patterns of organization time and space

PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION

Karen Hamilton Silvestri, Instructor

Instructional Specialist, The Learning Center at Robeson Community College

Transitions Time and SpaceListing

Transitions and Thought Patterns

Authors use two techniques to clearly show how ideas are related to one another: Transitions Thought Patterns

Transitions

Transitions are words and phrases that signal thought patterns by showing the logical relationships within a sentence and between sentences.

Example: Fernando is actively involved in several community organizations. Children know Fernando likes them because he goes on all the Boy Scout camping trips and he coaches a youth soccer league.

Thought Patterns

Thought patterns are established by using transitions to show the logical relationship between ideas in a paragraph or passage.

Relationships Within a Sentence

Weightlifting builds and tones muscles; it also builds bone density.

Relationships Between Sentences

Robert and Dorothy had a fantastic time when they vacationed at Valhalla Resort on Marathon Key in Florida. They woke up before dawn every day so that they would not miss the beautiful sunrises….

Thought Patterns

Thought patterns (or patterns of organization) are signaled by using transitions to show the logical relationship between ideas in a paragraph, passage, or textbook chapter.

Some common patterns are: Time Order Space Order Listing Classification

Transitions

Make logical relationships between ideas clear.

Serve as a bridge between ideas Can appear at the beginning, the middle,

or the end of a paragraph.

TRANSITION WORDS help you determine what pattern is being used in a passage.

Types of Transitions

Two common types of relationships are

• Relationships that involve addition

• Relationships that involve time

TRANSITIONS

Which item below is easier to read and understand?

A. You can reduce the number of colds you catch. You should wash your hands frequently

during the cold season.

B. You can reduce the number of colds you catch. First of all,

you should wash your hands frequently during the cold season.

TRANSITIONS


A. You can reduce the number of colds you catch. You should wash your hands frequently

during the cold season.

B. You can reduce the number of colds you catch. First of all,

you should wash your hands frequently during the cold season.

Explanation The words first of all in the second item make it clear that the writer plans on explaining two or more ways to reduce the number of colds. This makes the second item easier to understand.

Words That Show Addition


A. A virus cannot move or grow. It can reproduce only inside a cell of another organism.

B. A virus cannot move or grow. Furthermore, it can reproduce only inside a cell of another

organism.



A. A virus cannot move or grow. It can reproduce only inside a cell of another organism.

B. A virus cannot move or grow. Furthermore, it can reproduce only inside a cell of another

organism. Explanation The word furthermore in the second item helps make the relationship between the two sentences clear. The author is listing two different qualities of a virus. Furthermore is an addition word.


Addition words signal added ideas. These words tell you a writer is presenting one or more ideas that continue along the same line of thought as a previous idea.

Here are some common addition words: Addition Words

one to begin with also furtherfirst (of all) for one thing in addition furthermoresecond(ly) other next last (of all)third(ly) another moreover final(ly)


In the examples below, notice how the addition words introduce ideas that add to what has already been said.

• We communicate to exchange information. We also communicate to develop relationships.

• Tiger sharks eat fish, squid, sea turtles, seals, and smaller sharks. In addition, they have been known

to swallow car license plates and gasoline cans.

Words That Show Time


A. I fill in the answers to the test questions I’m sure I know. I work on the rest of the exam.

B. First I fill in the answers to the test questions I’m sure I know. Then I work on the rest of the exam.



A. I fill in the answers to the test questions I’m sure I know. I work on the rest of the exam.

B. First I fill in the answers to the test questions I’m sure I know. Then I work on the rest of the exam.

Explanation

The words First and then in the second item clarify the relationship between the sentences. The author begins working on the rest of the exam after answering the questions that he or she is sure about. First, then, and words like them are time words.


Time words tell us when something happened in relation to when something else happened. Here are some common time words: Time Words

before immediately when untilpreviously next whenever oftenfirst (of all) then while

frequentlysecond(ly) following during

eventuallythird(ly) later as final(ly)now after soon last (of

all)

Note: Additional ways of showing time are dates (“In 1850…”; “Throughout the 20th century…”; “By 2010…”) and other time references (“Within a week…”; “by the end of the month…”;

“in two years…”).


