Unlocking Comprehension

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Unlocking Comprehension

• Understanding Patterns or Organization

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Patterns of Organization
An author uses supporting details to provide
examples, reasons, facts, or testimony to support
the main idea being presented in a reading
passage. The author must decide the best way to
organize these supporting details so the thought
pattern being used to develop the main idea is
clear.
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Most Common Patterns of Organization

• Description / Spatial Order
• Narration (Sequence)
• Illustration
• Definition
• Comparison - Contrast
• Cause - Effect
• Process Analysis / Time Order / Sequence
• Argument Persuasion
• Classification / List

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Description / Spatial Order

• The author uses supporting details to help the
  reader see what is being described.
• Relies heavily on sensory words words that
  describe what is seen, heard, smelled, tasted,
  felt.
• Usually contains specific nouns and numerous
  descriptive adjectives.

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Narration (Sequence)

• The author tells a story through the use of a
  narrative organization.
• The details tell what happened in a series of
  events or real life happenings.
• Usually follows a chronological (time) order.

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Illustration

• The author provides examples or illustrations for
  supporting details.
• These examples or illustrations provide concrete
  examples of the point being made in the main
  idea.
• Examples and illustrations are helpful to a
  reader because they provide concrete examples of
  abstract terms.

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Definition

• A definition organization is used by an author to
  provide a definition for a word, an idea, or a
  concept.
• The definition may be either the denotative or
  the connotative definition of the word.

• Denotation refers to the dictionary
• meaning of a word.
• Connotation refers to the associated
• meaning of a word.

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Comparison - Contrast

• Comparison - Contrast organization uses
  supporting details which tell the reader how two
  or more things are alike and/or different.
• The reader must be able to identify the TWO
  topics being discussed.
• After reading the passage, the reader should be
  able to identify the similarities and/or the
  differences which are discussed between these two
  topics.

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Cause - Effect

• Cause - effect organization attempts to
  illustrate the relationships which exist between
  a series of events.
• The cause(s) is/are identified as the first in a
  series of events which occurred.
• The effect(s) is/are identified as the direct
  results of the cause(s).
• The reader should be able to trace a direct
  relationship between the stated or implied
  cause(s) and the effect(s).

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Process Analysis / Time Order / Sequence

• This form of organization attempts to break apart
  a process , a procedure, or an operation into its
  component steps.
• The reader should be able to determine the series
  of steps or stages in a process.

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Argument Persuasion

• This pattern of organization provides a clear
  statement of the authors opinion on a particular
  topic.
• The author then provides examples or reasons that
  are intended to persuade the reader of the
  correctness of his or her opinion on the topic.

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Classification / List

• Classification organization identifies a
  particular topic which is composed of several
  subcategories or groups.
• The supporting details tell how this particular
  topic can be subdivided into categories or groups.

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Using Patterns of Organization to Aid
Comprehension

• A reader can improve comprehension skills by
  determining the type of organization being used
  by the author and then asking questions related
  to that particular organization.

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Comprehension Questions Based on Organization

• Description / Spatial Order
• Who or what is being described?
• How does the topic look, feel, smell, taste,
  sound?
• How are things arranged in the space described?

• Narration (Sequence)
• Who or what is the topic being discussed?
• What happened?

• Illustration
• Who or what is the topic being discussed?
• What do the examples prove or illustrate?

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Comprehension Questions Based on Organization

• Definition
• What is the word or idea being discussed?
• What is the definition for this word or idea?

• Comparison - Contrast
• What are the two or more topics being discussed?
• How are the two or more topics alike and / or
  different?

• Cause - Effect
• What is/are the first event(s) that occurred?
  (the cause or
• causes)
• What is/are the ensuing events (the effect or
  effects)

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Comprehension Questions Based on Organization

• Process Analysis / Time Order / Sequence
• What is the process or procedure being discussed?
• What are the steps or stages in this process?

• Argument Persuasion
• What is the authors opinion or feeling on the
  topic
• being discussed?
• What examples, reasons, or testimonies are given
  to
• support this opinion?

• Classification - List
• What is the topic being discussed?
• What are the subcategories or subgroups of this
  topic?

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Mixed Patterns
Most authors will use a combination of Of writing
patterns within selections. Toidentify the
appropriate patterns, determinethe authors goal
for writing the passage.
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Mixed Patterns

• Was the writers purpose to
• Describe?
• Tell a story?
• Provide a definition?
• Show similarities and/or differences
• Indicate results or relationships?
• Indicate a process or order?
• Make a point and persuade?
• Provide a list or grouping?