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Efficient and Flexible Reading, 7/e

Kathleen T. McWhorter

Chapter 5:

Patterns: Relationships Among Ideas

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In this chapter you will learn:

1. To recognize common organizational patterns to improve recall.

2. To use patterns to aid in comprehension.

3. To use transitional words to understand relationships within and among sentences.

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Common Organizational Patterns

Chronological Order/ProcessExample of Chapter Headings:

Advertising Today

• Advertising in the Seventies• Advertising in the Eighties• Advertising in the Nineties

70s 80s 90s

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Common Organizational Patterns

Chronological Order/Process Directional Words/Phrases

• In the Middle Ages…• The final stage…• Before the Civil Rights Act…• On December 7…• first, second, later, next, as soon

as, after, then, finally, meanwhile, last, during, when, until

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Definition: • Term

– Class•Distinguishing Features•Distinguishing Features•Distinguishing Features

– Example

Common Organizational Patterns

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Definition Pattern Directional Words/Phrases:

• Classical conditioning refers to…• Acceleration can be defined as…• Empathy means…• consists of, is a term that ,

involves, is called, is characterized by, that is, occurs when, exists when, are those that, entails, corresponds to, is literally

Common Organizational Patterns

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Common Organizational Patterns

Classification:• Trees: Deciduous, Evergreen

Topic:Trees

Category 1Deciduous

Category 2Evergreen

Category 3 Category 4

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Classification Pattern Directional Words/Phrases:

• There are several types of bones…

• An S-corporation is composed of…

• Another kind of memory is…• Societies can be classified as…• comprises, one, first, second,

finally, last several varieties of, different stages of, different groups that…

Common Organizational Patterns

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Comparison-Contrast: the writer shows how two ideas, places, objects, or people are similar or different.

Common Organizational Patterns

Topics A and B

Similarities_________________________

Differences___________________________

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Comparison-Contrast: For material that focuses on differences...

Common Organizational Patterns

Feature #1Feature #2Feature #3

Topic A____________________________________

Topic B____________________________________

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Comparison-Contrast Directional Words/ Phrases:

• Snorkeling differs from scuba diving… • Unlike primary groups, secondary

groups…• Both Faulkner and Williams...• Values, norms, and ethics share…• in contrast, similarly, likewise, however,

in comparison, to compare, on the other hand, like, resembles, is similar, as opposed to, whereas, in the same way, instead of, in spite of, as well as

Common Organizational Patterns

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Cause-Effect:

•Single Cause-Single Effect

Example: Omitting a key command will cause a computer program to fail.

Common Organizational Patterns

Cause Effect

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Cause-Effect:• Single Cause-Multiple Effects

Example: The effects of inflation include shrinkage real income, increasing prices, and higher interest rates.

Common Organizational Patterns

Cause Effect

Effect

Effect

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Common Organizational Patterns

Cause-Effect:• Multiple Causes-Single Effect

Example: Attending class regularly, reading assignments carefully, and taking good lecture notes produce good exam grades.

Cause

Cause

Cause

Effect

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Common Organizational Patterns

Cause-Effect:

• Multiple Causes-Multiple Effects

Example: Several events work together to produce several effects.

Event A

Event B Event D

Event C

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Cause-Effect Directional Words/ Phrases:

•Hypertension causes… •An interest rate increase resulted in…

•Hatred breeds…•therefore, hence, for this reason, since, leads to, creates, yields, stems from, produces, for, because, as a result, due to, thus

Common Organizational Patterns

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Enumeration/Simple Listing:

Common Organizational Patterns

Topic or Main Idea:Functions of Social Networks

Fact 1Influence Decisions

and Preferences

Fact 2Source of Information

and Advice

Fact 3Provide

Companionship

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Enumeration Pattern Directional Words/Phrases:

• There are several characteristics of... • One feature of families is...• Government serves the following

functions...• First, second, third, numeral, letters,

another, also, too, for instance, for example, finally, the largest, the least

Common Organizational Patterns

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Mixed Patterns:

•Enumeration and compare/contrast

•Description and cause/effect•Chronological order and

enumeration•Classification and description

Common Organizational Patterns

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Statement and clarification

• Indicates that information explaining an idea or concept will follow.

• Directional words: in fact, in other words, clearly, evidently, obviously.

Other Useful Organizational Patterns

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Summary

• Indicates that a condensed review of an idea or piece of writing will follow.

•Directional words: in summary, in conclusion,, in brief, to summarize, to sum up, in short, on the whole.

Other Useful Organizational Patterns

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Generalization and example

• Provides examples that clarify a broad, general statement.

• Directional words: for example, for instance, that is, to illustrate.

Other Useful Organizational Patterns

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Addition

• Indicates that additional information will follow.

•Directional words: furthermore, additionally, also, besides, further, in addition, moreover, again.

Other Useful Organizational Patterns

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Spatial order/location

• Describes physical location or position in space.

• Directional words: above, below, besides, next to, in front of, behind, inside, outside, opposite, within, nearby.

Other Useful Organizational Patterns

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1. Why is it helpful to recognize the organizational pattern of a paragraph or passage you are reading?

2. What are the six common organizational patterns?

3. What other patterns do writers use?

4. What are transitional words and how are they useful?

Summary Questions

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• Do not assume that because two events are related or occur close in time, that one event caused the other.

• Always look for evidence that one event or action is the direct cause of the other.

Critical Thinking Tip #5: Analyzing Cause-Effect Relationships

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