PATTERN OF

ORGANIZATION
2
What does pattern of organization
mean?
 Details support a main or implied main idea. Authors often organize
supporting details in a particular order thus creating a pattern.
 Patterns of organization are the groupings of the supporting details .
 Detecting the patterns of organization of the major and minor details
can help with comprehension
3
What function do pattern of
organization serve?
Structure for reading, subsection, a paragraph, or the interrelationship between ideas and sentences in a
paragraph.

Help to determine the main details in a passage that support main point (also known as
Supporting details)
4
The role of transition words
Transition words or signal words are words or phrases used by authors to introduce the reader to the thought
pattern or pattern of organization, in the writing and between ideas within the writing. Transition also called
signals words or phrases because they signal how the author is arranging ideas.

Transition also called signals words or phrases because they signal how the author is
arranging ideas.
5
Examples of transition words
Similarly
Then

Second Furthermore
Because In addition

Last (lastly)
Also Another
In short

First
As a result
6
Supporting details
Details that support the authors main points can be expressed by either
major details or minor details

Major Detail
Major Detail – are the main points to support the overall point in the reading

Minor Detail
Minor Detail – are more specific points that support the major points, usually by
providing examples of the major details.
Categories of
Organization
Pattern
8 1. Definition and example
 Used to describe/define and explain the meaning
of a term or concept.
 Readings answer the question: “What is it?”

Signal words
For instance Such as
In addition Also
For example
 Acrophobia is an intense, unreasonable fear of high places. People with acrophobia exhibit
emotional and physical symptoms in response to being at great heights. For instance, one
sufferer of extreme acrophobia, Andrea Copeland, is unable to go above the third floor of any
building without feeling enormous anxiety. Her acrophobia began one evening when she was
working alone in her office on the eighth floor of a large building. Suddenly she was struck
with terror. She gathered her things and left the building, Yet, she still has no rational
explanation for her fear, which is also typical of this type of phobia.

Example
 10
2. Compare/contras

Signal Words
 Used to illustrate the differences or similarities of
the items being compared Different from Similar to
 These can be separated and the author may only As opposed to Same as
COMPARE or may only CONTRAST. However Instead of
Compared with Although
As well as Unless
Either..or But
Football and rugby both involve two teams who try to score points by carrying a ball into an area at the end of the
field. However, the two games differ in many ways. In football, each team has eleven players on the field. In rugby,
there are fifteen players on the field. Football players wear protective helmets and pads. Rugby players wear no
padding, although they can choose to wear a soft leather cap. In football, players can throw the ball to each other. In
rugby, passes are illegal, and players must move the ball down the field by running with it or kicking it. When a
football player is tackled, the game stops. Rugby, however, is a continuous game. A tackled player must immediately
release the ball, and play continues. Rugby allows no time-outs either.

Example
 Football Rugby
11 players 15 players
Players wear protective helmers and pads Players can wear a soft leather cap
Players throw the ball to each other Passes are illegal, have to run with it or kick
it
Player tackled, time stops Continuous play
Time outs allowed No time outs
13
3. Cause/effect
Signal Words

Consequently May be
Due to Since
Used to show how the facts, events,
This led to…so But
or concepts result due to other facts, Nevertheless If...then
events, or concepts Accordingly Because
Yet As a result of
In order to Also
For this reason Not only…

The Power of PowerPoint – http://thepopp.com

Students are not allowed to chew gum in my class. While some students think that I am just being
mean, there are many good reasons for this rule. First, some irresponsible students make messes
with their gum. They may leave it on the bottoms of desks, drop it on the floor, or put it on other
people’s property. Another reason why I don’t allow students to chew gum is because it is a
distraction. When they are allowed to chew gum, students are more worried about having it,
popping it, chewing it, and snapping it then they are in listening, writing, reading, and learning. This
is why I don’t allow students to chew gum in my class.
 Cause

Gum makes messes Effect

in the classroom
Students are not
allowed to chew gum
Gum is a distraction
16 4. Classification
 Classification patterns divides a broad topic into
categories.
 Widely used in academic subjects

Signal words
For instance Such as
In addition Also
For example
17

Internet users have three types of access choices for

surfing the Web. The first type of access to the
Internet is the old- fashioned phone line, which is
quite slow. The second type of access is high-speed
broadband, which enters the house through the TV
cable line. The third type of access is wireless
broadband access. Wireless broadband is used to
provide both fixed and mobile internet access.
 18
5. Problem/Solution

Used to present a problem and possible solutions Signal word

to this problem. The problem is One answer is
Can be similar to Cause and Effect. It is basically The question is Therefore
cause and effect with an opinion and an answer. A solution If….then

The Power of PowerPoint – http://thepopp.com

It seems like there has been a surge in teen pregnancies these
days. Teen pregnancies make it very difficult for young mothers to
pursue their dreams and meet the demands of an infant.
Fortunately, most teen pregnancies can be easily prevented by using
birth control; however, even birth control is not 100% effective. The
most effective way to prevent teen pregnancies is abstinence, which
is 100% effective.

Problem : Teen pregnancies

Solution : Birth control
Abstinence
 20
6. Chronological
Signal Words

Used to inform readers about a topic by First, second When

presenting information though events or steps in Next Finally
Preceding
a chronological order using time. Not long after
After
Initially
On (date)
Then
Before
Following
This morning was crazy. My alarm clock was set for PM instead of AM, so I woke
up really late. I just threw on some clothes and ran out the door. Then I rode my
bike as fast as I could and thought that I was going to be late for sure, but when I
got there everyone was outside and there were firetrucks all lined up in front of
school. I guess somebody pulled the fire alarm before class started. It worked out
though, because nobody really noticed or minded that I was tardy.
22

Woke up late Got ready Rode bike to school Saw people outside
 23
7. Sequence

Signal word

Demonstrates that certain steps must be followed in First, next, before, lastly,
then
a specific order for it

The Power of PowerPoint – http://thepopp.com

 24

Get
How to Make Cookies. materials Cook dough
First, get your materials. Then, make your dough.
Lastly, cook your dough at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

Make dough

The Power of PowerPoint – http://thepopp.com

That’s all! Thank you! 
Any questions?