Top-Level Structure (TLS) method as a text-structure teaching framework

Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 causal), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description

The TLS method is a reading and writing strategy based on Meyer's (1975) hierarchy of text content into top, middle, and bottom levels of importance. It teaches students to identify the organizational plan of a text to find main ideas and supporting details. The method "consists of four types of structure, which are listing, problem and solution, cause and effect, and comparison and contrast". Students learn to use signaling words to identify these structures.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

• Students need awareness of the concept of text structure and knowledge of the four common types of top-level organization

Constraints

Target Learners

• ninth grade EFL students

Learning Goals

• English reading comprehension
• English writing ability

Claims

• Ninth grade Thai EFL students' English reading scores rose significantly across a one-group time series of CAI based on the TLS method, with no comparison group [+W]
• Ninth grade Thai EFL students' English creative writing scores rose significantly across a one-group time series of CAI based on the TLS method, with no comparison group [+W]

Related Designs

Examples

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Key Sources

• Nattapong Jinajai & Saowalak Rattanavich. (2015). The Effects of Computer-Assisted Instruction Based on Top-Level Structure Method in English Reading and Writing Abilities of Thai EFL Students. English Language Teaching, 8(11). https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v8n11p231

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	design
id	top-level-structure-method-framework
title	Top-Level Structure (TLS) method as a text-structure teaching framework
description	The TLS method is a reading and writing strategy based on Meyer's (1975) hierarchy of text content into top, middle, and bottom levels of importance.
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-11-03
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources	1 — nattapong-jinajai-saowalak-rattanavich-2015

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