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3.2: CONNECT THE DOTS: PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION & THEIR TRANSITIONS

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    13864
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    When you are analyzing a reading, or planning an essay, supporting details aresimply listed without context. When analyzing a reading, the reader needs to use

    the Reading Process in order develop the context before taking notes so that there is clarity about what is important in the text. A writer, of course, has a context in mind when planning an essay, and adds this in with supporting details and transitions.

    Activity

    Locate a text of your choice, (news article, directions for doing something, an excerpt from a textbook or the novel you are reading for this class,) and bring three copies of it to class.

    Bring this to class on _____________________________.

    WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE PESKY DETAILS

    It may seem like organizing supporting details is pretty ‘cut and dried.’ To some degree this is true, however, an author’s intent has a great deal to do with howdetails get organized. The system of organization an author selects also affects the kinds of transition words and phrases an author uses.

    Activity

    Use the following table to take notes on Common Patterns of Organization.

    Common Patterns of Organization

    Pattern

    page49image56383680Used for:

    Typical transition words

    Chronological Order

     

     

     

    Narration

     

       

    Definition/ Classification

     

       

    Exemplification

     

       

    Cause/Effect

     

     

     

    Comparison/ Synonym

     

     

     

    Contrast/ Antonym

     

       

    Process

     

       

    Problem/ Solution

     

       

    Argument

     

       

    Activity

    Work with a partner or small group to analyze one of your articles or excerpts. Analyze for the following:

    Get Ready to Read

    • Identify the topic
    • Guide questions, predictions or prior knowledge.

    • Highlight or underline key words

    Read

    • Read once without marking up
    • Read a second time for main ideas & supporting details

    THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB: GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS

    Graphics in a text are the best – they take a large amount of information and synthesize it down into a nice, readable tidbit that takes very little of a reader’s time and energy.

    In this same way, graphic organizers are a powerful tool for any reader or writer. Graphic organizers are just what they sound like – an organizing tool that utilizes graphics (or pictures.)

    page52image45644896page52image45635152

    Pattern

    Graphic Organizer (Examples in Course Resources section)

    Chronological Order & Narration

    Timeline

    Definition/ Classification

    Listing or Frayer Model

    Exemplification

    Map or Outline

    Cause/Effect

    Chart

    Comparison/Contrast

    Venn Diagram

    Process

    Flowchart

    Problem/Solution

    Two-column Table

    Argument

    Many options here!

    Activity

    Return to your small group/partner and the article you analyzed earlier in this section.

    Work together to Analyze

    • Author’s Purpose

    • Organizational Pattern

    • Organize the information in a useful way (notes, graphic organizer)

    • Summarize using a strategy we have learned in this class.

     Screen Shot 2019-08-05 at 5.03.20 PM.png

    Check your syllabus. What assignments are coming up to which you will apply your understanding of Organizational Patterns? When will this be due?


    This page titled 3.2: CONNECT THE DOTS: PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION & THEIR TRANSITIONS is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Fran Bozarth.

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