Recognizing Recognizing Patterns of Patterns of

Organizations in Organizations in ParagraphsParagraphs

(in expository writing)(in expository writing)

What is the purpose of What is the purpose of expository writing?expository writing?

To inform, teach, or explain To inform, teach, or explain

Five commonly used Five commonly used patterns:patterns:DefinitionDefinition

Time OrderTime OrderComparison and ContrastComparison and Contrast

Cause and EffectCause and EffectClassificationClassification

Pattern 1: DefinitionPattern 1: Definition

Includes a key term:Includes a key term:– usually highlighted in bold usually highlighted in bold

face, color type, or italicsface, color type, or italics– followed by a detailed followed by a detailed

definition that can consist of definition that can consist of several sentencesseveral sentences

Frequently includes Frequently includes examples or illustrations to examples or illustrations to make the meaning clearermake the meaning clearer

Authors highlight the term Authors highlight the term they are defining.they are defining.

Example 1:Example 1:

Nineteen-century America was Nineteen-century America was guided by the concept of guided by the concept of Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny, the belief that , the belief that the United States was on a the United States was on a mission of God to occupy North mission of God to occupy North America from coast to coast.America from coast to coast.

Example 2:Example 2:

The The greenhouse effectgreenhouse effect is the name for is the name for what happens when excessive carbon what happens when excessive carbon dioxide and other gases build up in the dioxide and other gases build up in the Earth’s atmosphere.Earth’s atmosphere.

Taking NotesTaking NotesThe The definitiondefinition pattern should include 3 pattern should include 3

or 4 of the following elements:or 4 of the following elements:

1.1. The term being definedThe term being defined

2.2. A complete definitionA complete definition

3.3. At least one exampleAt least one example

4.4. Any other details that Any other details that might help clarify the might help clarify the definitiondefinition

Pattern 2: Time Pattern 2: Time OrderOrder

Two different types of Two different types of paragraphs rely heavily on paragraphs rely heavily on time ordertime order, or the listing , or the listing of events.of events.– One type outlines the One type outlines the

sequence of dates and sequence of dates and eventsevents

– The other describes a The other describes a processprocess

Sequence of EventsSequence of Events

Explains or argues a claimExplains or argues a claim– The paragraph example on The paragraph example on

page 431 traces a sequence page 431 traces a sequence of dates and events that of dates and events that suggests the Internet as we suggests the Internet as we know it was not developed know it was not developed overnight. Rather, it took overnight. Rather, it took more than 20 years.more than 20 years.

Why would an author use Why would an author use this type of paragraph this type of paragraph pattern?pattern?

Time Order Time Order TransitionsTransitions

Phrases like “by 1972”, “in Phrases like “by 1972”, “in 1983” and “between 1983 1983” and “between 1983 and 1990” tell readers to and 1990” tell readers to pay attention because the pay attention because the next signficant event is next signficant event is coming up.coming up.

Time order transitions are Time order transitions are the author’s way of saying, the author’s way of saying, “I’ve finished describing the “I’ve finished describing the previous event and I’m previous event and I’m ready to tell you about the ready to tell you about the one that followed it.”one that followed it.”

Usually introduce Usually introduce majormajor detailsdetails..

Taking NotesTaking NotesParagraphs devoted to Paragraphs devoted to dates and dates and

eventsevents should include the following should include the following elements:elements:

1.1. The The MainMain IdeaIdea

2.2. All the dates and events All the dates and events used to develop the Main used to develop the Main IdeaIdea

3.3. Any other Any other supportingsupporting detailsdetails that lack dates but that lack dates but still seem essential to still seem essential to developing the Main Idea.developing the Main Idea.

Pattern 3: Comparison Pattern 3: Comparison & Contrast& Contrast

Compare = point out Compare = point out similaritiessimilarities

Contrast = point out Contrast = point out differencesdifferences

Don’t assume that Don’t assume that paragraphs using this paragraphs using this pattern always focus on pattern always focus on similarities similarities or or differences.differences.– Sometimes paragraphs Sometimes paragraphs

compare compare andand contrast. contrast.

