Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

1. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

2. Football --A range of possible plays --A coach who decides which play to use --A quarterback who announces or signals the coach’s play to the team --The rest of the team who carry out the play --The formation the coach uses to line up the players so they can best carry out the play Reading --A range of possible ideas --An author who decides on the main idea to be presented --A main idea sentence (stated or implied) that expresses the author’s most important point in a paragraph --Details that support the main idea (make it more understandable) --A writing pattern (an organiza- tional pattern) the author uses to arrange the details in the most logical way - An Analogy Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

3. List Pattern The author presents a group of items in no particular orderbecausethe order is not important. Clue words and signals include: and 1, 2, 3 … also, too a, b, c … another bullets (•) moreover, besides asterisks (*) in addition words that announce lists (such as first, second, third, etc. categories, kinds, types, ways, classes, further groups, parts, elements, characteristics, finally features, etc.) Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

4. Sequence Pattern The author presents a group of items in a specific order because the order is important. Clue words and signals include: first, second, third… progression now, then, next, finally series dates stages words that refer to time when, while 1, 2, 3 … before, prior to, during, after a, b, c … last, at last stepsprocess, spectrum, continuum phases instructions and directions Note that some signals (first, second,third; a, b, c; 1, 2, 3) are the same as for lists. Read the material carefully and decide whether the order is important. If the order is important, then the pattern is a sequence. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

5. Definition Pattern The author presents an important term and discusses it throughout the paragraph. Clue words and signals include: words in bold print refers to, is referred to as words in italics the term words in color is called is defined asby this we mean meansor (preceding a synonym) in other words punctuation that sets off a definition is, is known as or synonym , : ( ) [ ] – that is (i. e.) examples that illustrate the definition or meaning of a term Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

6. Cause-Effect Pattern The author presents cause(s), effect(s), or both. Causes are reasons; effects are results or outcomes. Clue words and signals include: CauseEffect the reason(s)thushence the cause(s)the result(s) as a consequence because, sincethe effect(s) on that account is due to [cause] the outcome [effect] is/was caused by was caused by [cause] consequentlyresulted in, results [cause] leads/led to the final product [effect] is/was due to resulted from [cause] therefore [effect] resulted from Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

7. Questions that indicate the cause-effect pattern include: • What causes [effect]? (The answer will be the cause.) • Why does [effect] occur? (The answer will be the cause.) • What is the reason for [effect]? (The answer will be the cause.) • How can [effect] be explained? (The answer will be the cause.) • What does [cause] lead to? (The answer will be the effect.) Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

8. Comparison/Contrast Pattern The author presents similarities (comparisons) between two or more things, contrasts(differences) between two or more things, or presents both similarities and differences. ComparisonContrast similarly in contrast some; others likewise however nonetheless both as opposed to conversely same; alike whereas words that have opposite also while meanings (such as men and resembles althoughwomen;ancient and modern) parallels nevertheless in the same manner instead (of) in the same way different; difference words that compare unlike; dissimilar (adjectives that describerather than comparisons, such ason the one hand; on the other hand safer, slower, lighter, more valuable, less toxic, etc.) Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

9. Cadence for Authors’ Writing Patterns Paragraph patterns, there are five That authors use to organize. Order’s not important in a list; Just be sure no items are missed. In sequence, the order must be correct; From first to last, makes things connect. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

10. Cadence (continued) Definition always defines a term That the author wants you to learn. Compare/contrast presents with ease Differences and similarities. Cause-effect helps all adults Understand reasons and results. These patterns help you analyze The ways that authors organize. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

11. The Edge: Pointers from the Coach • There won’t always be clue words or signals for the pattern in a paragraph. • Some paragraphs (and longer selections) have a combination of patterns. This is know as a mixed pattern. • Avoid viewing every paragraph as a list pattern. Ask yourself, “A list of what?” • Take advantage of clue words in the main idea sentence (whether stated or implied) that indicate the author’s writing pattern. (“There are several effects of frostbite” or “Anorexia and bulimia are both eating disorders, but they have very different characteristics” or “The process of cell division consists of five distinct phases.” ) Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