In the examples below, notice how the time words show us when something takes place.

• During the last ice age, there were huge icebergs

in the ocean as far south as Mexico City.

• I cross the street whenever I see someone coming whose name I’ve forgotten.

TIME ORDER

Actions or events are listed in the order in which they occur.

This is called CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF TIME ORDER:

NARRATION PROCESS

The Time Order Pattern

See if you can arrange the following sentences in logical order. Which sentence should come first? Second? Last? Use the time words as a guide.

A. The water then begins to expand and rise, to be replaced by cold water from the upper regions of the pot.

B. In the convection process, water from the bottom of a heating pot begins to move faster.

C. Eventually, after this heated water gets to the top, it cools off and sinks, to be replaced by newly heated water from the bottom.


Here is the logical order for the sentences on the last screen.

In the convection process, water from the bottom of a heating pot begins to move faster. The water then begins to expand and rise, to be replaced by cold water from the upper regions of the pot. Eventually, after this heated water gets to the top, it cools off and sinks, to be replaced by newly heated water from the bottom.

• In time order, the details are presented in the order in which they happen.

• Notice that supporting details are introduced by time words.


Two of the most common kinds of time order are: 1. NARRATION: a series of events or stages2. PROCESS: a series of steps (directions how to do

something)

Time Order: Events

Event 1

Event 2

Event 3

Time Order: Steps

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

The Time Order Pattern: Series of Events or Stages

What four stages of sleep are needed to complete the outline of this paragraph? The time words are shown in blue to help you. The study of volunteers in sleep laboratories has led researchers to believe that humans go through four different stages of sleep in a normal night’s rest. After falling asleep, people enter stage 1 sleep, also called “light sleep” or “REM” (rapid eye movement) sleep. During this stage the sleeper’s brain waves are irregular, and the person is easily awakened. The next period of sleep, stage 2 sleep, is marked by bursts of fast brain-wave activity called “spindles.” Then, during stage 3 sleep, the spindles disappear, and brain waves become long and slow. Last, the deepest level of sleep, during which the sleeper is hardest to awaken, occurs during stage 4 sleep. Extremely slow brain waves known as delta waves are present during this deep-sleep phase.

Main idea: Researchers believe that humans go through four different stages of sleep in a normal night’s rest. 1.2.3.4.

The Time Order Pattern: Series of Events or Stages

Time words lead you to the major details the author has listed.

The study of volunteers in sleep laboratories has led researchers to believe that humans go through four different stages of sleep in a normal night’s rest. After falling asleep, people enter stage 1 sleep, also called “light sleep” or “REM” (rapid eye movement) sleep. During this stage the sleeper’s brain waves are irregular, and the person is easily awakened. The next period of sleep, stage 2 sleep, is marked by bursts of fast brain-wave activity called “spindles.” Then, during stage 3 sleep, the spindles disappear, and brain waves become long and slow. Last, the deepest level of sleep, during which the sleeper is hardest to awaken, occurs during stage 4 sleep. Extremely slow brain waves known as delta waves are present during this deep-sleep phase.

Main idea: Researchers believe that humans go through four different stages of sleep in a normal night’s rest. 1. Stage 1—light or REM sleep, irregular brain waves; easily awakened.2. Stage 2—bursts of fast brain-wave activity called “spindles.” 3. Stage 3—spindles disappear; brain waves become long and short.4. Stage 4—deepest level; very slow brain waves called delta waves; more difficult to awaken

The Time Order Pattern: Series of Steps

What steps are needed to complete the outline of this paragraph? The time words are in blue to help you.

