Patterns of Organization

Patterns of organization show the relationships between supporting details in paragraphs, essays, and chapters.
The organization of the supporting details helps you understand how an author thinks and helps you remember
what you read. While the table below explains the characteristics of the patterns and gives sample signals and
sentences, keep in mind that there may be additional signals not mentioned. Plus, a topic sentence or thesis
statement might not predict the organization of the paragraph. Read the entire selection. Not every piece of
writing fits neatly into these categories. In the real world, many texts contain sections and passages that combine
two or more patterns of organization.

Organizational Sample
Characteristics Signals
Pattern Thesis/Topic Sentence
“Public schools should
Describes or discusses an Causes: require students to wear
event/action that is caused because, causes, creates, uniforms because they
by another event/action. due to, for this reason, if save parents money, de-
There may be a single this…then, leads to, on emphasize fashion, and
Cause cause and effect or several account of, produces, create school spirit.”
and causes with several since, this
“The large movement of
effects.
Effect Effects: people from rural to urban
Answers: “Why did this as a result, areas has major effects on
happen?” “What were the consequently, hence, in a city’s ability to provide
results of a particular effect, resulting, since, housing, employment, and
event?” therefore, thus adequate sanitation
services.”
“A first date can end up
Also called Division or
being categorized as
Categorization, this categories, classified as, successful, a clingy, a
pattern divides a topic into classes, classifications, boastful or awkward.”
parts or groups and comprises, composed of,
separately discusses each. different stages of, "There are three kinds of
Classification divisions, elements, book owners. The first
Answers: “How do the
features, groups, has all the standard sets
parts work with the
includes, kinds, types, and best sellers. The
whole?” “What
varieties, ways second has a great many
characteristics classify the
book. The third has a few
concept or subject?”
books or many.”
Also called Listing, Series, also, and, another, a “Managers experience a
Addition or Enumeration, number of, as well as, number of different
a series of items, facts, too, besides, first, for personnel problems that
reasons, examples, example, for instance, must be solved before a
List of Items features or characteristics furthermore, in addition, department can work
that support the main idea in fact, largest, least, effectively.”
is listed in whatever order moreover, most
the author prefers. important, one, plus, “There are several
second, several, the different theories about
Answers: “What examples
following the origin of the Moon.”
support the main idea?”
 “Many of the racial and
Also called Time Order, after, afterward, as soon ethnic groups that live in
Narration or Sequence of as, at last, at that time, the Hawaiian Islands today
Events, details support the before, during, arrived at different times
main idea as a list of eventually, finally, first, in history.”
events told in the order second, following,
Chronological formerly, immediately, “The death of Mac's
that they happened.
in/on (date), last, later, mother created for him a
Answers: “When did it next, now, meanwhile, shocked disbelief, then a
happen?” “In what order shortly, since, then, personal loneliness and
did it happen?” until, when grief that led to declining
health.”
Details support the main
“Not all stars are the same
idea as a list of steps,
age, so it is possible to see
directions, or a sequence
stars at every stage of
of stages in which a certain
accordingly, after that, their life cycle.”
order is needed. The
begins, following steps,
steps/ stages lead up to a
Process how to, in the process of, “There are several steps
final product or finished
series, sequence, stages, that must be followed if
project.
then, first, second, third, gold is to be efficiently
next, last, finally extracted and refined
Answers: “How?”
from the bedrock in South
“In what sequence or
Africa's Witwatersarnd
order?” “What are the
region.”
steps of the process?”
Comparison:
Organized to emphasize “There are similar safety
the similarities and/or Comparison:
features on all the cars in
differences between two also, as well as, both,
the showroom.”
or more items or topics. correspondingly,
compared to, in
Contrast:
Answers: “How are two comparison, in the same
Community service
items similar?” “How are way, just as, like,
activities develop social
two items different?” likewise, resembles,
and emotional skills of
share, similarly, the
students while academic
Comparison means same as, too
Comparison classes develop
 what things have in intellectual skills.”
and common
Contrast:
Contrast although, as opposed to,
 how items or concepts Combination:
but, despite, differs
are alike “Gangs and fraternities
from, even though,
 the similarities between share many
however, instead,
elements or ideas characteristics, but are
nevertheless, on the
Contrast means quite different.”
contrary, on the other
 the differences between
hand, in contrast,
items or concepts “Mary, like her sister, has
instead, in spite of,
 how things are not alike brown hair. However, the
unlike, whereas, while,
 distinctions between yet
two differ when it comes
elements or ideas to eye color.”
 Also known as Chain of
Command or Hierarchical,
details are given in a list, but “While the most basic
central, chief, ending need is physiological,
the author indicates which
with, finally, finishing workers aspire to self-
items in the list are more
with, least, less, major, actualization as their most
important than others,
main, key, lastly, most valued need.”
Order of either from the least
essential, least/most
Importance important to the most “There are many reasons
important, primarily,
important or from the most to oppose the death
primary, principal,
to the least important. penalty, but the most
secondarily, significant,
more, first, next, last, important is that it does
Answers: “Which point is not deter violent crime.”
the most/least important?”
“Which element is crucial?”
“Since pollution has a
detrimental impact on
The text presents a modern living standards, a
significant problem and key solution is increased
explains it in detail. Then, recycling of waste
answer, challenge, need,
a possible solution is products.”
difficulty, dilemma,
suggested. Sometimes,
Problem enigma, improve, “Many children suffer long-
only the problem is
indicate, issue, plan a term consequences of
and presented because there is
need, problem, propose,
Solution no solution. bullying. However, the
remedied, resolve, problem can be remedied
respond to, solve, through a three-pronged
Answers: “What is the
suggest approach: educating the
problem?”
“What is a possible parents, encouraging a
solution?” community atmosphere, and
implementing a peer
mediation program.”

