Patterns of OrganizationPatterns of Organization

By: Tristen BartonBy: Tristen Barton

Some Organizational Patterns Some Organizational Patterns Are…Are…

• Chronological Order Chronological Order

• Compare/ContrastCompare/Contrast

• Cause and EffectCause and Effect

• Pro/ConPro/Con

• Problem SolutionProblem Solution

Chronological OrderChronological Order

The writer places events in the order that The writer places events in the order that they occur. In other words, the writer puts they occur. In other words, the writer puts events events in sequence or time order. events events in sequence or time order. Look for words like “Look for words like “FirstFirst”, “”, “ThenThen”, ”, ““FinallyFinally”, “”, “A few minutes laterA few minutes later”, “”, “NextNext”, ”, ““After LunchAfter Lunch”, “”, “Last YearLast Year”.”.

Ex 1: Ex 1: FirstFirst Tristen was late to school, Tristen was late to school, thenthen he was late to gym, and he was late to gym, and afterafter lunch he lunch he dropped his project before he got to dropped his project before he got to science class, just like last year.science class, just like last year.

Compare/ContrastCompare/Contrast

The text shows how ideas or things are The text shows how ideas or things are alike or different. Look for words like alike or different. Look for words like ““BestBest”, “”, “MoreMore”, “”, “BetterBetter”, “”, “LessLess”, “”, “WorseWorse”, ”, ““EasierEasier”, and “”, and “ThanThan”.”.

Ex 1: The Ex 1: The best best time to visit the Rocky time to visit the Rocky Mountains is early fall. The weather is Mountains is early fall. The weather is cooler in the fall than in the Summer. You cooler in the fall than in the Summer. You will see fewer people and will see fewer people and moremore animals. animals. The fall colors are The fall colors are moremore beautiful. beautiful.

Cause and EffectCause and Effect

• The text shows that one event causes another thing to happen. Look for words like “Because”, “Then”, “Since”, and “As a Result”.

• Ex 1: It rained for the first few days of the camping trip. As a result, most of the campers were restless and wanted to go home.

Pro/ConPro/Con The text is divided into two parts: one part The text is divided into two parts: one part

tells you why something is bad. Phrases like tells you why something is bad. Phrases like ““On the other handOn the other hand”, and words like ”, and words like ““HoweverHowever”, are clues that the text is organized ”, are clues that the text is organized using Pro/Con.using Pro/Con.

Ex 1: Having a dog as a pet can be a good and Ex 1: Having a dog as a pet can be a good and bad thing. First, dogs are really friendly. They bad thing. First, dogs are really friendly. They are fun to play with. Also, dogs can protect are fun to play with. Also, dogs can protect your home from Burglars. your home from Burglars. On the other handOn the other hand, , having a dog can also be difficult. Dogs can be having a dog can also be difficult. Dogs can be very noisy and can wake you and your very noisy and can wake you and your neighbors up at night. Also, some dogs like to neighbors up at night. Also, some dogs like to dig holes and chew on things that shouldn’t be dig holes and chew on things that shouldn’t be chewed on!chewed on!

Problem/Solution

• The text is divided into two parts: One part presents a problem, and the other part gives the solution to the problem. Look for words like “Problem”, “Solution”, “Solve”, and “Plan”.

• Ex 1: The city of Taylor has fifteen public swimming pools. In the past, plenty of lifeguards have been available for staffing the pools throughout the summer. Most of the lifeguards were teenagers out of school for the summer. This year, however, not enough lifeguards have signed up to work. The city has started asking healthy, retired people to be lifeguards. They will be trained by the city for free if they will agree to work 10 hours per week at a city pool. They will be paid $8 an hour for their work.

The EndThe End