If you mention the word PROM to people, they are going to think of a high-school rite of passage. In fact, PROM is also the name of a proven study method. The first step in this system is to preview a reading assignment. Note the title and read the first and last paragraphs; also look quickly at headings and subheads and anything in boldface or italic. Next, read a selection straight through while marking off important ideas such as definitions, examples, and lists of items. The third step is to organize the material you’ve read by taking study notes on it. Get all the important ideas down on paper in outline form, relating one idea to another as much as possible. Last of all, memorize the study notes that you will need to remember for tests. Do this by writing key words in the margins of your study outline and turning those words into questions. Not all learning involves memorization, but some of it does, so don’t hesitate to commit to memory anything you might need for a test.

Main idea: PROM is a proven study method. 1.2.3.4.

The Time Order Pattern: Series of Steps

Time words lead you to the major details the author has listed.

If you mention the word PROM to people, they are going to think of a high-school rite of passage. In fact, PROM is also the name of a proven study method. The first step in this system is to preview a reading assignment. Note the title and read the first and last paragraphs; also look quickly at headings and subheads and anything in boldface or italic. Next, read a selection straight through while marking off important ideas such as definitions, examples, and lists of items. The third step is to organize the material you’ve read by taking study notes on it. Get all the important ideas down on paper in outline form, relating one idea to another as much as possible. Last of all, memorize the study notes that you will need to remember for tests. Do this by writing key words in the margins of your study outline and turning those words into questions. Not all learning involves memorization, but some of it does, so don’t hesitate to commit to memory anything you might need for a test.

Main idea: PROM is a proven study method. 1. Preview a reading assignment.2. Read the selection straight through, marking off important ideas.3. Organize the material you’ve read by taking study notes on it. 4. Memorize the study notes by turning key words into questions.

NARRATION

NARRATION shows a chain of events and uses transitions of time. It shows when things occurred and in what order. (see page 283)

Narration: A Chain of Events

Event 1 Event 2 Event 3

Transitions Used in the Time Order Pattern for Narration

After Afterward As Before Currently During Eventually Finally First Last Later While

Meanwhile Next Now Often Previously Second Since Soon Then Ultimately Until When

EXAMPLE OF NARRATON

When Corbin decided to become a teacher, he had no idea that he was also deciding to become a career student. His first notions of wanting only a bachelor’s degree were quickly dispelled. During those early years as a teacher, he found that the more he learned the more excited he was about teaching. Eventually, his passion for learning earned him a master’s degree and a doctorate degree.

PROCESS

PROCESS shows the stages, steps, or directions to be taken to achieve a result.

Transition (signal) words include ones that show time. (see page 285)

Process: Steps, stages, or directions

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

PROCESS

Shows a series of steps in a specific order

Has two primary purposes: (1) to show how to do something, (2) to show how something occurred

PROCESS shows the stages, steps,

or directions to be taken to

achieve a result.

Transitions Used in the Time Order Pattern for Process (Steps, Stages, or Directions) After Afterward As Before Currently During Eventually Finally First Last Later While

Meanwhile Next Now Often Previously Second Since Soon Then Ultimately Until When

Transition (signal) words

include ones that

show time. (see page 285)

EXAMPLE OF PROCESS

To ensure proper interdental cleaning, floss each day. First, break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Second, wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. Third, hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. Next, guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion; never snap the floss into the gums. Then gently slide it into the space between the gum and tooth.

Space Order Pattern

The space order pattern allows authors to describe a person, place, or thing based on its location or the way it is arranged in space.

The writer often uses descriptive details to help readers create vivid mental pictures.

Descriptive Detail 1



Transition Words in the Space Order Pattern

SPACE ORDER shows where. Transitions words are ones that

show where someone or something is in space. (see page

290)

Above Across Adjacent Around At the

bottom At the

side At the top Back At the

side Backup Behind

Down Far away Below Beneath Beside Beyond By Center Close to

Nearby Outside Right There Under Underne

ath Within

Farther Front Here In Inside Left Middle Next to

EXAMPLE OF SPACE ORDER

From their heads to the tips of their tails, humpback whales bear distinctive markings. On top a humpback whale is dotted with fleshy knobs called tubercles; a strand of hair with many nerve endings grows out of each tubercle.

Sources

The Effective Reader (Updated Edition) by D. J. Henry

© 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers