paragraph patterns

wise words: defintion

-Like all patterns of organization in writing, the definition pattern does not have a fixed format. The writer can, for instance, delay the definition, telling the reader about other possible definitions before the writer introduces the actual definition he or she has in mind. -The main idea dictates how the organizational pattern is used, not the other way around. Writers may emphasize or downplay different elements of a pattern in order to better explain the main idea.

process: key characteristics

-The first or second sentence is likely to announce the process or procedure being explained. -Most of the sentences in the paragraph will introduce a new step or stage in the larger process. -Transitions such as first, second, then, next, and finally are often used to highlight each individual step or stage. -The order of the steps or stages reproduces the order in which they occur during real time.

classification: key characteristics

-The topic sentence describes how one larger group can be broken down into smaller subgroups. -The topic sentences in this pattern are likely to include words like categories and subgroups. -The topic sentences are also likely to use verbs like broken down into, analyzed, classified, or divided. -Words like categories, groups, and divisions are common to this pattern.

cause and effect: key characteristics

-The topic sentence explains how one event (the cause) led to or produced another event (the effect). -Verbs such as produces, generates, induces, causes, and instigates are common. -The writer relies heavily on transition like as a result, consequently, in response to, and therefore. -Connectives* like because, as, due to, and since are common in this pattern. *Connectives are words that link together parts of sentences. They are also called conjunctions.

comparison and contrast: key characteristics:

-The topic sentence is likely to announce how two topics differ from or resemble one another; it can also insist that one person, idea, or object is better or worse than another. -These paragraphs don't always include a stated topic sentence. Instead, the author identifies specific similarities and/or differences and lets them speak for themselves. -The author is likely to use transitions such as similarly, in contrast, in the same vein, and however.

The sequence of dates and event: key characteristics

-The topic sentence is likely to introduce a time frame, e.g. "Between 1939 and 1941, Americans watched in horror as Europe was engulfed by a nightmare." -Dates are presented according to their occurrence in real time and appear in numerous sentences throughout the paragraph -Transitions like "Right before the financial meltdown," "When the dust settled," and "Soon after the treaty was signed" frequently open sentences.

simple listing: key characteristics

-The topic sentences are likely to tell you, for instance, five things you should never do on a first date or four statements you need to include in a professional cover letter. -The supporting details offer specific pieces of information about the topic. -The facts, figures, characteristics, etc. described in the details are all connected by the topic but not necessarily connected to one another. -The order of the information is unimportant. -Details can be readily switched around without obscuring, or clouding, the point of the passage.

cause and effect: wise word

-Writers frequently combine patterns of organization to make their point. Depending on the main idea, the patterns might be equal in importance or one pattern might be primary, or more significant, than the other pattern or patterns. -For instance, this sentence would seem to require just one pattern, sequence of dates and events: "Russia's Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, has had a long and somewhat sinister career." But what about this sentence: "Our brain requires that a number of specific steps be completed in order to remember new information for more than a few minutes."

the cause and effect pattern is:

-appears frequently in just about every kind of writing. -explains how one event led to or produced another. -can focus on causes and/or effects. -often describes a chain reaction with an effect becoming the cause of new and different consequences.

The process pattern is:

-especially common in business and science textbooks. -the pattern used to explain how something functions or takes place, in other words a process or procedure. -heavily dependent on descriptions of individual steps or stages. -describes how the order of events takes place in real time.

classification pattern is:

-is heavily used in business and science texts. -describes how some larger group can be divided into a number of smaller, sub-groups. -is typically used in informative writing, where the author wants to explain rather than persuade.

The definition pattern is:

-one of the most common patterns in textbooks. -one of the easiest patterns to recognize. -frequently combined with other patterns. -almost always essential to your notes.

comparison and contrast pattern is:

-regularly makes an appearance in scientific writing; it's also common in writing on history. -always addresses two different but somewhat related topics. -can deal with people, events, ideas, and even past and present versions of the same place or idea.

Simple listing is:

-shows up in almost any type of textbook but is especially popular in science texts. -is used when the order of information is irrelevant to the meaning. -is typically used to identify characteristics, errors, or situations associated with a topic, e.g. "Here are five mistakes you don't want to make in a job interview," "There are four good reasons to televise the U.S. Paralympics."

The sequence of dates and events pattern is:

-turns up most frequently in history and government texts. -is most likely to explain the individual events that led up to a major cultural change or describe specific events in the development of an idea or a professional career.

Defintion: key characteristics

-usually opens with the word being defined. -highlights that word in some way, i.e. bold face, annotated, italicized, etc. -follows the word being defined with a detailed definition. -can include, in addition to the definition, the word's history, an example of how it's used, or a word with which it is commonly confused.