Authors often use a descriptive text structure to break down a complex idea into parts that a reader can more easily understand. Descriptive text may be useful, for example, when writing about how fur keeps an animal warm, what a beach in California looks like, or what a baby bird is able to do at birth. Descriptive text provides details that help readers imagine how something looks, or what a particular thing is made of.
The paragraph below describes what is inside a standard firework. Read the passage carefully. Then click each sentence in the chart beneath the paragraph to see what part of the text structure that sentence represents.
The standard fireworks used today contain four parts. The part you can see—the container, or shell—consists of a paper and string cylinder that holds the other components together tightly. Inside the shell are the stars—small balls or cubes of specially formulated chemicals that explode into specific colors and designs. The bursting charge is at the center of the shell and is what makes the stars explode outward. Everything is linked together with a fuse that burns at a specific rate. This carefully calculated rate ensures that the fireworks explode at the proper height.
Click each sentence below to see what part of a descriptive text structure it represents.
| The standard fireworks used today contain four parts. | This sentence names what will be described in the paragraph. |
| The part you can see—the container, or shell—consists of a paper and string cylinder that holds the other components together tightly. | This sentence sets a starting point for the description—the outside of the firework. |
| Inside the shell are the stars—small balls or cubes of specially formulated chemicals that explode into specific colors and designs. | This sentence tells readers that the description will move from the outside of the firework in toward the center. |
| The bursting charge is at the center of the shell and is what makes the stars explode outward. | This sentence confirms that the description is moving from the outside inward. |
| Everything is linked together with a fuse that burns at a specific rate. This carefully calculated rate ensures that the fireworks explode at the proper height. | These sentences explain how the various parts fit and work together. |
Question
Which of these topics would require a descriptive text structure: the form of government in Cuba, or the difference between Cuba and other Caribbean island countries?
