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PARAGRAPH ORGANIZATION NOTES
Cause and Effect Cause and Effect explains the reason why something happened, or it may explain the effects of
something. Here are some signal words that may indicate that information is being organized as cause
and effect: because, as a result, resulted, caused, affected, effect.
Example:
Many people think that one may get sick if one goes into cold weather improperly dressed;
however, illnesses are not cause by temperature – they are caused by germs. So while shivering outside in
the cold probably isn’t strengthening your immune system, you’re probably more likely to contract an
illness indoors.
Spatial Order Spatial organization is when information in a passage is organized in order of space or location. Some
signal words which indicate spatial order are: next to, behind, across from, below that, above
that, to the right of and so forth.
Example:
Volcanoes are a feared destructive force for a good reason. A volcano is like a pressure valve for
the inner earth. Way deep beneath the Earth’s bed rock is the magma chamber. The conduit connects the
magma chamber to the outer world and usually runs from the bottom to the top of the volcano. Volcanoes
are a beautiful and dangerous natural phenomenon.
Order of Importance When using the order of importance pattern of organization, information can be structured from most
important to least important OR least important to most important.
Example:
The company has a clearly laid out hierarchy. All major decisions go through the president, who
controls the entire operation, but most daily decisions go to the board. Beneath the board members are
the regional managers, who oversee the branch managers who run each local branch.
Compare and Contrast Compare and contrast is a pattern of organization where the similarities and differences of two or
more things are explored. Here are some signal words that may indicate that the text is written using
compare and contrast organizational pattern: like, unlike, both, neither, similar, and different.
Example:
Apples and oranges are both fruits, which means that they have seeds inside of them. Each has a
skin, but orange skins are thick and easy peel. Apple skins are thinner and do not peel easily. Oranges
also contain more acid than apples, but both fruits are delicious.
Problem and Solution Problem and solution is a pattern of organization where information in a passage is expressed as a
problem or dilemma and a solution or attempted solution.
Example:
Thousands of people die each year in car accidents involving drugs or alcohol. Lives could be
saved if our town adopts a free public taxi service. By providing such a service, we could prevent
intoxicated drivers from endangered themselves or others.
Chronological Order In chronological order, information in the passage is organized in the order in which it happened.
Example:
Jack and Jill ran up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill
came tumbling after.