NGSSS

Organizational Patterns LA.8 .11.7.4 Cause-and-effect.

LA.8. l.7.S: Analyze a variety of text

structures (e.g., comparison/contrast, cause/effect, chronological order, argument/support, lists).

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In this lesson, you'll learn about how writers organize and present ideas. Writers use common organizational patterns to arrange information.

When writers begin to write, the subject often suggests the structure or pattern they use. Suppose a writer wants to write a journal entry about a day. The writer will probably tell the important events in time order. This chronological organization helps readers understand the order of events.

When authors want to explain why something happened, they organize around causes and effects. They explain what happened (effect) and why (cause). Writers use a similar pattern to explain problems and solutions.

When writers want to show how things are similar and different, they compare and contrast them. They show how things are alike (compare) and how they are different (contrast).

Authors often want to argue in favor of or against something, or draw a conclusion about it. To do this, they state their pOSition, or argument, followed by facts and examples that support it. For example, a writer arguing for improvements to the school library would include reasons why such improvements are necessary, in hopes of persuading the reader to agree.

Another way of organizing a piece of writing is in list form. A writer might present facts and information in order of importance, or in another order that makes sense based on the topiC, such as steps in a process.

Within one written piece, an author may use different organizational patterns. As you read, look for the ways the author organizes information. It will help you understand the full meaning of the text. Use the web below as a guide.

Chronological Cause and Effect General to SpeCific

organizational Patterns

Problem and Solution Specific to General compare and Contrast

NGSSS LA.8.1.7.5

Read this article about a lighthouse. Look for organizational patterns to answer 'I the question below. !

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse

1 One of the most famous lighthouses in Florida is the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. Plans [or the lighthouse were completed in 1853, but construction was delayed by the Third Seminole War between 1856 and 1858. In 1860, the lighthouse was fini shed at last. Fearing it would aid the Union navy, Confederate soldiers kept it [rom burning throughout the Civil War, which ended in 1865.

2 After the war, the Jupiter Inlet light blazed aga in when Captain James Armour took over as lighthouse keeper. He would be responsible for the lighthouse until 1908. Until 1928, the light was lit by burning mineral oil and turned by a system of weights. In that year, it got electric light and diesel power. Since 1973, it's been on the National Register of Historic Places. You can still visit the lighthouse today.

How does the author organize paragraph l?

~ The word orgal1ize in the question tells you that you should look for the structure, or organizational pattern. How does the author arrange the information in the paragraph?

~ What information does the author present in paragraph l? The author gives a history of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse from 1853 to 1865.

~ How is the information organized? What organizational pattern does it demonstrate? The information is organized by date . It is in chronological order.

ANSWER: The author organizes paragraph 1 by presenting events in time order, or chronologically.

How does the author organize paragraph 2?

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Think About It What is the author trying to explain? How is the text organized?

Hint Think about which organizational pattern explains how things are alike and different.

Read the passage. Use the Think About It to guide your reading. Then answer the question. Use the Hint to help you.

Gossips Versus Supportive Friends

I think there are two kinds of people in our school: people who will talk about you behind your back (gossips) and people who will not. Those who ta lk about you behind your back are likely to spread rumors. Sometimes these rumors are not true, and they can hurt your feelings when the gossip gets back to you-and gossip always does get back to you. In contrast, supportive friends will never spread rumors or talk about you behind your back. They would never say anything to others that they would not say to you in person. Whenever I say something about someone else, I always ask myself if [ would say the same thing if the person were standing beside me.

This passage is organized by A explaining several causes and effects of gossip.

B contrasting people who goss ip with people who don't. C making a statement about rumors and giving examples

of types of rumors.

D presenting a se ries of events in time order.

CORRECT ANSWER Answer choice B is correct.

SUPPORTING DETAILS The first sentence is a clue that the passage is organized around comparisons and contrasts. The author states that there are two kinds of fri ends and then gives deta ils that descr ibe gossipy friends and how they are different from supportive fri ends.

INCORRECT ANSWERS A is not correct because, although some effects of goss ip are given, that is not how the entire passage is organized .

