7th Grade ELA: Text Structures and Text Features Study Guide

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key organizational text structures, informational text features, and technical specifications outlined in the 7th Grade ELA study guide.

Text Structure

How an author organizes information within a text, serving as a mental blueprint that allows readers to process complex ideas and connect sentences, paragraphs, and details.

Description

A text structure in which an author explains a topic, person, place, or thing by listing characteristics, sensory details, and examples to build a clear mental picture.

Sequence

A text structure that describes the order of steps or instructions on how to do or make something, allowing the reader to replicate or track a procedure.

Chronological Order

A text structure that arranges events, actions, or historical ideas in order by date or time to track plot progression, character development, and historical cause-and-effect.

Flashback

A non-linear narrative variation of chronological order that reveals past events to build empathy or reveal character motivation.

Flash-forward

A non-linear variation of chronological order that provides sneak previews of future outcomes.

Compare and Contrast

A text structure that explains how two or more things (characters, settings, themes, or ideas) are alike and different to analyze why those similarities and differences exist.

Cause and Effect

A text structure that outlines one or more events (causes) and the resulting outcomes (effects) to explain why events occur and predict outcomes.

Problem and Solution

A text structure that presents a difficulty or dilemma and proposes one or more possible solutions, sometimes detailing pros and cons.

Text Features

Components of an article or text outside the main body that act as road signs, guiding readers to navigate print efficiently and locate critical information.

Headline / Title

The main title of an article or text designed to grab attention and provide an immediate hint or summary of the main topic.

Subtitle / Dek

A short phrase or sentence appearing directly under the headline that previews key details and expands on the main title.

Heading & Subheading

Titles given to specific sections within a text that divide it into focused segments, allowing readers to scan and locate specific facts.

Bold & Italic Print

Text formatted with heavy lines or slanted letters to signal essential vocabulary or concepts requiring immediate reader attention.

Bullet Points

Visual dots or symbols introducing items in a list to break up lengthy information into scannable facts without wading through full paragraphs.

Sidebar / Inset

A boxed short article or mini-graphic set beside the main text that provides extra, contrasting, or zoomed-in background details without breaking narrative flow.

Diagram & Map

Drawings that illustrate how something works or depict physical space, helping readers visualize complex systems or locate geographic areas.

Chart / Graph / Table

Visual arrangements of rows, columns, or data plots comparing numerical data to organize complex statistics into easily digestible relationships.

Caption

Explanatory text placed beneath or beside photos or diagrams that explains what an image depicts and why it matters to the main text.

Escapement Wheel

A clock gear specified as made of hardened brass with a low target friction tolerance that requires micro-filing.

Main Drive Gear

A clock gear specified as made of cast iron with a high target friction tolerance that requires heavy lubrication.