Transcript Recognizing Patterns of Organizations in Paragraphs (in expository writing) What is the purpose of expository writing? To inform, teach, or explain Five commonly used patterns: Definition Time Order Comparison and.

Recognizing Patterns
of Organizations in
Paragraphs
(in expository writing)
What is the purpose of
expository writing?
To inform, teach, or explain
Five commonly used
patterns:
Definition
Time Order
Comparison and Contrast
Cause and Effect
Classification
Pattern 1: Definition

Includes a key term:
– usually highlighted in bold face,
color type, or italics
– followed by a detailed definition
that can consist of several
sentences
Frequently includes examples
or illustrations to make the
meaning clearer
 Authors highlight the term they
are defining.

Example 1:

Nineteen-century America was
guided by the concept of
Manifest Destiny, the belief that
the United States was on a
mission of God to occupy North
America from coast to coast.
Example 2:

The greenhouse effect is the name for
what happens when excessive carbon
dioxide and other gases build up in the
Earth’s atmosphere.
Taking Notes
The definition pattern should include 3 or 4
of the following elements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The term being defined
A complete definition
At least one example
Any other details that might
help clarify the definition
Pattern 2: Time Order

Two different types of
paragraphs rely heavily on
time order, or the listing of
events.
– One type outlines the sequence
of dates and events
– The other describes a process
Sequence of Events

Explains or argues a claim
– The paragraph example on page
431 traces a sequence of dates
and events that suggests the
Internet as we know it was not
developed overnight. Rather, it
took more than 20 years.

Why would an author use this
type of paragraph pattern?
Time Order Transitions
Phrases like “by 1972”, “in
1983” and “between 1983 and
1990” tell readers to pay
attention because the next
signficant event is coming up.
 Time order transitions are the
author’s way of saying, “I’ve
finished describing the
previous event and I’m ready
to tell you about the one that
followed it.”
 Usually introduce major
details.

Taking Notes
Paragraphs devoted to dates and events
should include the following elements:
1.
2.
3.
The Main Idea
All the dates and events used
to develop the Main Idea
Any other supporting details
that lack dates but still seem
essential to developing the
Main Idea.
Pattern 3: Comparison &
Contrast
Compare = point out
similarities
 Contrast = point out
differences
 Don’t assume that paragraphs
using this pattern always focus
on similarities or differences.

– Sometimes paragraphs compare
and contrast.
Transitions

Transitions that signal
similarities
– Review chart on page 447

Transitions that signal
differences
– Review chart on page 448
Examples
Europeans and Americans
don’t have the same attitude
toward work and leisure.
 France and Germany were
both against the 2003 war with
Iraq, but they showed their
disagreement in very different
ways.
 Scientists Enrico Fermi and
Robert J. Oppenheimer had
very different feelings about
the success of the Manhattan
Project.

Taking Notes
The comparison & contrast pattern should
clearly identify three essential elements:
1.
2.
3.
The two topics being
compared and/or contrasted
The similarities and/or
differences between the two
The Main Idea they explain or
support
Pattern 4: Cause and
Effect

Passages that explain how one
event – the cause – leads to or
produces another event – the
effect.
Fear has a profound effect on the
human body.
CAUSE
FEAR
EFFE
CT
BLOOD VESSELS SHRINK
CAU
SE
FACE LOSES COLOR
EFFECT
Cause & Effect
Transitions

Transitions that identify results
– Review chart on page 456

Verbs Frequently Used to Link
Cause and Effect
– Review chart on page 457
Typical Topic Sentences
General Alfredo Stroessner
took control of Paraguay and
turned the country into a
haven for international
outlaws.
 In the eighties and nineties,
rock star Madonna had a
profound effect on the image
of women in pop music.

Taking Notes
Cycles of causes and effects pattern should
be included in your notes:
1.
2.
The general cause and effect
relationship described by the
topic sentence
The specific causes and/or
effects mentioned in the
paragraph
Pattern 5: Classification
Explains how some larger
group can be broken down or
divided into smaller subgroups
or categories.
 Then, each category is
described in specific detail.

Typical Topic Sentences
Scientific experiments fall into
four different categories.
 Best sellers can be divided into
three types.
 Researchers in interpersonal
communication have come up
with four kinds of
conversations.

Taking Notes
Notes on the classification pattern require
the following information:
The name of the larger group
being broken down into subgroups
 The names of the categories if
they are supplied
 A brief description of each
category

Review
What is the purpose of
expository writing?
 What are the 5 paragraph
pattern categories?
 Is there only 1 type of pattern
in each paragraph?

– What pattern should you look
for?
The PRIMARY pattern!