Recognizing Patterns
of Organizations in
Paragraphs
(in expository writing)
What is the purpose of
expository writing?
To inform, teach, or explain
Five commonly used
patterns:
Definition
Time Order
Simple Listing
Comparison and Contrast
Cause and Effect
Classification
Pattern 1: Definition

Includes a key term:
– usually highlighted in bold face,
color type, or italics
– followed by a detailed definition
that can consist of several
sentences
Frequently includes examples
or illustrations to make the
meaning clearer
 Authors highlight the term they
are defining.

Example 1:

Nineteen-century America was
guided by the concept of
Manifest Destiny, the belief that
the United States was on a
mission of God to occupy North
America from coast to coast.
Example 2:

The greenhouse effect is the name for
what happens when excessive carbon
dioxide and other gases build up in the
Earth’s atmosphere.
Taking Notes
The definition pattern should include 3 or 4
of the following elements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The term being defined
A complete definition
At least one example
Any other details that might
help clarify the definition
Pattern 2: Time Order

Two different types of
paragraphs rely heavily on
time order, or the listing of
events.
– One type outlines the sequence
of dates and events
(Chronological Order)
– The other describes a process
(Sequential Order)
Sequence of Events
Textbook writers often use
sequence of dates and events
to:
 Describe how a smaller series of
events led up to a larger and more
major event
 Chart the career of an important
person
 Explain how some theory,
invention, or activity came to be
part of culture or history.
This pattern primarily relies on
chronology to introduce the major
details.

Time Order Transitions
Phrases like “by 1972”, “in
1983” and “between 1983 and
1990” tell readers to pay
attention because the next
signficant event is coming up.
 Time order transitions are the
author’s way of saying, “I’ve
finished describing the
previous event and I’m ready
to tell you about the one that
followed it.”
 Usually introduce major
details.

Taking Notes
Paragraphs devoted to dates and events
should include the following elements:
1.
2.
3.
The Main Idea
All the dates and events used
to develop the Main Idea
Any other supporting details
that lack dates but still seem
essential to developing the
Main Idea.
Typical Topic Sentences
The life of Mexican painter Frida
Kahlo is a lesson in how art can be
an antidote to pain.
 The years leading up to the Great
Depression were filled with a sense
of optimism that was destroyed
almost overnight
 Between 1939 and 1944, most of
Europe descended into a nightmare
world of terror, violence, and death.
 In their youth, the inventors of the
airplane, Wilbur and Orville Wright,
seemed destined for failure.

Process
Explains how something works,
happens, or develops
 The order in which the actions
take place is crucial
 Common Transition words:
first, second, third, next, last
before, after, at the onset
In the beginning, in the early
stages, in the end
(see p. 510 for more
examples)

Typical Topic Sentences
for Process





There are few steps to take when
you change a flat tire.
Children go through several
different stages before arriving at a
sense of gender.
The process of photosynthesis is
essential to plant life.
Storing information in long term
memory involves several distinct
steps.
The red-headed owl follows an
intricate courting ritual.
Taking Notes on
Process Patterns
Notes on paragraphs describing a
process should include the
following:
 The larger process being described
 The specific steps in the process
 The order in which they are
presented
 Any specialized vocabulary used to
describe the steps or stages
Pattern 3: Simple
Listing
Unlike the Time Order pattern, the
order of the supporting details is
not important in the simple listing
pattern.
 You may list the details in any order
that works for you
 Topic sentence in this pattern will
appear at the very beginning or
very end; unlikely to be found in
the middle.
 Typical transitions are “for instance”
and “for example,” along with
transitions like “first,” “second,” and
“third.” These transitions help
readers identify the individual items
being listed.

