1. Chapter 4: Organizational Patterns
Reading Across the Disciplines: College Reading and Beyond, 3/e Kathleen McWhorter
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2. In this chapter you will learn how to:
Identify patterns of organization:
Definition
Classification
Order or Sequence
Cause and Effect
Comparison and Contrast
Listing/Enumeration
Mix Patterns
Other Patterns
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Patterns
Help you anticipate the author’s thought development and thus focus your reading.
Help you remember and recall what you read.
Useful in your writing; by helping you organize and express your ideas in a more coherent, comprehensible form.
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Definition
Explains the meaning of a word or phrase.
Transitions for Definition Pattern:
is, means, refers, can be defined,
another term, also means
deficit is another term that…
bureaucracy means…
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Classification
Divides a topic into parts based on shared characteristics.
Transitions for Classification Pattern:
several kinds, numerous types of, classified as, composed of, comprise, one type of, another type, finally
There are numerous types of…
The human skeleton is composed of...
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Order or Sequence
Describes events, processes, and procedures.
Chronology
Process
Order of Importance
Spatial Order
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Chronological Order
Refers to the sequence in which events occur in time.
Transitions for Chronological Order:
in, at, on, first, later, then, before, during, by the time, while, afterward, as, after, thereafter, meanwhile, at that point
In ancient times…
The first primate species…
Later efforts...
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Process
Focuses on procedures, steps, or stages by which actions are accomplished.
Transitions for Process:
words are similar to those used for chronological order.
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Order of Importance
Expresses order of priority or preference.
Ideas are arranged from most to least or least to most important.
Transitions for Order of Importance:
less, more, primary, first, next, last, most important, primarily, secondarily
More revealing is…
Of primary interest is…
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Spatial Order
Information is organized according to its physical location, or position or order in space.
Transitions for Spatial Order:
left, lower, outer, beneath, next to, beside, to the left, in the center, externally
the left side of the brain…
beneath the surface…
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Cause and Effect
Describes how one or more things cause or are related to another.
Transitions for Cause and Effect:
causes, creates, leads to, yields, stems form, produce, breeds, results in, therefore, consequently, hence, for this reason, since
Stress causes…
Avoidance results in…
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12. Comparison and Contrast
Discusses similarities and/or differences among ideas, theories, concepts, objects, or persons.
Transitions for Comparison and Contrast:
unlike, less than, contrasted with, differs from, in contrast, however, on the other hand, as opposed to, whereas
Frost differs from…
Frost is as powerful as…
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Listing/Enumeration
Organized lists of information, parts, characteristics, features, or categories.
Transitions for Listing/Enumeration:
one, second feature, also, several characteristics, (1)…,(2)…, (a)…, (b)…, in addition, first, second, third, finally, another
A second feature of relativity…
There are several characteristics of relativity: (1)…(2)…, and (3)…
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Mixed Patterns
Organizational patterns are often combined.
Example: Psychogenic amnesia—a severe and often permanent memory loss—results in disorientation and the inability to draw on past experiences.
(cause and effect/definition)
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15. Statement & Clarification
Indicates that information explaining an idea or concept will follow.
Transitions for Statement & Clarification:
in fact, in other words, clearly, evidently, obviously
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Summary
Condensed review of an idea or piece of writing is to follow.
Transitions for Summary:
in summary, in conclusion, in brief, to summarize, to sum up, in short, on the whole
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17. Generalization and Example
Provides examples that clarify a broad, general statement.
Transitions for Generalization & Example:
for example, for instance, that is,
to illustrate, thus
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Addition
Indicates that additional information will follow.
Transitions for Addition:
furthermore, additionally, also, besides, further, in addition, moreover, again
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19. Visit the Companion Website
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