Which organizational structure does this text primarily use?
compare-contrast cause-effect
Read the text.
The males of the Cervidae (deer) family, such as elk, moose, deer, and caribou, grow antlers on their heads. Caribou are the only species in which the females also have antlers. Antlers are branched structures made of bone. Most antlered animals shed them annually in the fall or winter and then grow new antlers in the spring. Horns, unlike antlers, don't fall off but continue to grow throughout the animal's life. Further, horns aren't branched, nor are they made entirely of bone. Horns contain a bony core that is covered with a sheath of keratin, similar to the material of fingernails. Horned animals, which include sheep, cows, bison, and goats, are in the Bovidae family. In many Bovidae species, both females and males have horns.
Authors use different text structures to organize their ideas in writing. Learning to identify these structures will help you to understand the relationships between ideas in informational texts. You can also use these structures to organize your own writing.
A cause-effect structure presents the causes and the effects of a particular event, trend, or situation. This structure often uses words and phrases such as because, since, as a result, due to, or consequently.
A compare-contrast structure presents similarities (comparisons) and differences (contrasts) between two or more things. This structure often uses words and phrases such as like, similarly, or in the same way (for comparing) or on the other hand, in contrast, or unlike (for contrasting).
A problem-solution structure presents a problem and suggests one or more possible solutions. This structure often uses words such as issue, question, puzzle, propose, and answer.
A sequential structure describes a series of events that happens in a certain order. This structure often uses specific dates and times or words such as first, next, during, finally, and while.
The text uses a compare-contrast structure to show differences between antlers and horns. In the text, certain words and phrases help to organize ideas in a compare-contrast structure. Notice the words unlike and nor.