The document is the agenda for an English class. It discusses transitions and patterns of organization used in writing. It provides examples of different types of transitions and explains how they show relationships between ideas. It then discusses five common patterns of organization used in writing: listing items, cause and effect, comparison/contrast, examples/illustrations, and chronological order. Activities are included for students to practice identifying and using these patterns in their own writing.
4. • Authors use two common methods to show connections,
or relationships, between ideas.
• These two methods are transitions and patterns of
organization.
Transitions
5. • We all use transition words all the time – everyday when you have a conversation with someone. You might
be talking at the dinner table with your family. You start
out talking about your day at school, perhaps your
midterm grades and other school related topics. The next
thing you realize is that you are now talking about your
upcoming spring break vacation. How did you jump
topics during your conversation? By using transition
words to get there.
Transitions
6. • The conversation might go like this:
• Mom: How was your day at school, Johnny?
• Johnny: First of all, I went to my English 83R class, took
my vocab quiz, and got an A. After class, I went to the
library to start working on my midterm paper. Next, I
went to lunch with Joey, and finally I went to the travel
agency to pick up tickets for our trip to Cancun.
Transitions
7. • During reading, it is important to pay special attention to
transition words.
• These special words show the relationships between ideas
within sentences and within paragraphs
Transitions
8. • Look at the sentences below. Which one is easier to read
and understand?
• Naomi was happy to find out that she is having another
baby boy. She needs to take out the clothes that her older
son wore when he was first born. She will have new
carpet installed. She will buy a new crib.
• Naomi was happy to find out that she is having a baby
boy. First of all , she needs to take out the clothes that her
older son wore when he was first born. Next she will have
new carpet installed. Finally, she will buy a new crib.
Transitions
9. • Sentence number one did not make sense
• The addition of the transition words First, next, and
finally in the second paragraph makes the situation clear.
• Although Naomi is happy to be having a another boy, she
now needs to find clothes, install new carpet, and buy a
crib.
Transitions
10. • Transitions are words or phrases (like first of all) that
show relationships between ideas. They are like signs on
the road that guide travelers.
• Writers often signal a change in topic with a transition
word or phrase that serves as a link or bridge from one
thought to the next one.
• Now let’s discuss patterns or organization – through this
you will see how transition words are used.
Transitions
12. • Writers organize their supporting sentences and ideas in
ways called Patterns of Organization.
• Just as transitions show relationships between ideas in
sentences, patterns of organization show the relationships
between supporting details in paragraphs, essays, and
chapters.
• Patterns of organization are structures our minds use all
the time.
• All of our thinking and communicating depend on
patterns of organization.
Patterns of Organization
13. •
•
•
•
•
List of Items
Cause and Effect
Comparison and Contrast
Examples and Illustrations
Chronological Order
Patterns of Organization
14. • A list of items is a series of reasons, examples, or other
details that support an idea.
• The items have no time order, but are listed in whatever
order the author prefers.
• If you were to win the lottery today, what are the five
things you would do immediately after you received the
news? (Write this on a piece of paper.)
List of items pattern
15. Sometimes authors use
numbers (1,2,3),
letters (a, b, c)
or asterisks (*)
to show the individual items on the list.
Listing
16. One
First (of all)
Secondly
Thirdly
To begin with
For one thing
Other
Another
Also
In addition
Next
Moreover
Further
Furthermore
Last (of all)
List of Items
Transition (addition) Words
17. • He does something to
me, that boy.
• He steps on my heart.
• He makes me cry
List of Items
• “He does
something too
me, that boy.
He steps on my
heart. He
makes me cry.”
(Death, the
book thief, p.
531)
18. • One thing or event causes another thing to happen.
• Cause and effect reasoning gives logical reasons that
answer why or how.
• A cause is a reason for something happening; an effect is
the result or outcome.
• Transition words: because, thus, therefore, as a result,
for this reason, to explain, consequently, hence, so, affect,
accordingly, due to, results in
Cause and Effect
19. • Narrator: It happened in the days before mail service and
telephones. A wealthy farmer took a long trip. When he
arrived home, he asked the first field hand he saw what
had happened while he was away. This is how their
conversation went:
• Field hand: Well, the dog died.
• Farmer: The dog died! How?
Cause and Effect
20. • Field Hand: The horses ran over him when they became
frightened and ran out of the barn.
• Farmer: What scared the horses? Why did they run?
• Field hand: They were running from the flames when the
barn caught on fire.
Cause and Effect
21. • Farmer: Good grief! How did the barn catch on fire?
• Field hand: Well, sir, flames jumped from the house and
caught the barn on fire.
• Farmer: From the house! Did the house burn down too?
• Field Hand: Yep, the house is gone too.
