PATTERN OF PARAGRAPH

By Fada
THE FUNCTION OF PATTERN
The link between clear, logical organization and effective
communication is powerful, both for the "sender" and the "receiver."
For the writer, a well organized outline of information serves as a blue
print for action. It provides focus and direction as the writer composes
the document, which helps to ensure that the stated purpose is
fulfilled.
For the reader, clear organization greatly enhances the ease with which one
can understand and remember the information being presented. People seek
out patterns to help make sense of information. When the reader is not able
to find a pattern that makes sense, chaos and confusion abound. Effective
communication, then, begins with a clearly organized set of ideas following a
logical, consistent pattern. Thus, one of the most important decisions a
writer makes concerns the pattern of organization that is used to structure
and order information.
KINDS OF PATTERN
Chronological
Sequential/Process
Spatial Pattern
Cause-Effect
Problem-Solution
Compare and Contrast
Advantages-Disadvantages
Topical
CRONOLOGICAL
 A chronological pattern of organization arranges information
according to a progression of time, either forward or backward.
When a topic is best understood in terms of different segments
of time, a chronological format works well. For example, topics
of an historical nature are best organized using this pattern.
 When using a chronological pattern, each main section of
information represents a particular period of time, and the sub-
points contained within each main section refer to significant
events that occurred within that time frame. A variation of this
organizational pattern involves dividing a topic into "past-
present-future" or" before-during-after" segments.
CRONOLOGICAL
Chronological Pattern Example
I. 1895 - 1920
 Significant Event # 1
 Significant Event # 2
II. 1920 - 1945
 Significant Event # 1
 Significant Event # 2
III. 1945 - 1970
 Significant Event # 1
 Significant Event # 2
SEQUENTIAL PATTERNS
A sequential pattern of organization is similar to a
chronological pattern, but arranges information
according to a step-by-step sequence that describes
a particular process.

For example, suppose a writer's stated purpose is to

explain how wine is made. A sequential pattern
would be effective in this case because it breaks the
process down into a specific series of steps which
should be followed in a precise order. Notice that a
series of related smaller steps are grouped into one
larger category. Thus, a process which involves many
specific steps can be simplified by highlighting the
SEQUENTIAL PATTERN
EXAMPLE
I. Step One: Harvest the grapes III. Step Three: Ferment the
grapes
 Harvesting procedure
 Fermenting procedure
number one
number one
 Harvesting procedure
 Fermenting procedure
number two
number two
II. Step Two: Prepare the
grapes IV. Step Four: Press the grapes
 Preparation procedure  Pressing procedure number
number one one
 Preparation procedure  Pressing procedure number
number two two
SPATIAL PATTERNS

A spatial pattern of organization arranges

information according to how things fit together in
physical space; i.e., where one thing exists in
relation to another. This pattern works well when a
writer wishes to create a mental picture of
something which has various parts distinguished by
physical location. Topics involving geography, for
example, are often best organized using a spatial
pattern.
For example, suppose a writer wished to describe
the forms of entertainment available to tourists
visiting Seattle. He/she could arrange the
information according to "things to do" in the
SPATIAL PATTERN EXAMPLE

I. Downtown Waterfront
 Aquarium
 Pike Place Market

II. Seattle Center

 Space Needle
 Pacific Science Center

III. University District

 University of Washington campus
 The "Ave" (shops on University Avenue)
CO MPARE-CONTRAST PATTERNS

A compare and contrast pattern arranges information

according to how two or more things are similar to or different
from one another (or both). This is an effective pattern to use
when the reader can better understand one subject when it is
described in relation to another. If the reader is familiar with
one topic, the writer can compare or contrast it with another
topic to shed insight on it.

