6.2: The importance of organization

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Alexandra Glynn, Kelli Hallsten-Erickson & Amy Jo Swing
North Hennepin Community College & Lake Superior College

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Humans like routine, and some even expect it so much that deviation from the routine can throw off an entire day.

One area where we all expect routine is in an essay. But in all writing modes, not just in an essay, there is some kind of organization pattern, just as there is in every architectural structure.

The routine, or organization, of a piece creates a framework that guides the reader through your excellent ideas. Of course, you can find examples of writers who twist their writing in unexpected ways, but those are exceptions that are difficult to pull off effectively. And you often find them in the creative modes, rather than the researchlike modes. In general, you’ll find using an accepted organizational format not only useful for the reader, but satisfying for you as the structure will lend strength to your ideas.

Why is organization important?

Readers expect it.
It helps make your ideas clearer.
It shows you're credible; you know how to organize, so you know what you're doing.
It helps the flow of your writing, removing reading "stumbling blocks."