Patterns of Organization
If you wanted to compose a short essay discussing how two subjects are different from one another, would you give
your selection a type of form or structure? Wouldn't it be easier for your audience to follow your line of thinking if you used
some sort of pattern in presenting your information? The answer is 'yes'. In this case, you would use a contrast pattern of
organization to present your message.
Simple Listing | Time Order
There are about ten different P.O.O.'s (Patterns of Organization). Two of them are frequently confused by some
students: simple listing and time order. These two patterns are the same except for one factor: order. For the simple
listing type, order doesn't matter. If you change the order of the items or ideas in your paper, it will not harm your passage.
In the case of time order, order is very important. If the order is altered, your composition will suffer. Use the word 'order' in
time order as a memory aid so you don't confuse the two types of patterns.
Say I have a special cake recipe that I want to write about and then give copies to family and friends. My first short
essay will cover the necessary ingredients. I will include the brands, amounts, store locations, etc. For this writing, I will
use a simple listing because the order that I use is not important. Whether I discuss the sour cream before or after the
whole-wheat flour, it doesn't matter. I can alter the order, and the essay will not be damaged.
The second short essay will explain the procedure to make the cake. It will contain the directions for mixing,
folding, stirring, blending, pre-heating, cooling, etc. In this piece I must present the series of steps in a precise order, so I
will select the time order pattern of organization. Without having the needed sequence of events, the final product will not
turn out as it should.
Signal or transitional words are often used by writers in the pattern of organization they use. In a simple listing
pattern of organization some possible signal words are: first, next, finally, and another. In a time order passage you might
notice these transitional words: first, second, next, before, and after. As you can see, some signal words can be found in
more than one pattern of organization. Again, the main factor separating these two patterns is 'order'.
So you will not be confused, understand that there are several synonyms for the time order pattern: sequential,
chronological, narration, procedural, temporal, and process. Another hint that might help you determine the pattern the
writer is using is the presence of a number of dates. If you see a paragraph containing several dates, you first should
consider a sequential P.O.O. We'll now examine some of the other kinds of patterns commonly found in text.
Comparison | Contrast
As mentioned earlier, if your essay is to discuss how two subjects are the same or similar, you would use the
comparison pattern. Say we wanted to show how HCCS and HBU (Houston Baptist University) are similar. We could
mention some of the following commonalities: higher education, college degrees, professors, credit courses, etc. Some
transitional words used by the author might be: also, too, same, likewise, similarly, identical, and like.
What if our message is about the differences between these two institutions? One might bring up: undergraduate
vs. graduate, public vs. private, inexpensive vs. expensive, secular vs. religious affiliation, multiple campuses vs. campus,
etc. Signal words the writer might choose from are: while, unlike, but, differs, whereas, to the contrary, on the other hand,
dissimilar, and however.
Comparison & Contrast
Many times an author wishes to discuss how two subjects, issues, concepts, philosophies, factors, or items are
both similar and dissimilar. In that case the comparison & contrast pattern of organization will be employed. Let's use our
two subjects, HCCS and HBU, to illustrate the different ways this approach could be used. Assume our three thesis points
are: tuition, brick & mortar location, and college degree. We might organize our essay by using a point-by-point approach:
title
introduction
both institutions require tuition to enroll in classes - HCCS is inexpensive, while HBU costs much more
both institutions have a brick & mortar location - HCCS has multiple colleges and locations vs. HBU's single campus
both institutions offer college degrees - HCCS lacks graduate degrees, whereas HBU offers several
conclusion
An author could select a subject-by-subject format:
title
introduction
HCCS requires tuition to enroll in classes - it is inexpensive; HCCS has a brick & mortar location - it has several brick &
mortar colleges/campuses; HCCS offers college degrees - it has no graduate college degrees
HBU requires tuition to enroll in classes - it is quite expensive; HBU has a brick & mortar location - it is limited to a single
brick & mortar campus; HBU offers college degrees - it has both undergraduate and graduate degrees
conclusion
Definition | Description
These are essentially the same patterns. If you define a topic, term, idea, or approach, you are also describing that
item; and vice versa. If a passage is structured in this manner, the writer uses definitions, restatements, examples,
illustrations, characteristics, qualities, and other factors to paint a picture of the concept for the audience. Frequent
transitional words/phrases are: is made up of, consists of, has the composition of, is known for, can be defined as, means,
is currently, is best characterized by, can be understood as, and has the quality of.
Classification | Categorization
The human mind naturally attempts to place things into categories or classes, sort of like when you store papers in
a filling cabinet. You have a folder for tax papers, one for car maintenance, another for medical records, and so on.
Authors will often use this format to help the reader follow the message that's sent. Some signal words are: groups, units,
formations, portions, parts, elements, and committees.
For example, the students at Northwest College could be classified into the following groupings:
-
single
receiving financial aid
sophomore
full-time student
uses public transportation to attend class
degree plan on file
has used the Reading and Writing Center
Cause & Effect
Certain outcomes are brought about because of something which occurred earlier. 'You notice, as you are leaving
for work, the deep purple clouds in the sky, and you hear multiple claps of distant thunder. As a result, you grab your
umbrella as you go out the front door.' You can see that the look of the sky and the sounding thunder have caused you to
act in a certain way - you took your umbrella to work. The italicized portion of the passage is a cause-and-effect transitional
phrase that helps the reader understand the message. There are several synonyms for effect: outcome, result,
consequence, and impact. In addition to these synonyms, we can choose from several more transitional words/phrases:
because of, for the very reason, and hence, henceforth, therefore, due to, and thusly.
Spatial | Location
The word 'spatial' may be a new one for you. Here's a memory aid: notice that the spelling is like the word 'space'.
Passages will often be arranged to show where things are positioned in 'space'; where their locations are. Think of it as
giving someone directions. Frequent signal words/phrases are: adjacent to, to the south of, underneath, close by, left-hand
side, across from, bordering, parallel with, and next to.
Summary
From your knowledge of the five-paragraph essay, you know the last paragraph is a concluding or summarizing
one. It is a shortened version of what is contained in the previous four paragraphs. Many times a student is helped in
preparing for an exam over textbook material by summarizing each assigned chapter. If a chapter contains 26 pages, an
appropriate length of summary might be 6 to 8 pages long. Some transitional phrases are: in conclusion, to wrap up, to
summarize, and in short. The major characteristics of a summary are:
-
much shorter than the original
written in your own words
composed of complete sentences (unlike an outline)
contains only the key factors (much or all of the details, explanations, examples, practice materials are left out)