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Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Patterns of OrganizationPatterns of Organization

Bridging the Gap, 9/eBrenda Smith

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In This Chapter You Will Answer the Questions:

• How do transitional words signal organizational patterns?

• What organizational patterns are used in textbooks?

• Why are several organizational patterns sometimes combined to develop a main idea?

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Textbook Organization: The Big Picture

• Patterns identify the main idea.• Signal words can reveal a particular

pattern.• Anticipate the overall pattern of

organization.• Place the major supporting details into the

outline pattern used by the author.

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What do Transitional Words Do?

• They can signal the levels of importance, a connection, or a direction of thought.

• They are sometimes called signal words.• They show the relationship of ideas.

See the Reader’s Tip on Patterns of Organization and Signal Words on page 247.

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Reader’s Tip: Signal Words for Transition

• Addition: in addition, furthermore, moreover• Examples: for example, for instance, to illustrate,

such as• Time: first, secondly, finally, last, afterward• Comparison: similarly, likewise, in the same

manner• Contrast: however, but, nevertheless, whereas,

on the contrary, conversely, in contrast• Cause and effect: thus, consequently, therefore,

as a result

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Simple Listing• Items are randomly listed in a series of

supporting facts or details.• Supporting elements are of equal value.• The order in which they are presented is of no

importance.• Changing the order of the items does not change

the meaning of the paragraph.• Use transitional words such as in addition, also,

another, several, for example, a number of.

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Definition

• The concept is defined initially.• Then it is expanded with examples

and restatements.• A defined term is usually signaled by

italicized or boldfaced type.

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Description

• Description is similar to listing.• The characteristics are similar to a

definition.• It is similar to a simple list of details.

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Time Order, Sequence, or Narration

Items are listed:• In the order in which they occurred

(Ex: time order)• In a specifically planned order in

which they must develop(Ex: narrative writing, tells a story)

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Contrast

With Contrast:• Items are presented according to differences

between them.• Signal words include:

• different• in contrast• on the other hand• but• however• bigger than

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Comparison

• Items are presented according to similarities among them.

• Signal words include:• similar• in the same way• parallels

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Comparison & Contrast

• This combines both comparisons and contrasts together into a single paragraph.

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Cause and Effect

• An element is shown as producing another element.

• One is the cause or the “happening.”• The other is the particular result or

effect produced by the cause.

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Classification• This is used to simplify a complex topic.• Information is divided into a certain number of groups or

categories.• The divisions are named.• The parts are explained.• Signals words include:

• two divisions

• three groups

• four elements

• five classes

• six levels

• seven categories

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Summary

• A summary comes at the end of an article or chapter

• It condenses the main idea into a short concluding statement.

• Signal words include:• in conclusion• briefly• to sum up• in short• in a nutshell.

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Location or Spatial Order• This identifies the whereabouts of a place

or object.• Signal words are:

• north• next to• near• below• close by• within• around

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Generalization and Example

• A general statement or conclusion is supported with specific examples.

• Signal words include:• to restate that• that is• for example• to illustrate• for instance

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Mixed Organizational Patterns

• Often articles have an overall pattern with individual paragraphs having a different pattern.

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Summary Points

• What are transitional words?• What is an organizational pattern, and

how many types of patterns can be used in textbooks?

• Why are several organizational patterns sometimes combined to develop a main idea?

2008 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman Publishers

Concept Prep for Art History

• Fine art is a visual interpretation of reality and a reflection of past taste and values.

• Art tells us about people and their culture.• Fine arts refers to painting, sculpture, literature, architecture,

drama, music, opera, dance and film.• Some of the great artists are:

• Leonardo da Vinci• Michelangelo• Claude Monet• Vincent van Gogh• Pablo Picasso• Mary Cassatt• Frida Kahlo• Georgia O’Keeffe

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Concept Prep for Business

• What is a CD (certificate of deposit)?• What is a bond?• What is a mutual fund?• What is a capital gain?

See page 287 in your textbook for a discussion of these key concepts in the business world.

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Search the Net

For suggested Web sites and other research activities, go to http://www.ablongman.com/smith/

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Vocabulary Booster

Complete the exercises for prefixes and root words entitled “What’s In, What’s Out? What’s Hot, What’s Not?”