Typical Topic Sentences
for Simple Listing
Pattern




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Unlike the previous generation who
relied on letters and phon calls to
keep in touch, people today have
many different ways to stay
connected to friends and family.
Crime shows are a staple of
television programming.
Abused children tend to exhibit
similar behavior.
Across cultures, certain moments in
life count as unforgettable.
There are a number of reasons why
memorizing poetry has practical
benefits.
Taking Notes on the
Simple Listing Pattern
The main idea
 Any supporting details
necessary to itemize and
explain the plural word or
phrase included in the topic
sentence--for example,
different reasons, crime shows,
chracteristics

Pattern 3: Comparison &
Contrast
Paragraphs using this pattern
mention the similarities, and/or
differences between two
people, events, animals,
objects, or concepts.
 Don’t assume that paragraphs
using this pattern always focus
on similarities or differences.

– Sometimes paragraphs compare
and contrast.
Transitions
Transitions that
signal
similarities:
 Like
 Just as
 Likewise
 Similarly
 In the same way
 Also
 In comparison
– Review chart on
page 525
Transitions that
signal
differences
 In contrast
 However
 But
 Although
 In opposition
 Unlike
 On the contrary
– Review chart
on page 52
Examples
Europeans and Americans don’t
have the same attitude toward
work and leisure.
 Unlike African Americans, Mexican
Americans were not forced into
segregated military units during
World War II.
 France and Germany were both
against the 2003 war with Iraq, but
they showed their disagreement in
very different ways.
 Scientists Enrico Fermi and Robert
J. Oppenheimer had very different
feelings about the success of the
Manhattan Project.

Taking Notes
The comparison & contrast pattern should
clearly identify three essential elements:
1.
2.
3.
The two topics being
compared and/or contrasted
The similarities and/or
differences between the two
The Main Idea they explain or
support
Pattern 4: Cause and
Effect

Passages that explain how one
event – the cause – leads to or
produces another event – the
effect.
Fear has a profound effect on the
human body.
CAUSE
FEAR
EFFE
CT
BLOOD VESSELS SHRINK
CAU
SE
FACE LOSES COLOR
EFFECT
Cause & Effect
Transitions
Cause and Effect Transitions:
As a result, as a side effect,
consequently, due to, for this
reason, in the aftermath of, in
consequence, therefore
(review chart on p. 535)


Verbs Frequently Used to Link
Cause and Effect
Affect, begin, cause, change, generate,
Decrease, increase, induce, lead to,
produce, start, set off, set in motion,
revolutionize
(review chart on p. 536)
Typical Topic Sentences
General Alfredo Stroessner took
control of Paraguay and turned the
country into a haven for
international outlaws.
 In the eighties and nineties, rock
star Madonna had a profound
effect on the image of women in
pop music.
 Artist Andy Warhol’s paintings
revolutionized modern art.
 Three factors contributed to the
decline in union membership
between 1950 and 1990.

Taking Notes
Cycles of causes and effects pattern should
be included in your notes:
1.
2.
The general cause and effect
relationship described by the
topic sentence
The specific causes and/or
effects mentioned in the
paragraph
Pattern 5: Classification
Explains how some larger
group can be broken down or
divided into smaller subgroups
or categories.
 Then, each category is
described in specific detail.

Typical Topic Sentences





Scientific experiments fall into four
different categories.
Best sellers can be divided into
three types.
Researchers in interpersonal
communication have come up with
four kinds of conversations.
Thre are primarily four different
types of computer crime.
Most of the major speech defects
are found within five main
categories.
Frequently used Words
in Classification Topic
Sentence
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Categories
Components
Fields
Ranks
Groups
Parts
factors

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Elements
Features
Problems
Types
Kinds
classes
Taking Notes
Notes on the classification pattern require
the following information:
The name of the larger group
being broken down into subgroups
 The names of the categories if
they are supplied
 A brief description of each
category

Review
What is the purpose of
expository writing?
 What are the 5 paragraph
pattern categories?
 Is there only 1 type of pattern
in each paragraph?

– What pattern should you look
for?
The PRIMARY pattern!