pattern of organization
Patterns of Organization
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 thesis or main idea is usually a good predictor of the organization of an essay or paragraph.
Main Idea
Text
Topic sentence
Paragraph
Thesis
Essay
Theme
Story or Novel
Patterns of organization
!
!
!
!
!
Time Order
List of Items
Comparison and/or
Contrast
Cause and Effect
Definition and
Example
!
!
!
!
!
Classification
Order of
Importance
Problem – Solution
Process
Mixed Patterns
Signal Words
Signal words, also known as transitions, are words which indicate the relationship between ideas, and the organization of the details.
Time Order
Also known and chronological order, steps and stages, narration or sequence of events, in this pattern, ideas are presented in the order in which they occurred in time. Questions Answered:
“When did it happen?”
“In what order did it happen?”
When Used:
Commonly used in anthropology, history, art history and political science.
It answers the questions relating to time.
Thesis Example:
Between now and the election, the candidate will make a number of campaign stops throughout the U.S.
Time order signal words
!
first, third…; next; then; finally; eventually; following this
The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa has been tilting for over 800 years, and recent improvements should allow it to continue tilting for another
300 more. On August 9, 1173, construction began on this well known Italian
1173
bell tower. Almost immediately, it began leaning because it was being immediately erected on the soft silt of a buried riverbed. Between 1178 and 1360, work
1360
stopped and started two more times as workers tried
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 thesis or main idea is usually a good predictor of the organization of an essay or paragraph.
Main Idea
Text
Topic sentence
Paragraph
Thesis
Essay
Theme
Story or Novel
Patterns of organization
!
!
!
!
!
Time Order
List of Items
Comparison and/or
Contrast
Cause and Effect
Definition and
Example
!
!
!
!
!
Classification
Order of
Importance
Problem – Solution
Process
Mixed Patterns
Signal Words
Signal words, also known as transitions, are words which indicate the relationship between ideas, and the organization of the details.
Time Order
Also known and chronological order, steps and stages, narration or sequence of events, in this pattern, ideas are presented in the order in which they occurred in time. Questions Answered:
“When did it happen?”
“In what order did it happen?”
When Used:
Commonly used in anthropology, history, art history and political science.
It answers the questions relating to time.
Thesis Example:
Between now and the election, the candidate will make a number of campaign stops throughout the U.S.
Time order signal words
!
first, third…; next; then; finally; eventually; following this
The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa has been tilting for over 800 years, and recent improvements should allow it to continue tilting for another
300 more. On August 9, 1173, construction began on this well known Italian
1173
bell tower. Almost immediately, it began leaning because it was being immediately erected on the soft silt of a buried riverbed. Between 1178 and 1360, work
1360
stopped and started two more times as workers tried