1. Patterns of Organization
Looking at HOW an author organizes his or her ideas can help you figure out WHAT the author is saying. *

2. Signal Words Each pattern of organization has Signal Words
Signal Words are clues!
Signal Words show us the relationship between ideas and details in a passage.
A signal word does not always indicated the correct pattern of organization. *

3. Compare and Contrast
Compare and Contrast passages will have two or more subjects and present similarities and/or differences.
Compare
Contrast
What things have in common or how they are alike
Signal Words: similarly, like, the same as, compared to, in the same way, likewise…
The differences between items or how they are not alike
Signal Words: but, yet, on the other hand, however, instead, nevertheless, on the contrary... *

4. Cause and Effect
C & E passages discuss the relationship between events or concepts.
Cause – something that brings about an event or series of events
Effect – the event or events brought about by the cause
The cause can appear before or after the effect.
Signal Words: cause, effect, because, why, reason, therefore, consequently, as a result, so… *

5. Cause and Effect
Remember each cause can have more than one effect and some effects may have multiple causes. *

6. Chronological Order
The events or facts appear in the order they actually took place. Chronological order is all about TIME!
Signal Words: first, next, last, then, before, after, finally, specific dates and times…
BEWARE OF FLASHBACKS
Flashbacks are events in a chronological order that refer to events that happened earlier. *

7. Argument/Support
Argument/Support first states an argument and then provide a series of facts, examples, or reasons to support a main idea.
Signal Words: example, another, and, too, in addition, or, also, as well as, plus, in fact, besides *

8. Definition/Explanation
We usually see this POO in text books. A topic is defined and then explained.
Signal Words: definition, define as, is, known, the term means, for example, to illustrate, for instance, such as.

9. Question/Answer
This is sometimes called problem/solution. The writer poses a question such as “how can we solve global warming?”, and then gives one or more answers.
Signal Words: problem, need, difficulty, challenge, issue, answer, propose, suggest, solve, resolve, improve, plan

10. Description/List
Writers briefly describe something and then provide a list. The list might be bulleted or in paragraph form.
Signal Words: and, too, in addition, or, also, as well as, plus, in fact, besides

11. Spatial Order
Spatial Order selections present information as if the reader were taking a tour.
These selections may not contain a topic sentence.
They will follow a consistent principle
Top to bottom; far to near; order of impression
Signal Words: right, left, top, bottom, behind *

12. EXAMPLES
The following slides contain examples of these different types of organizational patterns in writing. Try to guess which POO is being used.
Tobias passed several large holding pens and then turned down a rutted road leading to the waterfront. There were two stores, one containing a café and a post office, the other general merchandise. Between them was a saloon, and behind this a livery stable, feed store and blacksmith shop were housed together in a barnlike structure. Across from one store a two-story clapboard house offered rooms for rent. (A Land Remembered, p. 126) *

13. Passage #1
Fruits are a wonderful snack to eat in between meals. My two favorite fruits are oranges and apples. When I am in the mood for something crunchy and sweet, I pick an apple. Sometimes I even dip them in caramel for extra taste. But when I am thirsty, I usually grab an orange. Compared to apples, oranges are juicier and their fleshy consistency satisfies my thirst more. Biting into one is like a tangy explosion in my mouth!

14. Compare and Contrast Apples Oranges Fleshy, juicy crunchy fruit
Great snacks
Tangy
sweet *

15. Passage #2
Some people sue over the strangest things. 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 show because her son Kenny is victimized by the show’s Kenny character, who is killed in each episode. In addition to the prior two examples, a group of Australian women are arguing that single people are victimized because society ignores them. As you can see, the facts support the argument that people sue over the strangest things.

16. Argument/Support Some people sue over the strangest things.
Tennessee woman suing McDonald’s
Canadian woman suing South Park
Australian women suing because single people are ignored. *

17. Passage #3
No trip to New York would be complete without seeing The Statue of Liberty. As you approach Liberty Island you will first notice the large base. Atop of the base stands Lady Liberty. In her right hand she holds a torch and in her left a book. As you enter the base of the statue you will see a large spiral staircase that leads to a lookout point on top of the torch.

