Organizational Organizational PatternsPatterns

ReadingReadingProfessor Charlene Koonin

What are What are Organizational Patterns?Organizational Patterns?

Parts fitting together to create a wholeParts fitting together to create a whole

Why Do WritersWhy Do Writers Use Organizational Use Organizational Patterns?Patterns?

Creates cohesivenessCreates cohesiveness Connects Main Ideas and DetailsConnects Main Ideas and Details Helps readers understandHelps readers understand Maintains audience interestMaintains audience interest Avoids digressionsAvoids digressions

How Do PatternsHow Do Patterns Benefit Readers? Benefit Readers?

Follow an author’s ideasFollow an author’s ideas Focus on the main ideaFocus on the main idea See relationship between detailsSee relationship between details Make predictions about the next Make predictions about the next

detailsdetails Remember informationRemember information

What Else About What Else About Patterns?Patterns? Used in expository and Used in expository and

informative writinginformative writing Determined by the author’s Determined by the author’s

purpose purpose Can have single or multiple Can have single or multiple

patterns within a single patterns within a single paragraphparagraph

Contain Signal Words Contain Signal Words

•SIMPLE LISTING

•CAUSE -- EFFECT

•STATEMENT & CLARIFICATION

•DEFINITION/EXPLANATION

•COMPARISON/CONTRAST

•CLASSIFICATION

•Summary

•Organizational Patterns

•Generalization- Illustration•/example

What is a Simple What is a Simple Listing Pattern ?Listing Pattern ?

Details given in Details given in list order•CHRONOLOGICAL--TIME ORDER- SEQUENCE

•ENUMERATION—ADDITION- SIMPLE LIST

•SPATIAL/PLACE•ORDER OF IMPORTANCE

CHRONOLOGICALTIME ORDER

7:00 PM11:10 AM 3:10 PM

Chronological Time Order. The major supporting details occur in a very specific sequence. The order of the details can NOT be interchanged.

Signal WordsSignal Words

• First, second, and so First, second, and so on; next, then, today, on; next, then, today, yesterday, finally, yesterday, finally, 1991,1992, after, 1991,1992, after, before previously before previously once, meanwhileonce, meanwhile

ChronologicalChronological

ADDITION, ENUMERATIONSIMPLE LIST

Addition, Enumeration, Simple List. The major supporting details occur in ANY sequence. The order of the details CAN be interchanged.

EnumerationEnumeration Signal Words Signal Words

Also, in addition Also, in addition further, another further, another furthermore, furthermore, moreover, moreover, besides,a besides,a number ofnumber of

Spatial Simple ListSpatial Simple List

Spatial Simple List is when the major supporting details list how places or objects are related to each other in a given area or space.The passage gives details about the location of geographical areas or the relationship of objects to each other.

Spatial Spatial Signal Words Signal Words To the right, to the left, on top, above, To the right, to the left, on top, above,

under, below, inside, next tounder, below, inside, next to North, South, East, WestNorth, South, East, West

Order of ImportanceOrder of Importance Signal Words Signal Words Most importantMost important

Less importantLess important

Least importantLeast important

What is a Cause and What is a Cause and Effect Organizational Effect Organizational Pattern?Pattern?

CauseCause• What makes something happenWhat makes something happen• What leads to the eventWhat leads to the event• What causes the eventWhat causes the event

EffectEffect• Results of the actionResults of the action• ConsequencesConsequences

Cause and Effect Cause and Effect Signal Words Signal Words

CauseCause• Because, since, as, the reason for this, a Because, since, as, the reason for this, a

causecause EffectEffect

• As a result, thus, consequently, so, As a result, thus, consequently, so, hence, therefore, one outcome, an effecthence, therefore, one outcome, an effect

CombinedCombined• If (cause), then (effect)If (cause), then (effect)

Cause results in

effect

What is aWhat is a Clarification Pattern? Clarification Pattern? Saying the same thing a number of Saying the same thing a number of

waysways Examining its meaning a second, third, Examining its meaning a second, third,

or fourth time in attempt to make clearor fourth time in attempt to make clear Referred to asReferred to as statementstatement and and

clarification/EXAMLPEclarification/EXAMLPE or or generalization generalization and clarification/EXAMPLEand clarification/EXAMPLE

Signal Words Signal Words ClearlyClearly In other wordsIn other words As a matter of As a matter of

factfact EvidentlyEvidently IndeedIndeed

In factIn fact ObviouslyObviously Of courseOf course TooToo

ClarificationClarification

What is a Definition What is a Definition And Explanation Pattern?And Explanation Pattern? Explains or describes a topic, idea, Explains or describes a topic, idea,

or process that the author thinks or process that the author thinks unclearunclear

Sounds like a dictionary entrySounds like a dictionary entry Includes classification sometimesIncludes classification sometimes Elaborates on an explanationElaborates on an explanationW

ebste

r

Definition and Definition and ExplanationExplanation Signal Words Signal Words

is, is, in other words, in other words, refers to,refers to, meansmeans

What is the Comparison What is the Comparison and Contrast Pattern?and Contrast Pattern? Shows similarities (comparisons)Shows similarities (comparisons) Shows differences (contrasts)Shows differences (contrasts)

Comparison and Contrast Comparison and Contrast Signals Signals Words Words ComparisonComparison

• In the same way, In the same way, similarly, likewise, similarly, likewise, both,both,

in comparisonin comparison

ContrastContrast• Although, on the Although, on the

other hand, other hand, however, on the however, on the contrary, but, contrary, but, instead, instead, conversely, conversely,

in contrast, yet, in contrast, yet, unlikeunlike

What is aWhat is aClassification Pattern?Classification Pattern?

Groups or Groups or categorizes categorizes individual members individual members according to shared according to shared characteristics that characteristics that exist or the writer exist or the writer createscreates

Classification Classification Signal Signal Words Words KindsKinds TypesTypes CategoriesCategories GroupsGroups SortsSorts

SummarySummary A summary is a series of brief, concise A summary is a series of brief, concise

statements. These statements should statements. These statements should include the authors main idea and include the authors main idea and major supporting details. Minor major supporting details. Minor supporting details should not be supporting details should not be included in a summary.included in a summary.

To summarize this presentation we will To summarize this presentation we will revisit the main points in the next revisit the main points in the next slide.slide.

The Writer’s The Writer’s Organizational Patterns Organizational Patterns RevisitedRevisited Simple ListingSimple Listing Cause and EffectCause and Effect Statement &Statement & ClarificationClarification Generalization-Generalization- Illustration/Illustration/ ExampleExample

Definition/Definition/ ExplanationExplanation Comparison/Comparison/ ContrastContrast ClassificationClassification SummarySummary