Order of Details
Transitions
Types
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A paragraph has coherence when readers can
tell how and why ideas are connected.
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To help readers follow your ideas, use one of
the following patterns to organize your ideas.
Chronological order presents details in the order
which they happen.
 Spatial order presents details according to their
location.
 Logical order groups related ideas together.
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To tell a story
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To explain a process
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To explain causes and effects
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To organize details according to their location
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To write about information that fits into
categories
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The second way to create coherence in
paragraphs is to use transitional words or
phrases to connect ideas.
Transitions connect ideas and tell how they are
related
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Narrative
Descriptive
Expositiory
Persuasive
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Used to tell a story or a sequence of events
usually in chronological order
Newspaper articles
 Short stories
 Novels
 Diary entry
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Purpose is to entertain readers or express
themselves
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Describe a person, an object, or a scene in detail
Purpose is to entertain readers or express
themselves
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Used for explanation
Can list facts, give directions, or explain ideas
Also used to define terms, make comparisons, and
show cause and effect.
Often uses logical order
Purpose is to inform reader about something
Non-fiction text
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Textbooks
reference books
maps
diagrams
recipes
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Used to share an opinion about a particular
subject.
Purpose is to try to convince reader to AGREE
with the opinion in the paragraph and,
sometimes, to take ACTION
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Editorials
Advertisements
Position papers
Used order of importance to arrange structure