Organizational Patterns

Was a problem identified or solved? If so, __________________

• PROBLEM-SOLUTION

• CAUSE AND EFFECT

• COMPARISON/CONTRAST

• ENUMERATION OR LISTING

Did the passage have a WHAT and a WHY? If so, ___________________

Signal words: as a result of, because, consequently, for, for this reason, since, so, so that, therefore

• PROBLEM-SOLUTION

• COMPARISON/

  CONTRAST

• ENUMERATION OR LISTING

• CAUSE AND EFFECT

Was material listed? If so, _________________

Signal Words: first, three

• GENERALIZATION

• ENUMERATION OR LISTING

• CONCEPT

  /DEFINITION

• SEQUENTIAL OR CHRONOLOGICAL

Did the order of events drive the passage? If so, __________

Signal Words: meanwhile, next, soon, then, today, when, while

• SEQUENTIAL OR CHRONOLOGICAL

• Process

• Generalization

• Problem-solution

Was an idea explained or defined? If so, ___________________

Signal Words: refers to, thus

• Process

• CAUSE AND EFFECT

• CONCEPT/DEFINITION

• GENERALIZATION

Did the writer arrive at a big idea or judgement? If so, GENERALIZATION

Signal Words: always, in fact, overall, usually, typically, commonly

• GENERALIZATION

• PROCESS

• CAUSE AND EFFECT

Does the passage explain a step-by-step process? If so, _________ 

Signal Words: begins with, in order to

• CAUSE AND EFFECT

• PROCESS

• PROBLEM SOLUTION

• GENERALIZATION

Increased trade and travel made Europeans eager to learn more about the wide world.  Scholars looked in monastery libraries for manuscripts of ancient Greek and Roman works.  Some traveled to the Muslim world, where many ancient works had been preserved.

As scholars studied ancient learning, they began to make their own discoveries.  They produced new books on art, medicine, astronomy, and chemistry.  This great burst of learning was referred to as the Renaissance, a French word meaning rebirth.  It lasted from the late 1300s until the 1600s.

Which organizational pattern is used in the passage?

•   process

• enumeration or listing

•   concept/definition

•   problem-solution

Increased trade and travel made Europeans eager to learn more about the wide world.  Scholars looked in monastery libraries for manuscripts of ancient Greek and Roman works.  Some traveled to the Muslim world, where many ancient works had been preserved.

As scholars studied ancient learning, they began to make their own discoveries.  They produced new books on art, medicine, astronomy, and chemistry.  This great burst of learning was referred to as the Renaissance, a French word meaning rebirth.  It lasted from the late 1300s until the 1600s.

Which of the following phrases reveals the passage’s organizational pattern?

•   “was referred to as the Renaissance”

•   “produced new books on art, medicine”

•   “eager to learn more about the wide world”

• “As scholars studied ancient learning”

One day as the Lion walked proudly down a forest aisle, and the animals respectfully made way for him, a Donkey brayed a scornful remark as he passed.

The Lion at once felt a flash of anger.  But when he turned his head and saw who had spoken, he walked quietly on.  He would not honor the fool with even so much as a stroke of his claws.

The moral of the fable is do not resent the remarks of a fool.  Ignore them.

Which organizational pattern is used in the passage?

• sequential or chronological

   

• process

• cause and effect

• concept/definition