TransitionsTransitions

Transitions that signal Transitions that signal similaritiessimilarities– Review chart on page 447Review chart on page 447

Transitions that signal Transitions that signal differencesdifferences– Review chart on page 448Review chart on page 448

ExamplesExamples

Europeans and Americans Europeans and Americans don’t have the same don’t have the same attitude toward work and attitude toward work and leisure.leisure.

France and Germany were France and Germany were both against the 2003 war both against the 2003 war with Iraq, but they showed with Iraq, but they showed their disagreement in very their disagreement in very different ways.different ways.

Scientists Enrico Fermi and Scientists Enrico Fermi and Robert J. Oppenheimer had Robert J. Oppenheimer had very different feelings about very different feelings about the success of the the success of the Manhattan Project.Manhattan Project.

Taking NotesTaking NotesThe The comparison & contrastcomparison & contrast pattern pattern

should clearly identify three essential should clearly identify three essential elements:elements:

1.1. The two topics being The two topics being compared and/or compared and/or contrastedcontrasted

2.2. The similarities and/or The similarities and/or differences between the differences between the twotwo

3.3. The Main Idea they The Main Idea they explain or supportexplain or support

Pattern 4: Cause and Pattern 4: Cause and EffectEffect

Passages that explain how one Passages that explain how one event – theevent – the causecause – – leads to or leads to or produces another event – theproduces another event – the effecteffect..

FEAR

CAUSE EFFECT

BLOOD VESSELS SHRINK

CAUSE FACE LOSES COLOR

EFFECT

Fear has a profound effect on the human body.

Cause & Effect Cause & Effect TransitionsTransitions

Transitions that identify Transitions that identify resultsresults– Review chart on page 456Review chart on page 456

Verbs Frequently Used to Verbs Frequently Used to Link Cause and EffectLink Cause and Effect– Review chart on page 457Review chart on page 457

Typical Topic Typical Topic SentencesSentences

General Alfredo Stroessner General Alfredo Stroessner took control of Paraguay took control of Paraguay and turned the country into and turned the country into a haven for international a haven for international outlaws.outlaws.

In the eighties and In the eighties and nineties, rock star nineties, rock star Madonna had a profound Madonna had a profound effect on the image of effect on the image of women in pop music.women in pop music.

Taking NotesTaking NotesCycles of Cycles of causes and effectscauses and effects pattern pattern

should be included in your notes:should be included in your notes:

1.1. The general cause and The general cause and effect relationship effect relationship described by the topic described by the topic sentencesentence

2.2. The specific causes The specific causes and/or effects mentioned and/or effects mentioned in the paragraphin the paragraph

Pattern 5: Pattern 5: ClassificationClassification

Explains how some larger Explains how some larger group can be broken down group can be broken down or divided into smaller or divided into smaller subgroups or categories.subgroups or categories.

Then, each category is Then, each category is described in specific detail.described in specific detail.

Typical Topic Typical Topic SentencesSentences

Scientific experiments fall Scientific experiments fall into four different into four different categories.categories.

Best sellers can be divided Best sellers can be divided into three types.into three types.

Researchers in Researchers in interpersonal interpersonal communication have come communication have come up with four kinds of up with four kinds of conversations.conversations.

Taking NotesTaking NotesNotes on the Notes on the classificationclassification pattern pattern require the following information:require the following information:

The name of the larger The name of the larger group being broken down group being broken down into sub-groupsinto sub-groups

The names of the The names of the categories if they are categories if they are suppliedsupplied

A brief description of each A brief description of each categorycategory

ReviewReview

What is the purpose of What is the purpose of expository writing?expository writing?

What are the 5 paragraph What are the 5 paragraph pattern categories?pattern categories?

Is there only 1 type of Is there only 1 type of pattern in each paragraph?pattern in each paragraph?

– What pattern should you What pattern should you look for?look for?

The PRIMARY pattern!