1. RECOGNIZING AUTHORS’ WRITING PATTERNS
CHAPTER 7
RECOGNIZING AUTHORS’ WRITING PATTERNS
IN THIS CHAPTER YOU WILL LEARN:
What authors' writing patterns are and why it is
important to be able to recognize them
The method for recognizing authors' writing
patterns

2. What are authors' writing patterns
and why is it important to be able to recognize them?
Writing patterns:
Ways authors organize the information they present.
Writing patterns are also known as organizational patterns,
patterns of development, and thinking patterns.

3. Four advantages to recognizing
authors’ writing patterns when you read:
1. Your comprehension will improve.
You will comprehend more because you will be able to follow and understand the writers' ideas more accurately and more efficiently.

4. 2. You will be able to predict what is coming next.
As soon as you identify the pattern, you can make predictions about what is likely to come next in a paragraph.
Remember, effective readers are active readers who make logical predictions as they read.

5. It will be easier to memorize information
when you study.
You can memorize information more efficiently when you understand the way it is organized and will also be able to recall it more effectively.

6. 4. Your writing will improve.
Using these patterns when you write will enable you to write paragraphs that are clearer and better organized. This also means you can write better answers on essay tests simply by using appropriate patterns to organize information.

7. What is the method for recognizing
authors' writing patterns? 
The pattern will be determined by the organization of the ideas in the entire paragraph or selection,
not by the presence of a single signal word or clue.
Seeing a word that can be used as a signal for a pattern
does not automatically mean that the entire paragraph
has that pattern.

8. The main idea sentence often contains important clues
about which pattern is being used.
After you have read a textbook paragraph, ask yourself the comprehension monitoring question,
“What pattern did the author use to organize
the main idea and the supporting details?”

9. A group of items presented in no specific order,
List pattern:
A group of items presented in no specific order,
since the order is unimportant.
The list pattern is also known as listing pattern.

10. To emphasize or set off separate items in a list,
authors often use:
Words such as and, also, another, in addition, and moreover.
Numbers (1, 2, 3), even when the order of the items is not
important. Numbering items in a list is referred to as
enumeration.
Letters (a, b, c).
Bullets (·).
Asterisks (*).
Certain punctuation marks, such as the colon (:).
Phrases in the main idea sentence that suggest that the
details will be presented as a list of items.

11. A list of items presented in a specific order
Sequence pattern:
A list of items presented in a specific order
because the order is important.
The sequence pattern is also known as
time order, chronological order, a process, or a series.

12. To emphasize or set off separate items in a sequence pattern, authors often use:
Words such as first, second, third, then, next, finally.
Words and phrases that refer to time, such as dates, days
of the week, names of months, or phrases such as during
the twentieth century or in the previous decade.
Enumeration (1, 2, 3).
Letters (a, b, c).
Signal words such as steps, stages, phases, progression,
process, series, and even the word sequence. (These
often occur in the main idea sentence.)

13. Comparison-contrast pattern:
Similarities (comparisons)
between two or more things are presented,
differences (contrasts)
between two or more things are presented, or both.
The comparison-contrast pattern
is also known as
ideas in opposition.

14. To signal comparisons, authors use words such as:
similarly
likewise
both
same
also

15. To signal contrasts, authors use words such as:
on the other hand
in contrast
however
while
whereas
although
nevertheless
different
unlike
some … others

16. Contrasts are also signaled by words in a paragraph
that have opposite meanings, such as:
liberals and conservatives
Internet users and non-Internet users
people who attended college
and people who never attended college

17. Cause-effect pattern:
Reasons (causes) and results (effects)
of events or conditions are presented.
Authors use these words to indicate a cause:
because
the reasons
causes
is due to
is caused by

18. These words are often used to indicate an effect:
therefore
consequently
thus
as a consequence
led to
the result
as a result
the effect was
this resulted in
In reality, causes always precede effects,
and authors typically present causes first and then their effects.
However, authors sometimes present an effect
and then state its cause.

19. Where and how do authors use transition words in written material?
Words and phrases that show relationships among ideas in sentences, paragraphs, and longer selections.
Where and how do authors use
transition words in written material?
Many paragraphs and selections begin with a sentence
or paragraph designed to get your attention
or to introduce the topic.

20. Some transition words indicate that
Some transition words indicate that the author is continuing a train of thought or adding information.
Some transition words indicate that
the author is presenting an opposing view, a contrast,
or an exception.
Some transition words signal to the reader that
the author is presenting causes (reasons things happen)
or effects (the results or outcomes).
Conclusion or summary statements typically appear
at the end of the paragraph or selection.

21. when recognizing authors' writing patterns:
Things to keep in mind
when recognizing authors' writing patterns:
Lists and sequences differ in an important way.
Avoid identifying every paragraph as having a list pattern.
Authors sometimes mix patterns in the same paragraph.
A longer selection may contain several patterns and have an overall pattern as well.
Many textbook paragraphs consist of only a definition and explanation of an important term.

22. Summary of Paragraph Pattern Signals and Clue Words
1. List pattern
1, 2,
a, b, c . . .
bullets (·)
asterisks (*)
series
stages
when
before, during, after
and
also
another
moreover
in addition
first, ... second, ... third
finally
at last
process
spectrum
continuum
hierarchy
instructions and directions
words that announce lists
(such as categories, kinds, types, ways, classes,
groups, parts, elements, characteristics, features, etc.)

23. 2. Sequence pattern
first, … second, … third
now
then
next
finally
dates
1, 2,
a, b, c . . .
steps
phases
progression
words that refer to time

24. 3. Comparison-contrast pattern
Comparisons
similarly
likewise
both
same
also resembles
parallels
in the same manner
in the same way
words that compare
(adjectives that describe comparisons, such as safer, slower, lighter, more valuable, less toxic, etc.)
Contrasts
in contrast
however
on the other hand
whereas
while
although
nevertheless
instead (of)
different
unlike
conversely
rather than
as opposed to
some others
opposite words

25. 4. Cause-effect pattern Effects Causes the result(s) the effect(s)
the outcome
the final product
therefore
thus
consequently
as a consequence
hence
on that account
resulted in, results in (effect)
(effect) was caused by
(effect) is due to
led to (effect)
(effect) resulted from
Causes
the reason(s)
the cause(s)
because
is due to (cause)
was caused by (cause)
(cause) led to
resulted from (cause)
since

26. Cause-effect pattern
Both the cause and the effect:
(effect) is due to (cause)
(effect) resulted from (cause)
(effect) was caused by (cause)
(cause) led to (effect)
(cause) results in (effect)

27. Some questions that indicate cause-effect:
What causes (effect)? (Answer will be the cause)
Why does (effect) occur? (Answer will be the cause)
What is the reason for (effect)? (Answer will be the cause)
How can (effect) be explained? (Answer will be the cause)
What does (cause) lead to? (Answer will be the effect)

28. AFTER READING THIS CHAPTER, YOU SHOULD KNOW:
What authors' writing patterns are and
why it is important to be able to recognize them
The method for recognizing authors' writing patterns