Organization

In need of four Volunteers!

I need two students to read example A & B paragraphs!

I need two students to read example C paragraph!

Now Answer these questions about the paragraphs on a separate piece of paper…

What words helped you figure out an order?

Did you arrange the paragraph in the same order?

If not, does the organization affect the meaning?

What conclusions can you make about the organization of a paragraph?

Organizational Patterns Handout…Teacher Model

1. Write a history essay pointing out the results of the Missouri Compromise.

Composition Category: Persuasive or Expository

Organizational Pattern: Cause/Effect

Organizational Patterns Handout…Teacher Model

2. Write an art paper describing Van Gogh painting.

Composition Category: Descriptive

Organizational Pattern: Description

Composition Category & Organizational Pattern

Narrative

Descriptive

Expository

Persuasive

Descriptive

Problem/Solution

Comparison/Contrast

Chronological

Cause/Effect

Thesis Statement

is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.

directly answers the prompt

Usually the last sentence of the introduction paragraph

Usually includes three prongs that will reappear as your body paragraph topic sentences.

THESIS STATEMENTS AND TOPIC SENTENCES EXAMPLES

Example 1: Cause/Effect

Prompt: Explain the causes of someone doing poorly in high school.

Composition Category: expository

Thesis Statement: Because grades are important, activities can be distracting, and students are forced to deal with all kinds of different people, students do poorly in high school.

Topic Sentences: Keep up with homework and grades in every class. Use time management skills to balance after school

and homework. Dealing with people who you do not like is difficult in

high school.

Example 2: Problem/Solution

Prompt: Convince someone that there are better ways to deal with stress than smoking.

Composition Category: Persuasive

Thesis Statement: Since smoking can cause many long term health issues, people should use alternative methods to reduce stress.

Topic Sentences: -People who smoke are at risk of many long term health

problems-One solution for stress other than smoking is eating

healthy.-Another solution for stress other than smoking is getting

the correct amount of sleep.

Example 3: Comparison/Contrast

Prompt: Explain how tennis and basketball are similar and different.

Composition Category: Expository

Thesis Statement: Although both tennis and basketball are sports, their rules and objectives are very different.

Topic Sentences: -Tennis and basketball are similar because they are sports.-Tennis and basketball have completely different objectives

or goals.-Since there are different objectives, the rules are also

different.

NOW IT IS YOUR TURN TO FIGURE OUT THE THESIS STATEMENTS AND TOPIC

SENTENCES

Chronological OrderWhat are the topic sentences?

Prompt: Tell a story about one time you felt the most proud.

Composition Category: Narrative

Thesis Statement: In 7th grade I felt proud when I brought my Algebra grade up to a B by studying for tests, doing all my homework, and asking the teacher for help.

Topic Sentences:

DescriptiveWhat is the thesis statement?

Prompt: Describe your favorite place in the world.

Composition Category: Descriptive

Thesis Statement:

Topic Sentences: My park is relaxing because I can go there and think and

no one else is there. My park is fun when I take my dogs to play there. In the fall, my park is covered with a beautiful landscape

scenery