For example, suppose a writer's stated purpose is to help the

reader make an informed decision about whether to attend a
two-year college or a four-year university. One way to arrange
the information is to compare and contrast the two
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
PATTERN EXAMPLE ONE
I. Cost of Tuition Compare and
 Two-year Contrast Pattern
 Four-year Example Two
II. Quality of Education I. Points of
Comparison
 Two-year
 Educational
 Four-year
Programs
III. Educational
Programs
 Cost of Tuition
 Two-year II. Points of Contrast
 Four-year  Quality of
ADVANTAGES-DISADVANTAGES
PATTERNS
This pattern organizes Suppose, for example, that a
information about a topic by writer's stated purpose is to
dividing it up into its "good" describe the advantages and
and "bad" parts, or pro's and disadvantages of attending a
con's. It is effective to use two-year college. One way to
when a writer wishes to arrange the information is to
objectively discuss both sides divide it into two main
of an issue without taking a sections, one for the
persuasive stance. This advantages and one for the
allows the reader to weigh disadvantages. In this
both sides of an issue. As scenario, the information
with the compare-contrast contained within each main
pattern, there are a number section will represent the
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
EXAMPLE

I. Advantages
1.Cost

2.Accessibility
II. Disadvantages
1.Number of educational programs

2. Quality of Instruction
CAUSE-EFFECT PATTERNS

This pattern is used to show Suppose a writer's stated

the different causes and effects purpose is to explain the
of various conditions. This
pattern is particularly effective causes of conflict
when writing a persuasive escalation and their
document in which the writer effects. He/she could
advocates some action to solve organize the information
a problem, because it in one of the following
demonstrates important
relationships between two ways. Again, notice
variables. There are two major that either method could
variations to this pattern; (a) work equally well.
dividing the outline into two
major sections comprised of
causes and effects; or (b)
dividing the outline according
EXAMPLES FOR CAUSE
AND EFFECT PATTERN
Cause and Effect Pattern Cause and Effect Pattern
Example One Example Two
I. Causes of Conflict Escalation I. Cause: Expanding the
 Expanding the issues issues
 Personal attacks  Effect: Lose focus on
original issues
II. Effects of these causes  Effect: Cycle of defensive
 Lose focus on original issue responses
 Cycle of defensive responses
II. Cause: Personal attacks
 Win-Lose orientation  Effect: Negative emotions
 Negative emotions  Effect: Win-Lose
orientation
PROBLEM-SOLUTION PATTERNS
A problem-solution pattern For example, suppose a
divides information into two writer's stated purpose is to
main sections, one that
describes a problem and one persuade his/her readers to
that describes a solution. This ride bicycles as their primary
pattern is typically used in form of transportation. First
persuasive writing, where the the writer will attempt to
writer's general purpose is to establish that common forms
convince the reader to support
a certain course of action. The of motorized transportation
pattern is designed to compel create compelling problems
the reader to make some kind that require a solution. Then
of change in opinion or he/she will show how the
behavior by establishing that a proposed solution - riding
problem exists, then providing
a solution. In the problem bikes - provides a beneficial
section, the writer identifies alternative to driving.
different aspects of the
problem being discussed and
offers evidence of these
 Problem-Solution Example

I. Problem: Motorized Transportation

 Increasing traffic congestion
 Increasing pollution
 Increasing "road rage" from traffic-related stress
II. Solution: Riding Bicycles
 Bike riding reduces the number of motorized
vehicles in use
 Bike riding is not a source of pollution
 Bike riding has physical and psychological health
benefits
TOPICAL PATTERN

This pattern is the most commonly used format, and will

typically work when the other patterns do not. A topical
pattern arranges information according to different sub-topics
within a larger topic, or the "types" of things that fall within a
larger category. Using this pattern, each "type" represents a
main section of information.
For example, suppose a writer wished to describe various
types of wine. One way to outline this information would be to
divide the type of wine by its color, as shown in example one.
A second way would be to divide the types of wine by the
region in which they were made, as shown in example two.
 Topical Pattern Example Two

TOPICAL I. European Wines

PATTERN Red
 ___

EXAMPLE  ___

Topical Pattern Example White

One ______
I. Red Wines ___
A. European
II. Californian Wines
Bordeaux
Red
Burgundy  ___
Chianti  ___

B. Californian White
Cabernet Sauvignon  ___
Pinot Noir  ___

Zinfandel
REFERENCES

Linda Jeffries, Reading Power

https://nool.ontariotechu.ca/: ontario tech university

http://faculty.washington.edu/ezent/impo.htm: University of
Washington

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