Patterns of
Organization
and Signal
Words
Allied Health Textbook
Reading Strategy
Warm-up:
 Read
and Annotate the selections
on Glucose Test and Blood Smear.
Remember:
 1. Underline important details
 2. {Bracket main idea}
 3. Write key words in the margin to help
you remember what you underlined.
These are visual notes: Mapping
annotation
MAPPING
How to make a good
blood smear.
Acceptable
Unacceptable
covers 1/2 to 3/4 of surface
no holes or jagged edges
smooth transition thick to thin
thinnest -feather section; one cell
thick (where differential performed)
uneven, too long
cover entire slide
too short, too thick, too thin
Control length & thickness
by size of drop or angle
spreader slide
What are Patterns?
 Patterns
are the structure of the major
details in a reading
 Patterns are like the blueprint of the
reading
 The organization of a reading and the
main idea are closely intertwined.
Signal Words or Transitions
 These
are words that tell the reader that
an important detail is coming in the text.
 These
words also indicate the relationship
of ideas in the passage, or the
organization.
 Not
all writers include signal words
Commonly Used Patterns in
Allied Health Textbooks
 Simple
Listing
 Time Order or Sequence
 Definition
 Cause and Effect
 Lets
take a closer look at these patterns
and their signal words
Simple Listing
 Items
are listed in a series of major details
or facts
 Details
are of equal importance, and the
order of the details does not matter
Signal Words for Simple Listing
 First,
Second,
 Also,
 In addition
 Another
 In addition
 Furthermore
Example of Simple Listing

p. 179 EMT text
A partially obstructed airway can often be identified by the
sounds of limited air movement. Understanding these sounds can
help you better understand the pathophysiology of the obstruction.
Stridor is typically caused by severely obstructed air movement in
the upper airway. As air is forced by pressure through a partial
obstruction, a high pitched almost whistling sound can sometimes be
heard. Typically stridor indicates a severely narrowed passageway
of air and suggests near obstruction. In stridor the obstruction can
be a foreign body such as a toy or or it can be caused by swelling of
the upper airway tissue as in infection. Next, the development of
hoarseness is often an ominous sign.

(continued)
Simple Listing (continued)

For example, in a person whose airway is swelling after a
burn, you may note a normal voice to begin with, but a raspy voice
as swelling builds up around the vocal cord. Also, snoring is the
sound of the soft tissue of the upper airway creating an impedance
(or partial obstruction) to the flow of air. Many persons normally
snore while asleep, but snoring in the case of injury or illness can
often indicate a decrease in mental status such as airway muscle
tone is diminished. It is also an indication that the airway needs to
stay open. Gurgling is the sound of fluid obstructing the airway. As
air is forced through the liquid, the gurgling sound is made.
Common liquid obstructions include vomit, blood and other airway
secretions. Gurgling is a sign that immediate suctioning is
necessary.
practice
 What
would be a good title for this
passage?
 Underline
the major details
ANSWERS:
 TITLE:
“Recognizing Sounds of Partially Obstructed
Airway”
 List
of Details
Stridor, Hoarseness, Snoring, Gurgling
 Question:
What are the sounds of a partially
obstructed airway and what does each
sound indicate?
Time Order or Sequence
 Items
or a Process are listed in
chronological order. The steps must be
followed in the correct order and cannot
be changed.
Signal Words for Sequence
 First,
second
 Finally
 After
 Before
 Next
 During
 At Last
Examples of Sequence
Organization
EMT text p.
In the upper airway, air first enters the body through
the mouth and nose. The nose is specifically designed to
accept air and through a series of turns and curves air is
warmed and humidified as it proceeds through the nasal
passages. The mouth is primarily designed to be the
entrance to the digestive system, but is also an entryway for
air, especially in an emergency situation. Next, distal to the
mouth and nasal passages, air enters the throat or pharynx.
practice
 What
is the title?
 Underline
details
HOW AIR ENTERS THE BODY
 Title
is “How Air Enters the Body”
 The sequence is _________________
 Nose or mouth
 Nose warms air through turns and curves
 Throat
 Question:
How does Air Enter the Body?
Key
In the upper airway, air first enters the body through
the mouth and nose. The nose is specifically designed to
accept air and through a series of turns and curves air is
warmed and humidified as it proceeds through the nasal
passages. The mouth is primarily designed to be the
entrance to the digestive system, but is also an entryway for
air, especially in an emergency situation. Next, distal to the
mouth and nasal passages, air enters the throat or pharynx.
Definition
 Common
in textbook reading is to define
an important term
 May be an entire paragraph
 May include an example
Signal Words for
Definition/Example
 Can
be defined
 For example
 Like
 Term
is usually in boldface
Example of Definition
EMT text p.
 Acute
Coronary Syndrome (ACS)
sometimes called cardiac compromise, is a
blanket term that refers to any time the heart may
not be getting any oxygen. There are many
different ways in which patient’s hearts show that
they are in trouble. For example, a coronary artery
may become narrowed and blocked , or a one
way valve may stop working properly, or the
specialized tissues that carry electrical impulses
may function abnormally.
Practice
 What
term is being defined?
 What
examples are given?
ANSWERS
 The
term being defined is Acute Coronary
Syndrome
The examples are:

