Organizational Patterns

The author explains a process or event in sequential or chronological order.

• Sequence

• Description

• Compare and Contrast

• Problem and Solution

• Cause and Effect

The author defines or describes a topic by including the characteriestics and examples

• Sequence

• Description

• Compare and Contrast

• Problem and Solution

• Cause and Effect

The author explains how things are alike and different.

• Sequence

• Description

• Compare and Contrast

• Problem and Solution

• Cause and Effect

The author presents a problem and offers solutions for it. This can also be called question and answer.

• Sequence

• Description

• Compare and Contrast

• Problem and Solution

• Cause and Effect

The author explains the causes of the event or situation and the effects that result.

• Sequence

• Description

• Compare and Contrast

• Problem and Solution

• Cause and Effect

This is usually the first sentence or two of the essay. It can be a question, a quote, a statement, a statistic, or any other attention grabber that brings the reader in to want to continue reading.

• Hook

• Thesis Statement

This is normally located towards the end of the Introduction, and appears again at the beginning of the Conclusion. This is the main point or idea that an essay is trying to get across, usually wrapped up in one sentence that can stand on its own.

• Hook

• Thesis Statement

A sequential essay is arranged by order of importance.

• True

• False

A descriptive essay should be about something you have strong feelings about and preferably some personal experience to communicate.

• True

• False

A compare and contrast essay is where you try to get to the root of a problem in order to make sure that the problem is not only solved, but prevented from recurring.

• True

• False