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Structural Patternsin Writing
(Ways to organize your writing)
Overview There are many ways to organize your writing
Cause and Effect Compare and Contrast
Sequential Order Logical Order Description Classification Order of Importance Proposition/Support Problem and Solution
The pattern chosen depends on the author’s topic and objective for writing (what and why?)
Cause and Effect Organization
Show the different causes and effects of various conditions
Effective for persuasive papers Two patterns:
All causes in one paragraph and all effects in another, or
Each paragraph has one cause with all effects
Sequential Organization
Used to describe a process Arranges information according to a
step-by-step sequence For instance, the steps required to
produce a loaf of bread.
Compare and Contrast Organization Effective to use when a reader is familiar
with one topic Arranges information according to how two
or more things are similar to or different from one another
Two patterns: Each paragraph describes the similarities/
differences of one factor, with a different paragraph for each factor, or
create two main paragraphs, one that describes similarities and one that describes differences
Order of Importance Organization
Put the most important information first What is important depends on your
audience Know who you are writing for so that you
provide information that is important to your audience
Problem & Solution Organization
Divides information into two main sections: one that describes a problem and one that describes a solution First, the writer convinces the reader a problem
exists Second, the writer provides a solution to the
problem Typically used in persuasive writing
the writer's general purpose is to convince the reader to support a certain course of action
Logical Order Organization
The essay moves between general ideas and specific examples in a logical manner Introduce each idea, then follow up with
supporting examples A logical progression of ideas allows the
reader to easily reach the same conclusion as the writer
Classification Organization Break a large subject into categories Show the reader how the categories are
connected to each other and/or the thesis Pets
Dogs Types Pros and cons
Cats Types Pros and cons
Proposition & Support Organization
An organization that presents an idea or belief positively or firmly.
Also referred to as a Persuasive Organization
Gives the reader an idea of what will be presented in the paper Includes a “call to action” to support the
idea, or A solution to a perceived problem
Final Thoughts
Avoid “So what?” at the end! What is the point of your essay? You don't need to come right out and
state the point; let the point grow out of the experience of the essay. Allow the reader to infer your point, or Your conclusion can offer the “so what” to
tie everything together