18. Spatial Order
Tobias passed several large holding pens and then turned down a rutted road leading to the waterfront. There were two stores, one containing a café and a post office, the other general merchandise. Between them was a saloon, and behind this a livery stable, feed store and blacksmith shop were housed together in a barnlike structure. Across from one store a two-story clapboard house offered rooms for rent. (A Land Remembered, p. 126) *

19. Passage #4
Obesity is a major problem in the United States. Overeating, lack of exercise, and stress can cause expanding waistlines. Eating more calories than one burns in a day will cause the body to put on excess weight. While obesity is caused by lack of exersize it can also lead to decreased activity. Overweight people are less likely to participate in physical activity. Obesity also cause increased blood pressure and can even lead to heart disease or early death.

20. Cause and Effect Obesity What causes obesity? * High blood pressure
Because toys have become electronic devices, some children today are unable to entertain themselves. Gone are the days when children invented their own adventures and used sticks as swords. cookie sheets as armor, and refrigerator box as a fortress to defend. The electronic age has delivered children all sorts of gadgets and gizmos that are supposed to be realistic. Some toys even have buttons to push so prerecorded messages can be played to begin scripted adventures that require no imagination. No imagination? No wonder some children today have short attention spans.
Obesity
Heart disease
death *

21. Passage #5
How can students solve the problem of poor grades? Some students receive poor grades on projects, not because they lack the ability to do them, but because they can not seem to manage their time when it comes to a large project. They do not know where to begin, and therefore put things off until the last minute. To solve this problem, students need to develop a plan or timeline for completing the project. If they divide the assignment into manageable parts and then set a schedule for completing each part, they will be able to finish the entire project before the deadline. Without the pressure of not knowing where to begin, the students will be able to focus on smaller parts of their project and finish it on time.

22. Question and Answer Question/ How can students improve their grades?
Problem
How can students improve their grades?
Set a timeline
Break it up into small parts
Complete each small section on time
Some students receive poor grades on projects, not because they lack the ability to do them, but because they can not seem to manage their time when it comes to a large project. They do not know where to begin, and therefore put things off until the last minute. To solve this problem, students need to develop a timeline for completing the project. If they divide the assignment into manageable parts and then set a schedule for completing each part, they will be able to finish the entire project before the deadline. Without the pressure of not knowing where to begin, the students will be able to focus on smaller parts of their project and finish it on time.
Events/Details
I will finish it on time and not wait until the last minute!
Answer/Solution *

23. Passage #6
As soon as I got out of bed I knew it was going to be a bad day. First, my foot hit the floor and I screamed in pain when I saw I had stepped on my brother’s very spiky toy dinosaur. As I hobbled to the bathroom I remembered that I had a huge exam in English and hadn’t studied. After putting on my favorite outfit I spilled cranberry juice all over my white shirt and had to change into a dirty old shirt. Then I missed the bus and had to walk to school. Once I got to school I found out that my best friend was moving to Kalamazoo and that Friday’s dance had been cancelled. On my way home I tripped and fell in a mud puddle. Finally, at the end of the day, I lost my cell phone at the busstop. It was truly the worst day ever.

24. Got cranberry juice on clothes
Chronological Order
Stepped on dinosaur
Got cranberry juice on clothes
Missed the bus
Heard Friend is moving
Lost her phone
Fell in mud
Dance is cancelled *

25. Passage #7
There are several activities that students can participate in during the 4th annual academic festival. This all day festival will celebrate smarts!
9:00 am Chess Tournament
10:00am Endangered Species Face Painting
11:00 am International Dance
1:00pm Spelling Bee
3:00 pm Math Parade

26. Description/List
Describes the festival
Lists events.

27. Passage #8 A veto is defined as the right of an
individual or branch of government to reject
or cancel a bill or decision. For example the
Student Government decided to host a
dance on Tuesday night but the principal
vetoed that decision because it was the
night before the FCAT. Students were at
first upset by the veto but then rescheduled
a bigger dance for the following Friday.

28. Definition/Explanation
The term veto is defined.
The term veto is then explained with an example.