Artery narrowed or blocked, valve not
working properly or electrical impulses are
functioning abnormally

Question: What is acute coronary
syndrome?
Cause and Effect
 One
element is shown as producing
another element. The passage could
focus on the causes of disease for
example, or could focus on the effects of
a trauma.
Signal Words for Cause and
Effect
 Because
 For
this reason
 Consequently
 Hence
 As a result
 Therefore
Example of Cause and Effect
Passage

EMT text p. “Vital Signs” Chapter
The color, temperature and condition of the skin can
provide valuable information about your patient’s circulation.
There are many blood vessels in the skin. Since the skin is
not as important to survival as some of the other organs (like
the heart and brain), the blood vessels in the skin will receive
less blood when a patient has lost a significant amount of
blood, or the ability to adequately circulate blood. Constriction
(growing smaller) of the blood vessels causes the skin to
become pale. For this reason, the skin can provide clues to
blood loss as well as a variety of other conditions
practice
 What
would be a good title for this
passage?
 What
is the cause effect relationship in this
passage?
KEY
 Importance
of Skin changes in Assessment
 Blood
vessels of skin receive less blood after
blood loss
 Skin
becomes pale and temperature may
change
 Question:
What valuable information can the
color, temperature and condition of the sking
provide?
Mixed Organizational
Patterns
 Sometimes
writers use more than one
organizational pattern
Examples
 Organizations may be a listing of causes
and effects
 A listing of definitions
 A sequence with causes or effects
What is the mixed
organizational pattern in this
passage
 p.
159
The heart rate is the number of beats per
minute. The normal adult rate averages 72 beats
per minute. The volume of blood pumped in one
minute is called the cardiac output and averages
five liters per minute. An irregularity in the heart’s
rate or rhythm is called arrhythmia. A slow rate, less
than 60 beats per minute is called bradycardia. A
fast rate over 100 beats per minute is called
tachycardia. Extra beats before the normal beat
are called extrasystoles. Rapid uncoordinated
contractions are called fibrillations
Check your answers
 Title/topic
could be:
Heart Rates and Cardiac Output
 Listing
of Definitions
More Practice
 What
is the organization or organizations
in each passage?
Is the Airway Open?


p. 177 EMT text
Is the Airway Open?
You can determine the presence or absence of airway in most patients
simply by saying hello. The patient’s ability to speak is an immediate indicator
that he is capable of moving air. At the same time a person who is unable to
speak, or one who speaks in an unusually raspy voice may be indicating to you a
difficulty moving air. ………. Often it is not immediately apparent if an airway is
present. In your CPR class you learned about the Look, Listen and Feel method. If a
person is unconscious, you may need to employ this method to ensure the airway is present.
In this case, look at the chest to see if it is rising and falling. The airway should be visually
inspected for foreign bodies including objects and fluids. You should listen at the mouth
for sounds of breathing, while placing your hands on the chest to feel for movement
Read the passage and underline the major
details. What is the organization?

From Phlebotomy text
Pathways”

The Role of Thrombin (p. 180)

“Coagualation Factors and
The enzyme, thrombin, plays the major role in coagulation. It is
generated at the injured site from prothrombin (facot II), its
precursor form present in the blood. The primary role of thrombin is
to convert fibrinogen to soluble fibrin. Thrombin also
amplifies(intensifies) coagulation, supports platelet plug formation,
activates factor XIII to cross link fibrin, and controls its own formation
and the coagulation process by activating protein C, a substance
that helps stop thrombin formation. Once healing has occurred
thrombin initiates the breakdown of the fibrin reinforced clot by its
role in the production of an enzyme that causes clot lysis. Thrombin
is also thought to play a role in inflammation and wound healing.
What is the organizational
Pattern?
Listing of the effects of Thrombin
1. Convert fibrogen to soluble fiber
2. Intensifies coagulation to support
platelet
3. Formation
4. Activates factor XIII
5. Role in inflammation and wound healing
practice
 What
would be a good title?
 Underline
 What
the details
is the organization?
p. 166
Phlebotomy Related Vascular Anatomy

Antecubital Fossa
Antecubital means in front of the elbow. Fossa means a
shallow depression. The antecubital fossa is the shallow
depression in the arm that is anterior to and below the
bend in the elbow. It is the first choice location for
venipuncture because several major arm veins lie close to
the surface in this area, making them relatively easy to
locate and penetrate with a needle. These major
superficial veins are referred to as antecubital veins. The
anatomical arrangement of antecubital veins varies
slightly from person to person; however, two basic vein
arrangements, referred to as the H-and M-shaped pattern
are seen most often