Cause and Effect
22. • Farmer: How on earth did the house burn down?
• Field Hand: You see, one of the candles around your wife’s
casket fell over and caught the house on fire.
Cause and Effect
23. •
•
•
•
•
•
Because the candles on the wife’s casket fell over the …
House burned down
Because flames jumped from the house the…
Barn caught on fire
Because the horses were scared they…
Ran over the dog
Cause and Effect
24. •
•
•
•
•
•
Group 1: Reasons for attending college
Group 2: The importance of exercise
Group 3: Tips for men on how to propose marriage
Group 4: Why you should stop smoking
Group 5: The importance of participating in class
Group 6: The advantages of becoming a vegetarian
Write a cause & effect
paragraph using the assigned
topic.
25. • A comparison shows the similarities between two or more
ideas, people, or things.
• A contrast shows the differences.
• Comparison and contrast may be seen as separate patterns
of thought; however, they often work together.
• Transition words: as, like, similarly, in a similar manner,
likewise, in comparison, in a like manner, both
Comparison/Contrast
26. In the cartoon above, the word resemble
helps show a comparison is being made.
Comparison words: but, yet, however,
although, nevertheless
Comparison Words
27. Contrast words show that things differ in one or more ways. In the
cartoon, the speaker is contrasting two ways to die.
Contrast words: but, yet, however; although, nevertheless, instead, in
contrast, on the other hand, while, unlike, despite
Compare & Contrast Activity: Lincoln vs. Kennedy
Contrast words
28. • A paragraph of examples usually gives a general statement of
the main idea and then presents one or more concrete examples
to provide support for this idea.
• Many writers place the most important or convincing example
either first, as an attention-getter, or last, as a dramatic climax.
• While the terms example and illustration are used
interchangeably, an illustration is usually longer, and there may
only be one in the paragraph.
Examples
29. Illustration words signal that an author is providing one or more
examples to develop and clarify an idea.
In the cartoon below, the husband gives examples of what, to him, are
deep emotions.
Illustration Words:
(for) example, including, one, once,
(for) instance, specifically, such as,
Specifically, to illustrate, once,
To be specific, (as an illustration)
Example & Illustration
30. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
“Money” (by Richard Armour)
Workers earn it
Bankers lend it
Women spend it
Forgers fake it
Taxes take it
Dying leave it
Heirs receive it
Examples
31. • A paragraph of definition will define, clarify, or explain a
key term.
• Definitions can be developed by providing dictionary
meanings or personal meanings.
• They can also be developed by means of examples or by
comparing and contrasting the key word to other words.
Definition
32. • See if you can arrange the following sentences in a logical
order, so that they form a short paragraph. Which sentence
should come first? Second? Third? Last? Use the time words
as a guide.
• A. Next, the two people declare themselves a couple, telling
friends and relatives about the new person in their lives.
• B. The two people then make a commitment to have an
exclusive relationship with each other.
• C. A relationship begins when two people show interest in each
other and choose to spend time together.
• D. Last, the two people formalize the relationship by
cohabitation or marriage.
Chronological Order
33. • A relationship begins when two people show interest in each
other and choose to spend time together. The two people then
make a commitment to have an exclusive relationship with
each other. Next, the two people declare themselves a couple,
telling friends and relatives about the new person in their lives.
Last, the two people formalize the relationship by cohabitation
or marriage.
• Authors usually present events in the order in which they
happen, resulting in the time order pattern of organization.
• The time transitions then, Next, and Last introduce the points
being listed and indicate their order.
Chronological Order
34. • Two kinds of time order are a series of events or stages
and steps in a process.
• As a student, you’ll see time order used frequently. For
example, textbooks in all fields describe events and
processes, such as …
•
•
•
•
•
the events leading to the Boston Tea Party
the important incidents in Abraham Lincoln’s life
the steps involved for a bill to travel through Congress
the process involved in writing a paper
the stages in the development of a cell
35. Main idea: Children master language in predictable
stages.
1. At about six months, babies begin to repeat sounds
2. Three or four months later, babies can repeat sounds
and carry on little “conversations.”
3. Toddlers understand many words but cannot talk.
4. Finally, the child talks in single words and two-word
sentences.
Time Order
36. • Here is a timeline of my daughter’s academic life.
First of all, Naomi started school at Adelaide Price in
1991. Next she graduated from Buena Park High
School in 2004. Thirdly, she completed her
undergraduate studies at Cal State Fullerton in 2009.
Finally, she completed her graduate program in 2012.
Time Order/
Series of Events
37. •
•
•
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•
Patterns of Organization Practice
Essay #1 Writing Center Requirement Due
Rough Draft Essay #1
Prepare for Literature Circle 3
Study for Vocabulary Quiz #1
For Wednesday, 2/26/14