The document discusses two patterns of organization in writing: cause and effect, and compare and contrast. It provides examples of words and phrases that signal these patterns to the reader. For cause and effect, words like "because", "result", and "lead to" indicate a cause followed by an effect. Compare and contrast structures use words like "similarly", "however", and "instead" to show how things are alike or different. Well-organized writing clearly guides the reader through these relationships between ideas.
Patterns Of Organization Compare Contrast Cause Effect
1. PATTERNS OF Compare & Contrast
Cause & Effect
ORGANIZATION
Karen Hamilton Silvestri, Instructional Specialist
The Learning Center at Robeson Community College
2. Cause and Effect
Offers the cause of something and its effects
Answers the question “Why?”
Structure: A cause followed by an effect(s)
3. Words That Show Cause and Effect
Which item below is easier to understand?
A. The young woman decided to go away to school. Her boyfriend
began talking about getting married.
B. The young woman decided to go away to school because her
boyfriend began talking about getting married.
4. Words That Show Cause and Effect
Here are some common words that show cause and effect:
Cause and Effect Words
therefore so owing to because (of)
thus (as a) result effect reason
(as a) consequence results in cause explanation
consequently leads to if…then accordingly
due to since affect
5. Words That Show Cause and Effect
• The first street traffic lights were created in 1920 by a
Detroit policeman. He picked the colors red, yellow, and
green because railroads used them.
• Don’t eat an egg that has a crack in it. The reason is
that the egg may be contaminated.
6. The Cause and Effect Pattern
Cause
Effect
An author uses the cause and effect pattern to show
why something happens or the effects of something that
has happened.
7. The Cause and Effect Pattern
A. As a result, federal authorities required that ships
carry enough lifeboats to save everyone on
board.
B. The sinking of the ship Titanic led to safer sea
travel.
C.When the Titanic sank, many died because there
were too few lifeboats.
8. The Cause and Effect Pattern
Here is the logical order for the sentences on
the last screen.
The sinking of the ship Titanic led to safer sea
travel. When the Titanic sank, many died because
there were too few lifeboats. As a result, federal
authorities required that ships carry enough lifeboats
to save everyone on board.
9. Compare and Contrast
Contrast: shows how two things are different
Compare: shows how two things are the same
A passage of comparison
and contrast focuses on
how two or more things are
alike and different.
Sometimes an author
compares a familiar item
with something that is less
well-known.
10. Words and Phrases Used in
Comparison and Contrast
Words that signal a comparison Words that signal a contrast
As however
Also Although
Like Whereas
Alike In contrast
Likewise Yet
Resembles Differs from
Similar Instead
Just as Unlike
Just like On the contrary
Equally Different from
Same both On the other hand
11. Words That Show Comparison
Which item below is easier to understand?
A. The computerized scanner has streamlined the
supermarket checkout line. Computerized fingerprint
identification allows the police to do in seconds what
once took two hours.
B. The computerized scanner has streamlined the
supermarket checkout line. Similarly, computerized
fingerprint identification allows the police to do in
seconds what once took two hours.
12. Words That Show Comparison
Here are some common words that show comparison:
Comparison Words
(just) as both in like fashion in a similar fashion
(just) like equal(ly) in like manner in a similar manner
alike resemble similar(ly) (in) the same way
same likewise similarity (in) common
13. Words That Show Comparison
• Both alligators and crocodiles use nerve-packed
bumps in their jaws to sense the movement of
nearby prey.
• Surveys show that women who work out of the
home and stay-at-home moms are equally concerned
about their children’s welfare.
14. Words That Show Contrast
Which item below is easier to understand?
A. The company pays the manager handsomely. He
doesn’t do much work.
B. The company pays the manager handsomely even
though he doesn’t do much work.
15. Words That Show Contrast
Here are some common words that show contrast:
Contrast Words
but instead (of) even though difference
yet in contrast as opposed to different(ly)
however on the other hand in spite of differ (from)
although on the contrary despite unlike
nevertheless converse(ly) rather than while
still opposite
16. Words That Show Contrast
• Women communicate differently in the workplace than
men do.
• The average person can safely tolerate ten bee stings for
each pound of body weight. This means that the average
adult could withstand more than a thousand stings.
