Patterns of Organization

1. In this sequence pattern, the writer explain the main idea with a series of events or steps in a process that follow one after the other in time order - Key words/phrases in the main idea: began, account, story, process, history, sequence. - Signal words/phrases: first, second, then, next, after, while, since, then, soon, finally, at last.

2. In this comparison/contrast pattern, the writer's main idea is a general statement about two things and how they are similar and/or different. A comparison can include both similarities and differences, or only the similarities. A contrast states only differences. - Key words/phrases in the main idea: similarities, differences, both, in common, same, different, compare, comparison. - Signal words/phrases for similarities: similarly, also, in the same way, as, like, both, in common, as with, in line manner, likewise.

3. In this pattern, the writer's names a concept or complicated process that the paragraph will define and explain. Usually, the main idea or first sentence of the paragraph states a dictionary definition of the concept or process, followed by a description and/or an explanation. there are usually no signal words for the details. - Key words/phrases in the main idea: consist of,is, seems to be, are.

4. Sequence

5. Comparison/Contrast

6. Extended Definition

7. Listing

7.1. In this listing pattern, the writter states the main idea in the from of generalization ang gives a list of detail or examples to support that general statement. - Key words/phrases in the main idea: many, several, a number of, a variety of, a few, kinds of. - Signal words/phrases: for example, for instance, first, second, another, also, besides, in addition, final, last,most important.

8. Cause and Effect

8.1. Describes or discusses an event/action that is caused by another event/action. There may be a single cause and effect or several causes with several effects.

9. Problem and Solution

9.1. In this pattern, the main idea names a problem and indicates that ones or more solutions. The paragraph always consists of two parts: 1). a statement and 2). a description and explanation of how it was solved. There are often no signal words for the details - Key words/phrases in the main idea: situation, trouble, crisis, dilemma or issue. - In the body of the paragraph, key words include: solve, solution, resolved.