Preparing for the EOC Test & RAC

2012

This structure describes a series of events in numerical or chronological order that lead up to a conclusion.

Events can be separated by years or just a few seconds.

SEQUENCE QuestionsHow are the steps organized

(chronologically or numerically)?

What is the time span of the events?

What do the events describe?

Do the events describe a process?

SEQUENCE Key WordsFirst Today Now

SecondDate Since

Third Then Finally

Next Last Time

While During Following

After Until Previously

When Soon

SEQUENCE

The author describes several reasons why an event occurred or describes several effects from one cause, or the author describes a single cause/effect situation.

CAUSE/EFFECT QuestionsWhat is the cause?

What is the effect?

Is there more than one cause and effect?

What is the result?

What is the reason the result happened?

CAUSE/EFFECT Key WordsIn order to Since For this

reason

Therefore So that On account of

As a result Before The effect of

Consequently Due to Reasons why

Accordingly Because This led to

CAUSE/EFFECT

The author describes how two or more events, places, things, or ideas are alike and/or different.

COMPARE/CONTRAST Questions

What things are being compared (places, objects, events, or ideas)?

How are they alike?

How are they different?

What are the most important similarities or differences?

COMPARE/CONTRAST Key Words

However In comparison Both

Different On the contraryYet

Although On the other hand But

Similarly Just like Also

Either/or Even though Too

Unlike As well Alike

Same as Just as

COMPARE/CONTRAST

The author describes the topic by listing characteristics, features, and examples.

DESCRIPTIVE QuestionsWhat person, idea, or thing is

being described?

Which detail seems to be the most important?

Can you tell how the author feels about what he or she is describing?

DESCRIPTIVE Key WordsSuch as Characteristics Including

Is like Steps involved Across

Next to Appears to be Along

Beside For instance On top of

Above For example Under

Below To illustrate In front of

DESCRIPTIVE

The author identifies a problem, gives possible solutions with possible results, and describes the solution that was finally chosen.

PROBLEM/SOLUTION Questions

What is the problem?

What caused the problem?

What are some possible solutions?

Who or what will work to solve the problem?

PROBLEM/SOLUTION Key Words

Problem Solution Solve

Because Difficulty Since

Hopeful Question Future

So that Dilemma Need

Answer Possibility Worry

Struggle If/then Threat

One reason for

PROBLEM/SOLUTION

COMPARE/CONTRASTMost states are divided into counties. A county contains towns and cities. It also contains the space in between them. However, the state of Louisiana is not divided into counties. Just like other states, it is divided into smaller parts, but the parts are parishes instead of counties.

COMPARE/CONTRASTMost states are divided into counties. A county contains towns and cities. It also contains the space in between them. However, the state of Louisiana is not divided into counties. Just like other states, it is divided into smaller parts, but the parts are parishes instead of counties.

PROBLEM/SOLUTIONNewspaper printing presses run very fast. It would be easy to print all the papers at once, but printers worry there might be a mistake in the paper. It would be a waste to reprint them all. The printers avoid this problem by running “test” papers, which they check for mistakes.

PROBLEM/SOLUTIONNewspaper printing presses run very fast. It would be easy to print all the papers at once, but printers worry there might be a mistake in the paper. It would be a waste to reprint them all. The printers avoid this problem by running “test” papers, which they check for mistakes.

DESCRIPTIVEThe Florida worm lizard does not have legs or feet. It is about eight inches long and looks like a giant earthworm because it is pink. It doesn’t have eyes or ears, but it has a mouth that looks like other lizards’ mouths. Its body is covered with scales.

CAUSE/EFFECTThe American West is home to “ghost towns.” These empty places once were bustling towns. They were built during the Gold Rush, when many people moved west to strike it rich. Most of them never found gold. As a result, they moved back east – so the towns became ghost towns.

CAUSE/EFFECTThe American West is home to “ghost towns.” These empty places once were bustling towns. They were built during the Gold Rush, when many people moved west to strike it rich. Most of them never found gold. As a result, they moved back east – so the towns became ghost towns.

SEQUENCETo make butter, first you milk a cow. Then, you separate the cream from the milk. Next, you put the cream in a churner. You use the churner to mix the cream. After a long time, the cream starts to become solid. After mixing even longer, a lump of butter forms.

SEQUENCETo make butter, first you milk a cow. Then, you separate the cream from the milk. Next, you put the cream in a churner. You use the churner to mix the cream. After a long time, the cream starts to become solid. After mixing even longer, a lump of butter forms.