1. Main Idea, Details, and Patterns of Organization
Organization helps lead you to the point.

2. Main Idea Most important thing that is being said
Expresses what the text or paragraph is all about
Direct
Implied
What is the most important point the author wants to communicate about the subject?
Direct – main idea is expressed concisely at the beginning or end.
Implied – need to “read between the lines” or may need to combine or synthesize the details to determine the main idea

3. Details Support the main idea
Can be descriptions, facts, examples, or statistics
Use the details to help you determine the main idea.
Not as important as the main idea, but when put together, they should present a compelling argument, opinion, mood, or plot.

4. Patterns of Organization
Why does a text need to be organized?
Common Types of Organization
In order to convey the main idea, details need to be organized in a way you can recognize.
Cause and effect
Comparison and contrast
Descriptive
Problem/solution
Scenario
Time order
Cause and effect – the main idea is supported by an explanation of why something happened and the result of its happening
Comparison and Contrast – the main idea is supported by ways the subjects are the same or different
Descriptive – the main idea is supported by concrete details such as facts, examples, statistics, or vivid descriptions that illustrate the topic
Problem/solution – the main idea discusses a problem and the conclusion of the passage describes how the problem was or was not resolved. Details within the passage further explain the problem. Problem/solution can also take a question/answer form, where a question is posed as the main idea and the conclusion of the passage works to answer the question.
Scenario – the main idea is supported by a scenario, either real or imaginary, that serves as an example that proves the main idea. The details within the scenario support the main idea. Authors often use interesting scenarios as an introduction to their articles, then refer to them in the rest of the article.
Time order – the main idea is supported by a series of events occurring in time.

5. Organizational Pattern
Transitional Words and Phrases
Cause and Effect
as a result, because, for this reason, hence, since, so that, therefore, then, thus
Comparison and Contrast
comparison – like, likewise, as if, in addition, as though, in the same way
contrast – although, however, but, instead, nevertheless, in contrast, on the other hand
Descriptive
adjectives – filthy, shadowy, magnificent
concrete nouns/verbs – thunderbolt, firefly, hawk, soar, peel, exclaim
directional words – above, behind, next to
Problem/Solution
is resolved, the cause, the problem, the effect, one solution, the result, question
Scenario
this is an example, this shows, this proves, this is evidence that, as shown by
Time Order
afterward, all the while, as soon as, before, during, eventually, finally, first, second, meanwhile, then, thereafter, while

6. Other Organizational Patterns
Flashback
Spatial order
Bulleted lists
Degree order
Foreshadowing
Argument/support
Flashback – usually used in literary texts where the author starts with a situation and then flashes back to earlier events
Spatial order – used to describe how something looks or its location
Bulleted lists – usually used in informational texts to make important points
Degree order – often used in informational texts to present ideas in order of importance, usefulness, familiarity, etc.
Foreshadowing – usually used in literary texts where the author gives subtle hints of things that will happen later
Argument/support – usually used in informational texts when the author takes a stand on an issue and then supports it with details