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Chapter 4: Organizational Patterns

Reading Across the Disciplines: College Reading and Beyond, 3/e

Kathleen McWhorter

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In this chapter you will learn how to:

Identify patterns of organization: Definition Classification Order or Sequence Cause and Effect Comparison and Contrast Listing/Enumeration Mix Patterns Other Patterns

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Patterns

Help you anticipate the author’s thought development and thus focus your reading.

Help you remember and recall what you read.

Useful in your writing; by helping you organize and express your ideas in a more coherent, comprehensible form.

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Definition

Explains the meaning of a word or phrase.

Transitions for Definition Pattern: is, means, refers, can be defined, another term, also meansdeficit is another term that…bureaucracy means…

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Classification

Divides a topic into parts based on shared characteristics.

Transitions for Classification Pattern: several kinds, numerous types of,

classified as, composed of, comprise, one type of, another type, finally

There are numerous types of…The human skeleton is composed of...

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Order or Sequence

Describes events, processes, and procedures.– Chronology– Process– Order of Importance– Spatial Order

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Chronological Order

Refers to the sequence in which events occur in time.

Transitions for Chronological Order: in, at, on, first, later, then, before,

during, by the time, while, afterward, as, after, thereafter, meanwhile, at that point

In ancient times…The first primate species…Later efforts...

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Process

Focuses on procedures, steps, or stages by which actions are accomplished.

Transitions for Process: words are similar to those used for

chronological order.

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Order of Importance

Expresses order of priority or preference.Ideas are arranged from most to least or

least to most important.

Transitions for Order of Importance: less, more, primary, first, next, last,

most important, primarily, secondarily More revealing is… Of primary interest is…

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Spatial Order

Information is organized according to its physical location, or position or order in space.

Transitions for Spatial Order: left, lower, outer, beneath, next to, beside,

to the left, in the center, externally the left side of the brain…beneath the surface…

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Cause and Effect

Describes how one or more things cause or are related to another.

Transitions for Cause and Effect: causes, creates, leads to, yields, stems

form, produce, breeds, results in, therefore, consequently, hence, for this reason, since

Stress causes…Avoidance results in…

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Comparison and Contrast

Discusses similarities and/or differences among ideas, theories, concepts, objects, or persons.

Transitions for Comparison and Contrast: unlike, less than, contrasted with,

differs from, in contrast, however, on the other hand, as opposed to, whereas

Frost differs from… Frost is as powerful as…

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Listing/Enumeration

Organized lists of information, parts, characteristics, features, or categories.

Transitions for Listing/Enumeration: one, second feature, also, several

characteristics, (1)…,(2)…, (a)…, (b)…, in addition, first, second, third, finally, another

A second feature of relativity… There are several characteristics of relativity: (1)

…(2)…, and (3)…

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Mixed Patterns

Organizational patterns are often combined.

Example: Psychogenic amnesia—a severe and often permanent memory loss—results in disorientation and the inability to draw on past experiences.

(cause and effect/definition)

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Statement & Clarification

Indicates that information explaining an idea or concept will follow.

Transitions for Statement & Clarification:

in fact, in other words, clearly, evidently, obviously

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Summary

Condensed review of an idea or piece of writing is to follow.

Transitions for Summary: in summary, in conclusion, in brief, to summarize, to sum up, in short, on the whole

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Generalization and Example

Provides examples that clarify a broad, general statement.

Transitions for Generalization & Example:

for example, for instance, that is,

to illustrate, thus

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Addition

Indicates that additional information will follow.

Transitions for Addition:

furthermore, additionally, also, besides, further, in addition, moreover, again

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