Monday and Tuesday 03-05-12 and 03-06-12

Week 23

(03-05 to 03-09-12)

PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION

MONDAY

ü The best ways to improve your reading ability is to learn to read paragraphs effectively.

ü Many experts believe the paragraph, not the sentence, is the basic unit of thought of a selection. It is important to identify with the author's perspective by discovering the way the message is being sent.

ü Every writer has a purpose for writing and some plan of action for getting a message across. This plan of action is the order in which the material will be presented in the text. This order, often called a pattern of organization, should be present in acceptable writing from the smallest to the largest unit of writing: the paragraph, groups of paragraphs, sub-chapters, chapters, groups of chapters, whole books, and even series of books. Each of these, then, contains a certain pattern of organization.

ü The importance of these patterns is that they signal how the facts will be presented. They are blueprints for you to use.

ü Although key signal words help in identifying the particular type of pattern, a single paragraph can be a mixture of different patterns.

ü The following examples are the patterns of organization that are most frequently found in textbooks:

1. Simple Listing

2. Definition/Example

3. Chronological (Time) Order or Sequence

4. Comparison - Contrast

5. Cause and Effect

SIMPLE LISTING

·         Items are randomly listed in a series of supporting facts or details. These supporting elements are of equal value, and the order in which they are presented is of no importance. Changing the order of the items does not change the meaning of the paragraph. ·         Signal words often used for simple listing are:       in addition         another       for example       also       several       a number of EXAMPLE: This paragraph lists ways to cope with nervousness during a speech:  Although few circumstances make us as nervous as speaking in public does, there are some simple ways to cope. For example, use visual aids or handouts, if possible, to take the focus off you. Also, have a glass of water handy. This serves two purposes: It’s a prop, and it helps keep the mouth moist for easy speaking. In addition, stand behind a desk or podium or sit at a table. You’ll feel and look more relaxed than if you were “free-standing.” Last and perhaps most important, be yourself. Adopting a more formal style will make you, and your audience, less comfortable.

TUESDAY

DEFINITION/EXAMPLE

·         Frequently in textbook reading an entire paragraph is devoted to defining a complex term or idea. The concept is initially defined and then further expanded with examples and restatements. ·         Signal words often used for definition are:       is defined as       means       is called       refers to       term or concept       is described as

CHRONOLOGICAL (TIME) ORDER OR SEQUENCE

·         Items are listed in the order in which they occurred or in a specifically planned order in which they must develop. In this case, the order is important and changing it would change the meaning. ·         Signal words often used for chronological order or sequence are:       First, second, third       Before, after       When       Later       Until       At last       next

PRACTICE # 1

Read the following statements.  Choose the patterns of organization.

STATEMENT	CHRONOLOGICAL (TIME) ORDER OR SEQUENCE	DEFINITION/ EXAMPLE
1.   Acrophobia is an intense, unreasonable fear of high places; for example my sister is unable to go above the third floor of any building without feeling enormous anxiety.
2.   During the election the candidate will make a number of campaign stops throughout the United States.
3.   Artificial intelligence (AI) is a term that describes computer programs that solve problems by “thinking” the way people do.
4.   Usury is the practice of lending money and charging too much for interest