Using Seven Reader-Centered Patterns for Organizing Paul V. Anderson’s Technical Communication, 6th ed.

CLASSIFICATION (Grouping Facts) Arranging material into parallel groups of related items so that the groups meet the following criteria: Every item has a place (i.e., fits in one of the groups). Each item has only one place. The groupings are useful to your readers.

FORMAL CLASSIFICATION (Grouping Facts) Guidelines for Classification Choose a principle of classification that is suited to your readers and your purpose. Use only one principle of classification at a time.

INFORMAL CLASSIFICATION (Grouping Facts) Guidelines for Classification Group your items in a way that is suited to your readers and your purpose. Create logically parallel groups. Avoid overlap among groups.

COMPARISON Examining objects, processes, etc., by identifying likeness and difference. Purposes of comparisons fall into two categories: You want to help your readers make a decision. You want to help your readers understand something by means of an analogy.

Guidelines for Writing Comparisons COMPARISON (cont.) Guidelines for Writing Comparisons Choose points of comparison suited to your readers and your purpose. If you are making complex comparisons, arrange the parts of your comparisons hierarchically. Arrange the parts in an order your readers will find helpful.

DESCRIPTION OF AN OBJECT (Partitioning) Dividing your subject into its major components and (if appropriate) dividing those into their subcomponents. Think of the object as a collection of parts and use some principle to identify groups of related parts. Most often, that principle is: Function Location

DESCRIPTION OF AN OBJECT (cont.) (Partitioning) Guidelines for Describing an Object Choose a principle of classification suited to your readers and purpose. Use only one basis for partitioning at a time. Arrange the parts of your description in a way your readers will find useful. When describing each part, provide details that your readers will find useful. Include graphics if they will help your readers understand and use your information about the object.

DESCRIPTION OF A PROCESS (Segmenting) Explaining the relationship of events over time. You may have either of two purposes in describing a process: To enable your readers to perform the process. To enable your readers to understand the process.

DESCRIPTION OF A PROCESS (cont.) (Segmenting) Guidelines for Segmenting Choose a principle for segmenting suited to your readers and your purpose. Make your smallest groupings manageable. Describe clearly the relationships among the steps and groups of steps. Provide enough detail about each step to meet your readers’ needs. Include graphics if they will help your readers understand and use your information about the process.

CAUSE AND EFFECT Examining actions and events for how and why they occurred or will occur. Purposes of cause-and-effect explanations include: To help your readers understand a cause-and-effect relationship. To persuade your readers that a certain cause-and-effect relationship exists.

CAUSE AND EFFECT (cont.) Guidelines for Explaining a Cause-and-Effect Relationship Begin by identifying the cause or effect that you are going to explain. Carefully explain the links that join the cause and effect that you are describing. If you are dealing with several causes or effects, group them into categories. Include graphics if they will help your readers understand the relationship you are explaining.

CAUSE AND EFFECT (cont.) Guidelines for Persuading Readers to Accept Your View of Cause and Effect State your claim at the beginning of your passage. Choose evidence your readers will find credible. Explain your line of reasoning. Avoid faulty logic. Address counterarguments. Include graphics if they will help your readers understand the relationship you are discussing.

PROBLEM AND SOLUTION Examining events or situations for reviewing and assessing solutions or for determining solutions. Purposes for problem-solution include: To describe the measures taken to solve some problem that has now been eliminated. To persuade your readers that actions you are recommending will solve the identified problem.

Guidelines for Persuading Readers to Accept Your Proposed Solution PROBLEM AND SOLUTION Guidelines for Persuading Readers to Accept Your Proposed Solution Describe the problem in a way that makes it seem significant to your readers. Describe your method. When describing your method, explain how it will solve the problem. Anticipate and respond to objections. Specify the benefit. Include graphics if they will help your readers understand and approve your proposed solution.

PROBLEM AND SOLUTION (cont.) Guidelines for Describing Problems and Their Solutions Begin by identifying the problem. Describe your method. Describe the results. Include graphics that will help your readers understand and use your communication.

COMBINATION OF PATTERNS Long communications usually mix several of the patterns described in this reference guide. Several patterns can be integrated and coordinated in longer communications.

Read more about patterns for organizing your communications in “Writer’s Reference Guide: Using Seven Reader-Centered Organizational Patterns” in Technical Communication.