Also called Order of “Drivers should sit 10 to

Location, the text 12 inches from the
describes physical location steering wheel to allow
above, adjacent to,
or position in space. It the air bag to inflate
away, below, behind,
discusses a subject toward the chest and
beside, between,
according to a specific away from the face and
beyond, close by,
pattern such as top to neck.”
Spatial Order bottom, near to far, room
elsewhere, in front of,
inside, nearby, next to, “The tour of California’s
to room, inside to outside.
opposite, outside, over, missions began in the
Details support the main
toward, under, within, north with San Francisco
idea as a list that reveals
without Solano and led down the
where items are located.
state through San Luis
Answers: “Where?” “In Obispo de Tolosa to end at
physical relation to what?” the southernmost mission
of San Diego de Alcalá.”
 “A solar eclipse is an
astronomical event during
Also called Statement and which the Moon seems to
defined as, is, known, cover the Sun.”
Clarification, a word or the term means, is
Definition concept is introduced then stated as, is used to “Repression is the mind’s
explained or described. An
and mean, for example, to power to block fearful
example of its usage then illustrate, for instance, thoughts, impulses, and
Example follows. such as, sample, memories. For example, a
Answers: “What is it?” specifically, i.e., e.g. person may repress or
forget painful childhood
memories.”

“Overall, the changes that

Details support the main occurred in hockey have
idea as a list of only the helped to improve the
all in all, in brief, in
most important data game. Hockey is faster and
conclusion, in short, in
from a larger amount of more exciting as a result
Summary summary, on the whole,
of changes in the past 120
material. overall, to summarize, to
years. For these reasons,
Answers: “What point sum up
modern hockey is a better
was this essay making?” game than hockey in the
1890s.”
“Food labels provide
Also known as Illustration, important information.
generalization and For example, the label on
principle or deductive Rich Harvest Sweet Dark
order, The author gives a Whole Grain bread states
general statement or idea for example, for that one slice has 120
that is supported by one or instance, that is, to calories.”
Generalization
more examples. In this illustrate, thus, such as,
and Example pattern look for a topic including, typically, an “The term urban university
sentence that is supported illustration goes beyond a geographic
by one or more examples. location and extends, for
The generalization example, into a
statement is not always university’s commitment,
the first sentence. philosophy, and
programs.”
“The Olympic symbol
Uses words that show consists of five
Details explain the main size, shape, texture, color,
idea by providing a mental interlocking rings. The
thickness, length, rings are colored black
picture of situations, feelings. above, across,
objects, or surroundings; blue, green, red, and
along, appears to be, as yellow.”
details focus on sensory or in, behind, below,
Description physical data. beside, between, down, “The kitchen table is
Answers: “What are its most in back of, in front of, rectangular. Made of a
looks like, near, on top two-inch-thick piece of oak,
important attributes or
of, onto, outside, over, its top is covered with an
characteristics? “What
such as, to the right/left, cloth patterned in dark red
specific person, place, thing, and blue squares against a
or event described?” under
white background.”
 Combination of Patterns of Organization
Don’t assume that every important thought in a multi-paragraph reading will be covered by an organizational
pattern. It’s possible for a writer to use one or more organizational patterns and still include important
information that is not completely included in the pattern or patterns used develop the main idea. The test for
what’s important is always based on the main idea using questions like “What information do I need in order to
fully explain or prove the main idea?”

