PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION:
Class notes from 18-20 December
If you missed class or just didn't take notes like a good student........voila!

PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION

There are several ways to organize your writing. Not every pattern will work for every writer or for every piece of writing. It is important to organize the writing in an order that is interesting, but more importantly it must be logical. In other words, it has to make sense to the reader. Everything must fit together, much like the pieces of a puzzle.


Chronological Order
Chronological order is the order in which the events occurred, from first to last. This is the easiest pattern to write and to follow.

Cause and Effect Order
In this type of order, the cause (or reason) is usually discussed first. This then leads to a discussion of the effect (or result.)

Problem to Solution Order
In this type of order, the problem is presented first. Details about the problem, including its cause, follows. Next, a suggested solution will be discussed, including details that support the solution.

Spatial Order
takes the reader from one spot the next, as if the reader were looking at something. It is very descriptive.

Climactic Order
takes the reader from the least important idea to the most important idea. The ideas build in importance, holding the reader's attention. The best is saved for the last.

Reverse Climactic Order
the most important idea is stated first and the least important idea is stated last. This method is used most often in newspaper articles. This way if the reader does not finish the article he/she will still know the most important details. This method grabs the reader's attention in the beginning, but it does not work very will in holding the reader's attention clear to the end.

Process Order
a sequence of actions is described. It instructs the reader on how to do something. It is basically a set of directions. Owner's manuals and cookbooks are organized in this pattern.

Classification Order
the main idea is broken down into smaller areas or classifications. Each classification is then discussed.

Comparison/Contrast Order point by point/ block
This type of order is again based on comparison (the similarities) and contrast (the differences.) Instead of being divided into parts, however, both sides of each point are discussed together.