12. The Edge (continued) • Different readers may view the same paragraph as having a different pattern, but what matters is that each reader sees a pattern and has logical reasons for choosing that pattern. • You will sometimes see a variation of the cause-effect pattern known as the problem-solution pattern. (A situation is causing a problem; it is having certain effects. Solutions will usually be presented as well.) • In some subjects (history, science, etc.), certain patterns show up more often. • Longer selections often have an overall pattern. • When you need to learn information presented in a comparison/ contrast paragraph, put the information in the form of a chart. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

13. Chapter 6 (con’t)Relationships within Sentences Authors also use many of the same clue words to indicate the relationship between information in a single sentence, or to show the connection between information in two consecutive sentences.

14. Clarification • Authors use certain words to indicate that they are trying to make information in a sentence clearer or easier to understand. • These include in other words, clearly, it is obvious, that is, as a matter of fact, in fact, evidently, and of course. Often a general or potentially confusing statement is followed by a clarification. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

15. Example • Authors use examples, specific incidences or illustrations, to help explain other, more general information in a sentence or paragraph. For this reason, the relationship is also referred to as “generalization and example.” • To introduce examples, authors use for example, to illustrate, such as, are examples of, and for instance. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

16. Addition • Authors use the clue words for lists to signal that information is being added. That is, they use words such as and, also, further, in addition, equally, besides, next, moreover, furthermore, and finally. • This pattern or relationship is also referred to as elaboration. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

17. Sequence • Authors use a sequence to present information in a specific order because the order is important. Events are given in the order in which they occurred or in order of importance. • Clue words are those that refer to time, such as during the last century, next year, in the 1990s, at the start of the Middle Ages, specific dates, words such as first, second, then, next, last, before, after, at that time, during, formerly, now, soon, while, presently, when, later, followed by, and words such as sequence, process, steps, procedure, ranking, series, progression, etc. They may also use numbers, letters, or bullets when sequencing or ranking items. Narratives follow a sequence pattern since they tell a story. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

18. Comparison • Comparisons show similarities or likenesses. • Clue words are as, like, similarly, likewise, same, similar, and in the same manner. Also watch for comparative forms of words, such as lesser, greater, highest, etc. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

19. Contrast • Contrasts focus on differences or opposites. • Clue words include pairs of words that have opposite meanings (such as rich and poor), and words such as in contrast, but, although, however, yet, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the one hand, and on the other hand. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

20. Cause-Effect • Authors use words such as because, due to, since, and causes to indicate reasons, and words such as thus, therefore, as a result, consequently, result, outcome, lead to, resulted in, and hence to indicate results. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

21. Problem-Solution • The problem-solution pattern is actually just a variation of the cause-effect pattern. Authors use it when they want to present a problem and its solutions. • They typically include the factors that lead to the problem and explain the significance of the problem so that readers understand why the problem is important. Solutions or recommendations for solving the problem may be tied to each of the specific causes. (The solution itself may be a sequence pattern, in which the author spells out a certain procedure or steps that must be followed to remedy a situation.) • Watch for words such as problem (the cause of the difficulty), the significance (the effects of the problem; why it matters), and solutions. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

22. Spatial Order • Authors use words such as above, beyond, within, near, facing, next to, north, south, to the right, site, location, and so forth to describe the placement or location of one or more things. (A variation of this pattern is the description pattern.) Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns

23. Summary • Some paragraphs simply review the important points presented earlier. The author condenses or consolidates them in a sentence or paragraph at the end of longer paragraph or selection. Sometimes the author draws an overall conclusion based on those major points, as well. • To signal a summary or conclusion, authors use words such as in summary, in conclusion, in brief, thus, therefore, to summarize, to sum up, in short, and the point is. Chapter 6: Recognizing Author’s Writing Patterns