Patterns Of Organization

1. PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION :
SPATIAL ORDER
SPATIAL ORDER SHOWS HOW PEOPLE AND OBJECTS ARE ARRANGED IN A SPACE OR
SCENE. A DESCRIPTION CAN BE ORGANIZED SPATIALLY IN SEVERAL WAYS: FROM
TOP TO BOTTOM, OUTSIDE TO INSIDE, LEFT TO RIGHT, NEAR TO FAR, OR THE
REVERSE OF ANY OF THESE (SEE EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH IN LN PAGE 357)
PLANNING TO WRITE IN SPATIAL ORDER:
• PICTURE THE PERSON, PLACE, THING, OR EXPERIENCE YOU WANT TO DESCRIBE.
• DECIDE HOW MUCH OF TE SCENE YOU WANT TO INCLUDE.
• CHOOSE THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH YOUR DESCRIPTION – FOR EXAMPLE, TOP
TO BOTTOM OR SIDE TO SIDE.
• AS YOU WRITE THE SCENE, MOVE FROM ONE OBJECT OR PERSON TO THE NEXT,
USING DIRECTIONAL WORDS (SUCH AS, ABOVE, BENEATH, TO THE RIGHT, NEXT TO,
AND OVERHEAD) AND PHRASES TO DESCRIBE THE SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS.
EXAMPLE OF SPATIAL ORDER PARAGRAPH: (CLASSROOM)
IN MS. PONCE’S CLASSROOM WE SEE A LOT OF THINGS. TO THE LEFT OF THE CLASS, WE
SEE 10 POSTERS IN THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW. IN FRONT OF US IS A WHITE,
SQUARE PROJECTOR SHADE. IN BACK OF IT IS A GREEN, RECTANGULAR
CHALKBOARD. TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROOM IS A BLACK RADIO ON TOP OF THE
SILVER FILE CABINETS.

2. PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION :
ORDER OF IMPORTANCE
ORDER OF IMPORTANCE PRESENTS INFORMATION IN ORDER
OF INCREASING OR DECREASING IMPORTANCE,
USEFULNESS, OR FAMILIARITY. ORDER OF IMPORTANCE
IS OFTEN USED IN PERSUASIVE PARAGRAPHS (EXAMPLE
IN LN PAGE 362).
PLANNING TO WRITE IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:
•RANK DETAILS ACCORDING TO THEIR IMPORTANCE,
USEFULNESS, OR FAMILIARITY, OR ACCORDING TO SOME
OTHER QUALITY.
•CHOOSE A MOST-TO-LEAST PATTERN OR A LEAST-TO-
MOST PATTERN.
•USE TRANSITION WORDS SUCH AS LEAST, MORE, AND
MOST TO SHOW THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF EACH
DETAIL.

3. PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION :
SEQUENTIAL ORDER
SEQUENTIAL ORDER SHOWS THE ORDER IN WHICH EVENTS
OCCUR. SEQUENTIAL ORDER CAN BE USED TO GIVE
DIRECTIONS OR TO SHOW STEPS IN A PROCESS.
PLANNING TO WRITE IN SEQUENTIAL ORDER:
•LIST THE EVENTS OR STEPS YOU WANT TO DESCRIBE.
•ARRANGE THE EVENTS OR STEPS IN ORDER OF
OCCURRENCE.
•USE TRANSITION WORDS SUCH AS FIRST, NEXT, AFTER TO
LINK THE EVENTS.
EXAMPLE OF SEQUENTIAL ORDER: HOW TO MAKE A PEANUT
BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH.

4. PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION:
PROPOSITION AND SUPPORT
Proposition and support is primarily used within
persuasive types of writing. The writer of this type of text
was requested by another party to take action to do
something. This pattern of organization has a similar
structure to problem and solution.
How to Write a Proposition and Support paragraph:
4.State your position.
5.Defend your position with supporting details ranking by
importance.