LESSON 3: 2.

DESCRIPTION
PROPERTIES OF A WELL-WRITTEN PARAGRAPH
A. ORGANIZATION
Organization is achieved when ideas are logically and accurately
arranged.
It is important to identify the author’s perspective by discovering the way
the message is being sent. Every writer has a purpose for writing and
some plan of action for getting a message. This plan of action order in
which the material will be presented in the text. This order often called a
pattern of organization, should be present in acceptable writing from the
smallest to the largest unit of writing: the paragraph, group of the
paragraph, etc. Each of these contains a particular pattern of organization.
Anticipating the Order in which the material will be presented helps you
to put the facts into perspective and to see how the parts fit into the
whole.
For example, if the selection begins by indicating that there are four
essential components of management, you are alert to look for four key
phrases to mark and remember. Likewise, if the comparison is suggested,
you want to note the point that is similar in nature. For materials that
show cause and effect, you need to anticipate the linkage and note the
relationship.
PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION
1. SIMPLE LISTING
Items are randomly listed in a series of supporting facts or details.
These supporting elements are equal value, and the order in which
they are presented is of no importance. Changing the order of the
items does not alter the meaning of the paragraph.
Signal Words for Simple Listing
in addition another for example
reveal some also
The description is like listing; the characters that make up a story
are no more than a mere listing of details. This is used to describe
the characteristic features and events of a specific subject or a
general category.
3. DEFINITION
In textbook reading, an entire paragraph is devoted to defining
and then further expanded with examples and restatements.
Signal Words for Definition
is define as means is described as
refers to term or concept is called
4. CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OR SEQUENCE
Signal Words for Chronological Order or Sequence
first, second, third, before, after, when, later, until, at last, next
5. COMPARISON-CONTRAST
Items are related to the comparisons (similarities) that are made
or by the contrasts (differences) that are presented. The author’s
purpose is to show similarities and differences. This is used to
explain how two or more objects, events, or positions in an
argument are similar or different.
Signal Words for Comparison-Contrast
similar, different, on the other hand, parallels, bigger than, smaller
than, in the same way, however, but
6. Cause and Effect
In this pattern, one item is shown as having produced another
element. An event (effect) is said to have happened because of
some situation or circumstance (cause). The cause (action)
stimulates the event or effect (the outcome). This is used to show
causal relationships between events.
 Signal Words for Cause and Effect 2. SPATIAL ORDER
For this reason consequently on the account
Because made hence The order of things is they are arranged in space. It is used most often in
descriptive writing.
B. COHERENCE AND COHESION EXAMPLE:
Coherence occurs when ideas are connected at the conceptual level. It A writer wishing to describe a country church (must describe it from
enables the reader to follow the writer’s train of thought with ease. outside or from the inside)
Cohesion is the connection of ideas at sentence level. 3. ORDER OF IMPORTANCE
These two are related since a lack of cohesion will often lead to a lack of Usually used in paragraphs of explanation, argument, and persuasion.
clarity. If sentences are logical, clearly organized, not rumbling or Most often the writer moves from least important to the most important
confusing, and linked together effectively, the text is cohesive. (or it has idea, thus ending on a strong note.
cohesion)
4. COMBINATION OF ORDERS
A well-written paragraph is coherent (or has coherence); if the ideas in
the paragraph has connection, arranged in a logical order, and are clearly Many writers use not one, but a combination of orders to achieve effective
related to each other making it unified. paragraphs.

FOUR WAYS OF ORDERING IDEAS TO ACHIEVE COHERENCE

1. CHORONOLOGICAL ORDER

The Greek word Chronos means “time”. From this word comes the word
chronological, which means “in the order of occurrence”.

Paragraphs that explain processes and relate incidents are almost always
arranged in chronological order.

EXAMPLES:

A paragraph that presents the steps in assembling an engine. (steps would

be listed in sequence)

A paragraph that described an automobile accident. (the events would be

related in the order in which they occured)