Chapter 5 – Organization

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By the time you finish reading and studying this chapter, you should be able to: LO1 Understand the three-part structure. LO2 Read the beginning part. LO3 Write the beginning part of an essay. LO4 Read the middle part. LO5 Develop the main part of an essay. LO6 Read the ending part. LO7 Write the ending part of an essay.

Learning Outcomes

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Discuss the following in a small group. Have someone make a list of things you brainstorm.

1. In what areas of your life is organization important?

2. How and why can organization be important in reading and writing?

3. How can a lack of organization make reading and writing more difficult?

Opening Activity

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Understanding the Three-Part Structure

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The beginning part of a reading normally includes the:

topic background information thesis statement

Reading the Beginning Part

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The beginning part of an essay should:

introduce the topic in an interesting way

provide necessary background information

clearly state the thesis

From the beginning, you must create a good first impression and set the tone and direction for the writing.

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Writing the Beginning Part of an Essay

© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Surprising or Little-Known Facts Interesting facts that relate to your topic can

generate interest with readers who are unfamiliar or uninterested.

Example: Approximately fifteen million children in the United

States grow up without a father in their lives (Rosiak). I was one of those kids, that is, until the day my mom met the man who would change both our lives forever.

Writing the Beginning Part of an Essay

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Important or Challenging Questions

Starting your essay with a question can help readers relate to your topic as they expect an answer to follow.

Examples: Have you ever experienced a break up that you

thought you would never get over? How do you say goodbye to someone when you

can’t even remember a day of your life without that person?

Writing the Beginning Part of an Essay

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Quotation from an Expert Quotes from literature, famous people, or even a

character in your essay can serve as very interesting ways to start an essay.

Examples: It was the bottom of the sixth when I was brought in to

close the championship game. We were up 3-2. I will never forget when my dad/coach handed me the ball and said, “I dare you to go lose this game.”

Steve Jobs once said, “Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” I never truly understood these words until I overcame an illness that nearly took my life.

Writing the Beginning Part of an Essay

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Brief, Dramatic Stories Short anecdotes, or stories within your larger

essay, can spark interest with the reader and make them want to read more.

Example: When I was in my second year of college at Texas

A&M, I got sick and went to the campus clinic. They gave me antibiotics, and a month later, I ended up pregnant. Needless to say, I didn't know antibiotics make your birth control ineffective.

Writing the Beginning Part of an Essay

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Bold Statements Startling statements use shock value to get your

readers’ attention. Examples:

Sex! Everybody’s doing it, so why shouldn’t you? I love to hit people. Actually, I like to kick people

too. This is because I have a black belt in karate. Everyday I wake up, go to work, and spend my day

with dead people. Some people think this is strange, but working in a mortuary has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Writing the Beginning Part of an Essay

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Identifying the Main Idea At times, it may be best to state the main idea

directly and continue on with the text, especially if your topic is familiar.

Example: Most people say mothers are women who give birth

and care for their children. However, I don’t necessarily believe that motherhood solely depends on biology or genetics; I didn’t meet the woman I call “Mother” until I was sixteen years old.

Writing the Beginning Part of an Essay

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Details in an essay often follow one of these patterns of organization.

Reading the Middle Part

• Used with narratives that recall experiences or essays that explain how to do something

• Also known as time order

Chronological Order

• Texts commonly explain relationships between causes and effectsCause-Effect

• Used for texts that simply present information in a sensible order

• Supporting details follow one another logicallyLogical• Shows the similarities and differences

between two topicsComparison• Used for texts that explore a particular

problem• Parts of the problem are analyzed and

solutions are discussed

Problem-Solution

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Graphic organizers can help you keep track of the details.

Chronological – use a timeline to show steps in the narrative or process

Cause-Effect – use a cause-effect organizer to show relationships

Reading the Middle Part

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Logical – use a line diagram to identify main points and supporting details

Comparison – use a Venn diagram or T-chart to show similarities and differences

Problem-Solution – use a web to identify main points

Reading the Middle Part

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After writing your thesis, you need to organize the supporting details. Here are some ways to do this: Make a quick list of key points. Create an outline. Fill in a graphic organizer.

Developing the Middle Part of an Essay

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Suppose you were assigned an essay in which you had to compare college to high school. Fill in the Venn diagram with details you could use.

Activity

College High School

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Developing the Middle Partof an Essay

Writing tips for the middle part of your essay: Keep your thesis statement in mind. Develop each key point in a separate

paragraph. Fully explain each point. Use your own words, except when quoting

from sources. Be open to new ideas as you write.

The paragraphs in the middle part of your essay should define, explain, describe, show, and analyze your topic and thesis statement.© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in

whole or in part.

The end of an essay offers important final impressions. Consider these strategies when closing: Remind the reader of the thesis. Summarize the main points. Reflect on the explanation or the

argument. Offer a final idea to keep the reader

thinking.

Writing the Ending Part of an Essay

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Read the beginning part of the “Cyber Crime” essay on page 148 of your textbook. Then, work in groups to do the following: brainstorm a list of details you could

include in the middle part of the essay. write a concluding paragraph that would

effectively end this essay.

Closing Activity

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© 2016 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.