Try to memorize the groups of
number below!
2 4 6 8 10 12
3 1 5 2 8 4 7
5 7 9 11 13 15
2 5 6 4 9 8 3
Which group of numbers are easily
memorized?
The first and the third group
This is because they have
patterns
Patterns help you memorize
information
The importance of patterns
Understanding the patterns of organization helps you
understand and remember information better
There are four common patterns in a text:
1. Listing related ideas/examples
2. Sequence
3. Comparison/contrast
4. Cause Effect
5. Problem Solution
Listing
 The writer’s main idea is a general statement that is
followed by a list of supporting details
 The signal words:
A few, several, numerous, the main, another, many, a
variety, for example, first, second, etc.
e.g.: There are many things that I have to do on holiday,
such as cleaning the house, washing the dirty clothes,
ironing, and preparing the meal for my family.
Sequence
 This pattern is used for the organization of two kinds
of material:
- Events ordered by time
I wake up at 5, then I pray, take a bath, have a bath,
and after that get ready to go to campus.
- Steps in a process
- First, boil the water, then put the vegetables in the
boiling water, let it cook for about three minutes, then
drain it.
Signal words: first, next, later, after, before, while, etc.
Comparison and Contrast
 This is used when the write wants to talk about the
similarities and /or differences of two things
 Signal words: similarly, also, both, in common
 However, in contrast, unlike, although, on the other
hand, yet, different from, etc.
e.g. Living in a village is more comfortable than living in
a city
Cause-Effect
 This is to show how one event or condition is caused
by another
e.g. woke up late (cause)
missed the bus (effect)
I woke up late, therefore, I missed the bus.
Or
I missed the bus because I woke up late.
Signal words: cause, lead to, result in, due to, is the
result of, caused by, etc.
Problem Solution
 It shows problem-solution relationship
e.g.
Overpopulation can be solved by reinforcing family
planning program
Problem: overpopulation
Solution: reinforcing family planning program
References
 Mikulecky, B.S. and Linda Jeffries. 1996. More Reading
Power. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.