Patterns of Patterns of OrganizationOrganization

Separating supporting points from main ideas is an important reading skill. The organization of the supporting details will help you understand how an author thinks. Detecting the patterns of organization of the major and minor details can help with comprehension and retention.

The main idea…The main idea…

The thesis or main idea is usually a The thesis or main idea is usually a goodgood

predictor of the organization of an predictor of the organization of an essay or paragraph.essay or paragraph.

Main Idea Text

Topic Sentence Paragraph

Thesis Essay

Theme Story, novel, play

Signal WordsSignal Words

Signal words, also known as Signal words, also known as transitions, transitions, are words which indicate are words which indicate the relationship the relationship between ideas, and the organization of the between ideas, and the organization of the details.details.

Time Order / Sequence PatternTime Order / Sequence Pattern

1. Items are listed in the order in which they occurred or in a specifically planned order in which they must develop. In this case, the order is important and changing it would change the meaning.

2. specific order required:chronological, sequential, spatial, etc.

The colonists’ war for independence was marked by four major events. First, the battle of Lexington and Concord occurred when the British clashed with the colonists on April 19, 1775. Second, The British drove the Americans from their positions at Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. Third, General Washington gained a victory at Princeton on January 3, 1777. Fourth, on October 19, 1781, the British surrendered in the war’s last major battle. These four major events were deciding factors in the colonists’ war for independence.

WHAT HOW

SIGNAL WORDS of Time Order / Sequencebeforehowwhen subsequently ultimatelyimmediately

initiallypresentlyfirst, second, etc.laterfinallythen

previouslynextmeanwhileafterformerlylast

4 Major Events in Colonists War for Independence

April 19,1775 Clash at Lexington and Concord

June 17, 1775American victory at Bunker Hill

Jan. 3, 1777 Washington’s victory at Princeton

Oct. 19, 1781

British surrender at Yorktown

Items are related by the comparisons (similarities) that are made or by the contrasts (differences) that are presented.

The COMPARE / CONTRAST The COMPARE / CONTRAST PatternPattern

> two or more persons, places, things

During the War for Independence, the British and American armies were very different. The British army was composed of professional soldiers, while the American army was made up of civilians who knew little about military strategy and were untrained for warfare. Although the British were skilled soldiers, the colonists had one advantage- they were more familiar with the terrain than their enemy. The English used cash and credit to outfit their army with uniforms, arms, and ammunition, but the American troops usually supplied their own arms and often wore only the clothing of the day, because there was no official government with tax or money or credit. All of these facts demonstrate how different the British and American armies were when the fought in the War for Independence.

WHAT

Signal Words: Compare/Contrast

assimilarlyat the same timelikeas well asin comparisonbothallby the same tokenfurthermore

COMPARE CONTRAST

buton the other handin spite ofconverselydespitehowevernonethelesson the contraryratherneverthelessnotwithstandingthoughyetregardless

whereasalthoughin contrastunlikefor all thateven though

The Cause / Effect PatternThe Cause / Effect Pattern

WHAT happened? (effect)WHY did it happen? (cause)

In order to refill the treasury depleted by its many wars,

Whatthe English Parliament passed the Stamp Act in 1765. It

required colonists to buy stamps to be placed on legal papers,

diplomas and newspapers.

Why

This pattern describes or discusses an event or action that is caused by another event or action.

Signal Words- CAUSE / EFFECT

CAUSE EFFECTreason outcomedue to resulton account of as a resultleads to thereforeled to thussince consequentlybecause hence

for this reasonfinally

CAUSES EFFECTS

war debts - drain on Stamp actTreasury

Colonists’ protests repeal of Stamp Act“taxation withoutrepresentation”

war debts - drain on Stamp actTreasury

Colonists’ protests repeal of Stamp Act“taxation withoutrepresentation”

The text presents a significant problem and explains it in detail. Then, a possible solution is proposed. Sometimes, only the problem is presented because there is no solution.

Problem-Solution PatternProblem-Solution Pattern

Readings answer the questions:“What is the problem?”“What is a possible

solution?”

Thesis example: Since pollution has a detrimental impact on modern living standards, a key solution is increased recycling of waste products.

Signal Words: Problem and Solution

o problem, need, difficulty, dilemma, enigma, challenge, issue

o answer, propose, suggest, indicate, solve, resolve, improve, plan, respond to a need

In this pattern, a word or concept is introduced then explained or described. An example of its usage could follow. The pattern is very close to illustration or description.

Readings answer the question:“What is it?”

Definition / Classification PatternDefinition / Classification Pattern

Thesis Example: Ragtime music is a term that identifies one style of music that developed at the turn of the twentieth century. Played primarily by piano, the “Rocking Horse Rag” is an excellent short sample of ragtime.

Signal Words: Definition / Classification

define as, is, known, the term means, is stated as, is used to mean…

for example, to illustrate, for instance, such as, specifically…

i.e., e.g.

Description is like listing; the characters that make up a description are no more than a simple listing of details.

Description PatternDescription Pattern

Frequently in textbook reading an entire paragraph is devoted to defining a complex term or idea. The information listed may be items, facts, reasons, examples, features or characteristics.

Signal Words: Signal Words: DescriptionDescriptionin additionanotherfor exampleseveral

furthermorefinallytooalso

Many modern people are turning themselves into social victims. One example is a Tennessee woman who is suing McDonald’s because she was badly burned on the chin by a hot pickle in her hamburger. A Canadian woman is another example. She wants to ban the South Park television showbecause her son Kenny is victimized by the show’s Kenny character, who is killed in each episode.

variousmanynumeroussome others

WHAT

www.teachershavemerit.org/NCEA/Informational%20Writing%20.ppt

http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/~steuben/Patterns%20of%20Organization.pdf

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