Modes of Organization

Texts have different purposes and structures to communicate a message with different conventions in language and form. When analyzing an author’s style for a non-literary text such as an editorial, determine what organizational patterns he or she uses:

Organizational Strategies

When analyzing an author’s style for a non-literary text such as an editorial, determine what organizational patterns he or she uses:

Exemplification: specific examples, brief
Illustration: examples in more detail
Description: concrete, sensory diction
Narration: use of stories e.g. anecdotes
Cause/effect: clear reason/result
Compare/contrast: similarities/differences
Process: how to do something...
Problem/Solution: describes a problem and its implications and then provides a solution
Classification: how something is classified e.g. science
Extended definition: how to define an abstract concept e.g. patriotism, democracy, love, faith, etc.

Helpful Links

Organizational strategies/patterns: http://faculty.washington.edu/ezent/impo.htm
Patterns of organization handout: https://www.mpc.edu/home/showdocument?id=12632 (Good overview)

Literary vs. Non-literary Texts

LITERARY TEXTS

Literary works have clear stylistic elements that make them literary such as characterization, metaphor, irony conflict, symbolism, and offer more layered meaning and themes. Literary works are narrative (tell a story) or lyrical (express an emotion or idea) in nature. Literary texts include short stories, novels, plays, poetry, songs, etc.

NON-LITERARY TEXTS

Non-literary texts can be expository (to explain or inform), technical (to instruct or explain a process) or persuasive (convince or call to action). Non-literary texts are more concerned with information, facts, and reality to document issues or to explain or analyze something or even argue for a certain viewpoint.

To understand different text types, please visit https://www.mrsmacfarland.com/dp-curriculum/text-types.

Narrative or Lyrical (literary types)

To entertain
To recount or tell a story
To describe

Features: character, setting, conflict, theme, imagery, first person sometimes, description, plot elements, figurative language, pathos

Organizational patterns: description, cause/effect, problem/solution, sequence

Examples:

narratives: novel, short story, myth, legend, science fiction, fantasy, fable, cartoon, stage play, television script, radio script, zines, diary, letters, videos
poetry: sonnet, limerick, haiku, epic balad, songs

Expository (non-literary)

To describe
To inform
To analyze
To explain

Features: headings, bold words, charts, graph, captions, logos, ethos

Organizational patterns: sequence, cause/effect, problem/solution, description, topic sentences to organize paragraphs, thesis, technical terms or jargon

Examples:

1. report: documentary, reference book

2. recount: journal, diary, newspaper article, timeline, scientific observations (lab report)

Technical (non-literary)

To explain process
To instruct
To describe

Features: steps to a process, use of command terms (put, place), words to indicate sequence, logos

Organizational patterns: sequence, cause/effect, problem/solution, description

Examples:

1. procedures: instructions, recipes, directions

Persuasive (non-literary)

To persuade
To convince
To perform an action

Features: call to action, words to expresses feelings or opinions, counterargument, claim, evidence, analogies, formal language, facts, statistics, testimonies, logos, pathos, ethos, clear thesis, logical transitions

Organizational patterns: sequence, cause/effect, problem/solution, description

Examples:

1. advertisement: television, print, radio, billboards, digital ads
2. opinion: letter to the editor, editorial, speech, newspaper or magazine article, digital article, blogging, debate, zines
3. response: movie review, book review, restaurant review