C is not co rrec t because this is not what the en tire passage is about. D is not co rrect because the passage is not organized in time order.

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Think About It What does the first sentence tell you? What facts does the author use to back up that claim?

How is this list organized? Would another way of organizing it make sense?

What is the information in paragraph 3? How is it organized?

How are the instructions in paragraphs 4 and 5 organized?

Read the passage. Use each Think About It to guide your reading.

How to Wash and Wax a Car 1 Keeping a car clean and waxed is the best way to protec t it from

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the sun and weather and keep it looking beautiful for years to come. Dirt can create scratches in an automobile's finish , which ca n lead to rust and corrosion . The sun can also damage the paint , making it wear out faster.

What is the best way to wash and wax an automobile? The process is relatively easy if you follow these simple steps:

1. Choose a time when the ex terior of the car is cool.

2. Rinse the ca r with a hose to loosen dirt.

3. Fill a bucket with warm, soapy water.

4. Use a sponge to wash the car from top to bottom.

5. Rinse the dirt out of the sponge frequently.

6. Rinse the car with water from a hose.

7. Dry the car with clean , soft cloths.

3 Once you have washed and dried the car, it is ready to be waxed. Waxing protects the automobile's paint, which keeps the metal underneath from rusting and corrod ing. Because automobile wax lasts only about three to four months, you will need to polish and wax the car several times a year for the best protection.

4 First , you need some automobile wax Ccarnauba wax is good), which comes as either a liquid or a paste. The wax should not have any abrasive ingredients, which can cause damage to the paint. Nex t, put some wax on a soft cloth and rub it evenly over a small section of the ca r. Start with one section of the automobile, such as a door or trunk, and apply the wax to one sec tion at a time. Do not get wax on rubber or plastic parts, such as window seals, moldings, or black bumpers because the wax will cause white stains on these parts.

5 Allow the wax to rest for a minute or two or until it becomes cloudy. Then use a clean, soft cloth to buff the wax until it shines. Always use a clean part of your buffing cloth , since a dirty cloth can cause you to scratch the car's paint. Finally, use window cleaner to remove wax from any unintentionally waxed areas, such as windows, seals, or mold ings.

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Hints

Find the words best and beautiful in paragraph 1. What organization do these words suggest?

Look at the steps in paragraph 2. What do the numbers 1 through 7 tell you?

Reread paragraphs 4 and 5. What information do you learn?

Wilh your parnter, share and ciiscliss your answers and supporting details.

Use the Hints to answer the questions below. Circle the correct answers and provide supporting details from the passage.

I The author has organized this passage by A describing why cars need to be washed and waxed. B using chronological order to explain how to clean a car. C giving an opinion or conclusion and supporting it with facts. D contrasting din y cars with beautiful cars.

Supporting Details: ________________ _

2 How does the author organize paragraph 2? A problem and solution B compare and contrast C cause and effect D list form

Suppo rting Details: ________________ _

3 How can buffing the wax cause damage to the car's paint? A Buffing can result in rust and corrosion. B Abrasive wax or a dirty cloth can leave scratches. C Wax can get on the windows, seals, and moldings. D Wax can be applied over too wide an area.

Supporting Details: ________________ _

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Read the passage "The New Guitar" before answering Numbers 1 through 6.

THE

NEW GUITAR by Luis Fajardo

I've been wanting to learn to play the guitar for a whi le, so one day several months ago, when I was walking home from school, I looked at guita rs in the w indow of a music store. Some of the guita rs were extremely expensive, but I rea li zed that if I saved up my money, I could afford one of the less expensive models.

My parents questioned my decision. "Luis, do you remember what happened last time? The drums and the trombone that we borrowed from the Hernandezes for you? You insisted that you would learn to play those instruments, too, but you didn't stick with it long enough to learn them."

1 told my parents, "This time will be diffe rent- I promise-because this time, I am really, really motivated to learn the guitar." Eventually, my pa rents agreed that T could get a guitar as long as I pa id for it with my own money.

When 1 had saved up enough money, I went back to the guitar store and ta I ked to the storekeeper. I told him how much T had to spend and that I wanted to learn to play different kinds of music. He pointed out three guitars that he thought would be good for a beginner.