However, one sting can cause death in a person who is
allergic to such stings.
17. The Comparison and/or Contrast
Pattern
is is
like different
from
The comparison-contrast pattern shows how
two things are alike or how they are different, or both.
18. The Comparison and/or Contrast
Pattern
A. New products are often introduced with “informational”
advertising, telling what the products are, why they
are needed, and where they are available.
B. New products are generally advertised differently from
established products.
C. Established products, on the other hand, can rely on
“reminder” advertisements, which provide little hard
information about the product.
19. The Comparison and/or Contrast
Pattern
Here is the logical order for the sentences on the last screen.
New products are generally advertised
differently from established products. New products
are often introduced with “informational”
advertising, telling what the products are, why they
are needed, and where they are available.
Established products, on the other hand, can rely on
“reminder” advertisements, which provide little hard
information about the product.
21. Visit http://wps.ablongman.com/long_henry_er_1/
to practice these concepts online.
Hinweis der Redaktion
In this module, you’ll find two more patterns that are commonly used in writing – Cause and Effect, Comparison and Contrast
In the CAUSE AND EFFECT pattern the author talks about why something happened or what results came from an event.The CAUSE states why something happened. The EFFECT states the result or outcome of the cause.In a passage that is organized according to cause and effect, the author tells what happened (effect) and why it happened (cause). Several causes might be given for one or the passage might describe several effects of one cause.
In the first item, we’re not sure about the relationship between the two sentences. The word because in the second item makes it clear that the woman decided to go away as a result of her boyfriend’s interest in marriage. Because and words like it are cause and effect words. Sample signal words for Cause and Effect include because, consequently, as a result, due to, etc.
Cause and effect words signal that the author is explaining the reason why something happened or the resultof something happening.
Notice how the cause and effect words introduce a reasonfor something or the result of something.
Here is a visual of the Cause and Effect pattern. Notice that this pattern can be organized two ways – one with the CAUSE as the main idea and the EFFECT as the supporting details and one with the EFFECT as the main idea and the CAUSES as the supporting details.
See if you can arrange the following sentences in an order that makes sense. Which sentence should come first? Second? Last?
Each sentence has a cause and effect word or phrase, suggesting the cause and effect the pattern or organization. The sinking of the ship had the effectof making sea travel safer. The lack of lifeboats caused many deaths. The many deaths caused federal authorities to institute requirements about lifeboats.
COMPARISON shows ways in which two or more ideas are SIMILAR (the same). Some transition (signal) words include similar, like, just as, likewise, similarly, etc. (see page 324 of your textbook)CONTRAST shows ways in which two or more ideas are DIFFERENT. Sample transition (signal) words include different, but, yet, despite, differently, even though, however, in contrast, etc. (see page 327 of your textbook)COMPARE AND CONTRAST patterns show how two or more ideas are SIMILAR AND DIFFERENT.
Becoming familiar with these signal words will help you to quickly identify the type of pattern being used in a passage. And we already know that SIGNAL WORDS help us to identify SUPPORTING DETAILS, right?
In the second item, the word similarly makes it clear that the author is comparing the benefits of computerization in both types of work. Similarly and other words like it are comparison words.
Comparison words signal similarities. Authors use a comparison transition to show that a second idea is like the first one in some way.
Notice how the comparison words show that things are alike in some way.
The first item is puzzling: does the company pay the manager well because he doesn’t do much work? The second item makes it clear that the company pays him well even though he doesn’t do much work. Even though and words and phrases like it are contrast words.
Contrast words signal that an author is pointing out differences between two subjects. Authors use them to show how two things differ in one or more ways.
Notice how the contrast words (differently, however)signal that one idea is different from another idea.
Here is a visual of the pattern. Notice that a writer may use just COMPARISON, or just CONTRAST. The writer also has the option of using COMPARISON AND CONTRAST together.
See if you can arrange the following sentences in an order that makes sense. Which sentence should come first? Second? Last?
The contrast worddifferently in the first sentence suggests a comparison and/or contrast pattern of organization. The second and third sentences then contrast two types of advertising. The phraseon the other hand emphasizes the pattern of organization.