Looking at Common Patterns of Organization What Is an Organizational Pattern?

Looking at Common Patterns of Organization

What Is an Organizational Pattern?

An essential part of any writing project is deciding how you want to present the information you're writing about. How a writer arranges information is often the difference between an effective piece and an ineffective one. The ways in which writers structure information within a piece is often called an organizational pattern. It's important to clarify that an organizational structure is different from genre or medium. Pieces written for different genres can still use the same organizational pattern, as can pieces intended for different platforms. No matter what type of writing you are doing, you will benefit once you know what an organizational pattern is and how to use it.

Types of Organizational Patterns

When it comes to choosing an organizational pattern for a piece of writing, it is important to be aware that while there are dozens of possible organizational patterns, some are used more frequently than others for a reason. Some types of organizational patterns simply work better than others in general, and certain organizational patterns are more suited for specific genres than others. The essay organization types that the average person is most likely to use and encounter include chronological order, order of importance, comparison and contrast, and cause and effect.

Chronological Patterns

List format is among the most straightforward organizational patterns. In this approach, the author's points are divided into subtopics that are listed in an order with no specific logic behind it. This format is not inherently bad, but in many cases, it falls short in comparison to other organizational patterns.

A chronological pattern involves organizing subtopics in a work according to the progression of time. In this type of organizational pattern, each subtopic discusses events from within a specific period. This progression may be either from most recent to least recent, or vice-versa. This organizational pattern is particularly useful in discussing historical events.

A sequential pattern is a little similar to a chronological pattern, but more specific. While the events described in a chronological pattern may be close or far apart, a work with a sequential pattern specifically describes a series of consecutive steps. Sequential patterns are often used for providing instructions or describing a process.

Order of Importance

Another approach to organizing a piece of writing is the order of importance pattern. In this approach, the writer organizes their work according to the significance of the topics being discussed. Many news articles employ order of importance as their organizational pattern, by beginning with the most important aspects of what happened and then providing further detail afterward. This is also a common organizational pattern for argumentative essays, in which the most important reasons for the writer's position are placed first, followed by less significant reasons.

An organizational pattern with similar logic is the topical pattern. In the topical pattern, the piece is divided into sections that each discuss a different subtopic of the piece's overall subject. An example of this type of organization would be a political campaign speech in which the candidate goes over each part of their platform in detail.

Comparison and Contrast
A comparison and contrast pattern involves discussing the similarities and differences between two subjects. This approach works for talking about two different subjects, or in highlighting a single subject that is easier to discuss in comparison to something else. Comparison and contrast patterns are also effective for presenting an evaluation of the subject of your writing.

Cause and Effect

A cause-and-effect format uses the relationship between events as scaffolding. In such a piece, the author may discuss many events springing from a single cause or may present several events followed by their respective outcomes. Like sequential patterns, a cause-and-effect format is particularly useful in discussing historical events.