Reading: Understanding Text Structure, Cohesion & Coherence
B1 Lesson 2: Recognizing Common Text Organization Patterns
How Writers Organize Ideas
In our last lesson, we saw that a paragraph has one main idea. But how does a writer organize the supporting sentences? They often use common Text Organization Patterns1 to make their ideas clear and easy to follow.
Today, we will learn to recognize three of these patterns by looking for special "signal words": Chronological Order, Listing, and Compare & Contrast.
Part 1: Chronological Order (Time Order)
What it is: Events are presented in the order they happened in time (from beginning to end).
Signal Words: First, Next, Then, After that, Finally, dates, times.
Example (Describing a trip):
Yesterday, we visited a pepper farm near Kampot. First, our guide showed us how the pepper plants grow. Next, we saw the workers harvesting the peppercorns. After that, we learned how they dry and sort them. Finally, we got to taste the different kinds of pepper.
Part 2: Listing (or Enumeration)
What it is: The writer presents a list of reasons, examples, or facts about a topic. The order is not always important.
Signal Words: First of all, In addition, Furthermore, Also, Another reason...
Example (Giving reasons):
Kampot is a great province for a holiday for several reasons. First of all, the town itself is beautiful and relaxed. In addition, there is a lot of delicious food, especially the fresh seafood. Furthermore, there are many interesting activities, like visiting Bokor National Park or kayaking on the river.
Part 3: Compare and Contrast
What it is: The writer explains how two things are similar (compare) and different (contrast).
Signal Words: To Compare: both, similarly, also, like. To Contrast: but, however, unlike, while.
Example (Comparing two fruits):
Durian and mangoes are both popular fruits in Cambodia. However, they are very different. Durian has a thick, spiky skin, while a mango has a smooth, thin skin. Unlike the sweet smell of a mango, a durian has a very strong and unique aroma.
Your Turn! Identify the Pattern.
Practice Quiz
Read the paragraph and choose the best organization pattern.
"To cook the perfect jasmine rice, you must follow these steps. First, wash the rice with clean water. Second, put one cup of rice and two cups of water into the rice cooker. Next, close the lid and press the 'cook' button. Finally, wait until the cooker switches to 'warm' before opening the lid."
What pattern does this paragraph use?
- A. Listing
- B. Compare and Contrast
- C. Chronological Order
Answer: C. Chronological Order. The signal words (First, Second, Next, Finally) and the nature of instructions show that the events must happen in a specific time order.
Vocabulary Glossary
-
Text Organization Pattern (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ទម្រង់រៀបចំអត្ថបទ
The structure an author uses to organize their ideas, such as time order or comparison. ↩ back to text -
Chronological Order (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: លំដាប់តាមកាលប្បវត្តិ
Arranging events in the order that they happened in time (first to last). ↩ back to text -
Listing / Enumeration (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ការរាយបញ្ជី
Presenting information as a list of points, facts, or reasons. ↩ back to text -
Compare and Contrast (verb)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ការប្រៀបធៀបនិងភាពផ្ទុយគ្នា
To show how two things are similar (compare) and how they are different (contrast). ↩ back to text
Homework Task
Be a Pattern Detective!
Look for short English paragraphs online or in a book.
- Find one paragraph that uses the Listing pattern to give reasons or examples.
- Find one paragraph that uses the Compare and Contrast pattern to show how two things are similar and different.
Copy the paragraphs into your notebook and circle the "signal words" that helped you identify the pattern.