I picked up each of the guitars and held them. One guitar did not fee l comfortable to me when I held it, so I crossed it off my list. Then I plucked and strummed each of the two remaining guitars. One was acoustic and one was elec tric. They both sounded pretty good to me, but the acoustic guitar was less expensive. Plus, I would need to buy an amplifier if I went with the elec tric model. I decided on the acoustic guitar, even though I know many rock styles call for an electric guitar. (Maybe if I get really good, T will purchase an electric guitar later on.)

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I was thrilled with all of my purchases. lliked everything about my new guitar: the way it felt in my hands, the features, and most of all the price, since it was well within my budget. The other items I bought were extra strings, a beginner's guitar book, a tuner, and some picks.

Now that I had my guitar, I needed to learn how to play it. But the guitar was completely out of tune, so I had to figure out how to tune it first. I followed the directions on the tuner, but unfortunately, one of the strings broke. I didn't know how to change a guitar string, so I had to learn how to do that, too-all before I could even start to play!

Finally, 1 opened the guitar book, and I read the first page. I followed the directions about where to place my fingers between the frets (those little silver bars across the neck of the guitar) to play each note. I could tell it was going to be a long time before I could play any of my favorite tunes. It was harder to play the guitar than I realized because to play different notes, you have to hold down a combination of strings with your left hand and then use different fingers on your right hand to pluck the strings. It would be much easier if you didn't have to coord inate so many things at once!

After a few weeks of practicing, I was still not very good, and I was getting frustrated. This was the point at which I had given up on my previous instruments, but I was determined to stick with the guitar this time. I decided that, even though the book I bought was a good one, I should try learning a different way. I went back to the guitar store, and the shopkeeper let me borrow a good beginner's DVD.

I used the DVD for a few weeks, but then I got tired of it. I was losing my motivation, and I knew I needed to try something else if I truly wanted to learn the guitar. I went back to the guitar store and talked to the shopkeeper yet again. He recommended that I take lessons because it would be motivational to be around other beginning guitar players. He told me about some group lessons that weren't too expensive. He said the instructor made learning the guitar especially fun and that a few of the other students were about my age. He gave me a flyer with information about the lessons.

That night, I showed my parents the flyer and talked with them about taking the guitar lessons. They agreed that lessons were probably the best way to learn the guitar, so they called around and decided that the lessons I wanted to take were the best ones. They even offered to pay for the lessons if I promised to stick with them for the entire school year. Of course, I said yes. I think I really will learn to play the guitar th is year!

Florida NGSSS LA.S.l.7.s

o How does the author organize paragraphs 1 through 4?

A. The author uses a list to arrange events in the story.

B. The author uses compare and contrast to compare the guitar to other instruments.

C. The au thor uses argument and support to say what he thinks and back it up with facts.

D. The au thor uses c1uonological order to explain how Luis decided to lea rn to play guitar.

., What causes Luis's parents to question his decision to take up the guitar?

F. He is not comfortable holding a guitar in his hands.

G. They do not believe he has saved enough money to buy a guitar.

H. When he tells his parents of his interest, he does not own a guitar.

I. They remember how he has given up on learning to play other instruments.

• Why does the author describe all of Luis's purchases in paragraph 6?

A. to describe a problem that Luis has

B. to explain why Lujs bought the items

C. to explain why Luis is thrilled about his pUl'chases

D. to explain how much money he spent a t the music store

• When Luis gets frustrated trying to learn to play, what is the first tiling he does?

F. He uses an instructional DVD.

G. He signs up fo r group guitar lessons.

H. He decides tha t he will never learn to play.

I. He asks the shopkeeper at the guitar store for advice.

• The author organizes paragraphs 9 and 10 by

A. describing Luis's problem and how he tries to solve it .

B. describing the steps to follow when playing guitar.

C. explailling what w ill happen if Luis decides to qu it.

D. giving facts about the guitar and using them to draw a conclusion.

o How does the author organize tile whole story?

F. The author explains causes and effects.

G. The author tells the important events first.

H. The author describes events in the order in which they happened.

I. The author compares and contrasts different musical instruments.

Answer Form

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