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
Patterns of Organization Defined
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.
Patterns of Organization Defined
most common paragraph assemblyDeductive
OrderGeneral
specific
expository paragraphsParticularly use in textbook material
Patterns of Organization Defined
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)
Patterns of Organization Defined
Inductive Order
General
Supporting Statements
Main Idea
Specific
Patterns of Organization Defined
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.
Supporting Statements
Main Idea
Patterns of Organization Defined
The placement of the main idea determines the pattern.
See pp. 162-163
Supporting Statements
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.
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.B.Pattern of organization: inductive order
Main idea: Our worsening traffic problems will soon weaken our nation and our economy.
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.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.
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.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.
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.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
Coherence in Paragraphs
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?
Coherence in Paragraphs
TransitionsSignaling an additional statement
AndIn addition (to)
As well asBesides
Furthermoremoreover
Coherence in Paragraphs
Signaling a ContrastButYet
HoweverNeverthelessNonetheless
WhileWhereas
On the other handIn contrast (to)
Contrary to
Coherence in Paragraphs
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
Coherence in Paragraphs
Signaling Emphasis
Indeed In fact
Certainly Without a doubt
Undoubtedly Admittedly
Unquestionably truly
Coherence in Paragraphs
Signaling a Concession (an admission of truth)
Although Even though
In spite of Despite
After all
Coherence in Paragraphs
Signaling a summary or Conclusion
Therefore Thus
Then To conclude
In conclusion In summary
To summarize Consequently
hence
Coherence in Paragraphs
Signaling Spatial Order
Above Below
To the right To the left
Nearby From afar
Beyond Farther on
Up the road On top
underneath
Coherence in Paragraphs
Repetition of Key Phrases
By repeating key words and phrases, the author helps the reader to connect thought patterns.
See p. 170.
Go to Practice Exercise 2, pp. 171-172
• After reading Paragraph A and B, finally, locate the one transitional expression and identify its function.
Go to Practice Exercise 2, pp. 171-172
• After reading Paragraph A and B, finally, locate the one transitional expression and identify its function.
“in short” (conclusion or summary)