Text Structure Analysis: What Causes Popcorn to Pop?

Review It

Read the summary chart below in order to review the author’s purpose and text structure(s) used thus far in the article "Scientists study mystery of popcorn: why does it jump and make noise?opens in new window"

First recall the central idea in the text:

Virot and Ponomarenko wanted to learn what makes popcorn jump and why it makes that pop-pop-pop sound.

Text in Article	Author’s Purpose / Text Structure
Paragraphs 4 and 5	Text structure used to show the relationship between paragraphs 4 and 5 Compare and Contrast Author’s Purpose in paragraphs 4 and 5 To compare and contrast what other scientists wanted to know about popcorn with what scientists Virot and Ponomarenko wanted to know
Paragraph 6	Text Structure of paragraph 6 Description Author’s Purpose in paragraph 6 To describe Zea mays everta, the only type of corn known to pop
Paragraphs 7 and 8	Text structure used to show the relationship between paragraphs 7 and 8 Cause and Effect Author’s Purpose in paragraphs 7 and 8 To illustrate the cause-and-effect relationship between a kernel becoming a piece of popcorn
Paragraph 9	Text Structure of paragraph 9 Sequence or Chronology Author’s Purpose in paragraph 9 To sequentially describe the process scientists Virot and Ponomarenko used to capture the kernel popping process with high-speed cameras