Cause and Effect plus Comparison and Contrast

A study in Romania suggests that children who are abandoned at birth and placed in state-run institutions can
eventually thrive if they leave the institution and are placed in foster care. In fact, children in the study who were
placed in foster homes ended up on par emotionally, intellectually, and physically with children of the same age
who had grown up with their biological families. In contrast, orphaned children who never left the state-run
institutions showed steady declines in their emotional and mental health over the course of their stay. While the
study supports the idea that foster care for abandoned children is better than institutional life, it’s worth noting
that Romanian institutions have a particularly horrific reputation for neglect. This may well account for the effects
of long-term and unrelieved institutionalization upon abandoned children.

The paragraph opens with a clear cause and effect relationship: Orphaned children who enter foster care benefit
from leaving the institution, and children who do not enter foster care do not fare as well. Note, however, that the
two groups are also contrasted in order to prove the main idea expressed in the first sentence. Children
abandoned at birth can thrive if they enter foster care. Thus, as the transitional phrase "in contrast" suggests,
comparison and contrast is the second pattern used to organize the material.
Classification based on Cause and Effect with Definition
According to economists, there are four different types of unemployment, each with its own specific cause. The
first type of unemployment is seasonal. Workers in certain industries—such as agriculture, resorts and retail—are
subject to fluctuating demands for their services because of peak and off-peak times in these industries. This type
of unemployment is regular, predictable, and relatively short-term. The second type of unemployment is referred
to as frictional. It is caused by school and college graduates seeking jobs for the first time and by workers
changing jobs. These people usually remain unemployed for just a short time while they seek a position. A third
type of unemployment is structural, caused, for example, by the use of new machinery, such as robots, that can
perform simple repetitive tasks. Workers displaced by structural changes often experience long-term
unemployment while seeking a job that matches their skills and salary expectations. The last type of
unemployment is cyclical. This kind is produced by the overall business cycle. Cyclical unemployment increases in
recessions; it decreases during growth periods.

The opening sentence provides two sets of clues. The phrase “four different types of unemployment” suggests
classification, mainly because the sentence suggests that these four types comprise all the possible kinds of
unemployment. If it did not, then simple listing would be the better answer. However, the phrase “each with its
own specific cause” implies the cause and effect pattern. In addition, the italics for the names of the four types
followed by a specific definition make it clear that the definition pattern is also in play.

Further explanation and activities for Recognizing Patterns of Organization can be found in the following texts:
Flemming, Loraine. Reading for Results, 12th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2014. (See pages 489-568)
Flemming, Loraine. Reading Keys, 3rd ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2011. (See pages 299-347)
Langan, John. Ten Steps to Advancing College Reading Skills, 5th ed. West Berlin: Townsend Press, Inc., 2010. (See pages 187-250)
McWhorter, Kathleen T. Reading Across the Disciplines: College Reading and Beyond, 5th ed. San Francisco: Pearson Education, 2012. (See
pages 105-135)
Spears, Deanne. Improving Reading Skills: Contemporary Readings for College Students, 6th ed. New York: McGraw- Hill, 2010. (See pages
300-302)
Additional materials from http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/~steuben/Patterns%20of%20Organization.pdf