chapter 5: patterns of paragraph organization

Chapter 5: Patterns of Paragraph Organization

In Chapter 5 you will study the ways writers arrange ideas within paragraphs

and the devices they use to achieve coherence.

Chapter 5: Patterns of Paragraph Organization

Objectives:

Patterns of paragraph organization

Coherence in paragraphs

Patterns of Organization Defined

Patterns of Organization

The various ways that a paragraph’s sentences can be arranged.

Chronological

Spatial

Deductive

Inductive

Narrative and descriptive writing

Expository or persuasive writing


time orderChronological

Commonly used to tell a story, to relate an incident, to recount a historical event, or to describe the steps in a process.

Patterns of Organization Definedarrangement of objects in an environmentSpatial

Most often used in descriptive writing. Spatial order helps a writer organize descriptive details and to present them so that the reader can visualize the scene.

The transitions showing movement from one part of a scene to another are indicated by prepositional phrases.

See p. 160 and the second example.

p. 161

• Aside from his unusual geography tour, what is the central philosophical point Boulding makes?

p. 161

• Aside from his unusual geography tour, what is the central philosophical point Boulding makes?– Earth is an infinitesimally small part of the

universe, and in a parallel point, human life is insignificant when put into that perspective.


most common paragraph assemblyDeductive

OrderGeneral

specific

expository paragraphsParticularly use in textbook material


expository paragraphsParticularly use in

textbook material

• The main idea is stated directly at the beginning of a passage followed by explanatory material.

See p. 161-162 (beginning at bottom of page)


Inductive Order

General

Supporting Statements

Main Idea

Specific


Inductive order derives from a kind of thinking called induction.

Inductive order involves a series of specific observations leading to a generalization (the main idea) that the reader can validly infer from those statements.


Main Idea


The placement of the main idea determines the pattern.

See pp. 162-163


Main Idea

Go to Practice Exercise 1, pp. 163-166

• Read the following paragraphs. • First, decide which pattern of organization

each represents.– Chronological order– Deductive order– Spatial order– Inductive order

• Then, write a sentence stating the main idea in your own words.

Go to Practice Exercise 1• First, decide which pattern of organization

each represents.• Then, write a sentence stating the main idea

in your own words.A.Pattern of organization: deductive

Main idea: Animals instinctively go into hiding to die.



in your own words.B.Pattern of organization: inductive order

Main idea: Our worsening traffic problems will soon weaken our nation and our economy.



in your own words.C.Pattern of organization: spatial order

Main idea: As they drove into Spain, the road took them through the mountains, forest, fields, more trees, more fields, until finally they could see the Pamplona plateau in the distance, behind which were more mountains.



in your own words.D.Pattern of organization: chronological order

Main idea: Although August 6, 1945, began like any other day in Japan, that was the day the Americans dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.



in your own words.E.Pattern of organization: inductive order

Main idea: Buford doesn’t understand desserts, and because they are both fascinating and bad for him, they scare him.

Coherence in Paragraphs

Careful writers try to help the reader follow the main idea by ensuring that the paragraph has

unity or singleness of purpose.

In good writing, there should be no irrelevant or extraneous sentences to lead you astray.

coherence


Transitions are signposts or markers that indicate a logical relationship or a shift in direction.

Transitions can be single words or phrases; occasionally, an entire paragraph bridging sections together in an essay

Paying attention to transitions will improve your concentration and comprehension and will help you see the logical connections

between ideas.

Go to p. 167

• Read the first paragraph.• What is the paragraph about?

Now, read the same passage again but with the changes.

• Which paragraph is easier to read?• Why?


TransitionsSignaling an additional statement

AndIn addition (to)

As well asBesides

Furthermoremoreover


Signaling a ContrastButYet

HoweverNeverthelessNonetheless

WhileWhereas

On the other handIn contrast (to)

Contrary to


Signaling an Example or IllustrationFor example

As an exampleTo illustrate

As an illustrationFor instance

NamelySpecifically

A case in pointConsider the following

Coherence in ParagraphsSignaling Steps in a Process of Chronological Order

First SecondThird Next

The next step FurtherThen Before

After that FinallyLast In July

Last week In a few daysIn 2005


Signaling Emphasis

Indeed In fact

Certainly Without a doubt

Undoubtedly Admittedly

Unquestionably truly


Signaling a Concession (an admission of truth)

Although Even though

In spite of Despite

After all


Signaling a summary or Conclusion

Therefore Thus

Then To conclude

In conclusion In summary

To summarize Consequently

hence


Signaling Spatial Order

Above Below

To the right To the left

Nearby From afar

Beyond Farther on

Up the road On top

underneath


Repetition of Key Phrases

By repeating key words and phrases, the author helps the reader to connect thought patterns.

See p. 170.


• After reading Paragraph A and B, finally, locate the one transitional expression and identify its function.


• After reading Paragraph A and B, finally, locate the one transitional expression and identify its function.

“in short” (conclusion or summary)

chapter 5: patterns of paragraph organization

Documents

pattern of organization

deductivemain idea

textbook materialthe

inductive ordermain

practice exercise

parallel point

descriptive writingexpository

paragraphs sentences