Organizational Patterns
A pattern of organization that explains reasons why something happens.
What is cause and effect?
This helps the reader identify key topics in a book and where to locate them.
What is the table of contents?
This is the function of a thesis statement.
To tell the reader the main idea of a text.
These help the reader understand where things are in the world.
What are maps?
This is the purpose of using text evidence to support your reasoning in an essay or your answers in an exam.
What is to back up your claim with proof or prove your answers?
A pattern of organization that raises awareness about an issue and provides ideas to help rectify it.
What is problem and solution?
This helps the reader set a purpose for reading and get an overview of the content.
What is a preface?
Identify which of the following thesis statements would be more persuasive than informational.
(a) The bicycle was introduced in the nineteenth century and rapidly grew into a worldwide phenomenon.
(b) In several ways, bicycles today are better than they were 100 or even 50 years ago.
What is (b)?
These help the reader understand relativity between elements.
What are graphs?
What is "her head hanging down?"
A chronological organizational pattern must do this instead of listing facts or examples.
What is have a plot/storyline/narrative?
These help the reader understand exactly what something looks like, and they usually have _______ underneath them.
What are photos and captions?
List at least two of the three things an effective thesis statement should be. (Think back to our test corrections days.)
What are clear, concise, and specific?
What are providing step-by-step pictures, a breakdown of the parts of something (like a volcano), or a map of an area. (Answers may vary.)
Identify the text evidence that helps determine who the person is.
I had finally gotten used to being weightless. It became a comfortable feeling. I especially liked floating by the window to see Earth below.
Who is an astronaut?
What is "floating by the window to see Earth below?"
A pattern of organization that uses cardinal directions, landmarks, and physical features to explain something.
What is spatial?
List three different ways the text itself can be changed in an informational work to draw the reader's attention to the fact that it is important.
What are colored print, bolded print, italic print, and underlined print?
Identify the better thesis statement.
(a) The Hunger Games is a science fiction adventure film based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins.
(b) The Hunger Games is a morality tale about the dangers of a political system that is dominated by the wealthy.
What is (b)?
This is something that helps the reader understand the sequence of time. Provide two examples of when it would be appropriate to use this in an informational text.
What is a timeline?
What are in a history book, or in a complex chronological narrative? (Answers may vary.)
Choose the strongest piece of evidence to support the claim that best friends are always there for you.
A. Jessica and Jennifer always talk about Michelle when she isn't around.
B. Jennifer and Michelle always ask Jessica for support during difficult times.
C. Michelle stops classmates from talking about Jennifer and Jessica, even though they aren't there to hear it.
What is (c)?
List three examples of writing that follow a sequential pattern.
What are lego pamphlets, cookbooks, and instruction manuals?
The exponents (1) next to a word in an informational text are called ________, and you use them to ___________.
What are footnotes and define a word at the bottom of the page?
Compose an effective thesis statement for a descriptive, informational article about the meaning of the holiday season.
(Answers may vary.)
Identify the purpose of using a chart or table in an informational work, then provide an example of a way these could be used.
What is to summarize/compare information? And what is to show data through a survey, research study, etc.? (Answers may vary.)
Explain why the boys ran home, and provide text evidence to support your answer.
The night was very dark. Charlie and Ted were sitting by the fire and toasting marshmallows. They had set up their tent that afternoon. Suddenly, Ted heard a noise. Charlie heard it, too. It came from the tree over the tent. The boys threw down their marshmallows and ran all the way home.
What is they ran home because they were scared when "they heard a noise?" (Answers may vary.)