; presenting a problem followed by solutions signals problem/solution; and examining similarities and differences signals compare/contrast.