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One of the biggest challenges in presenting information of the body of your essay is ORGANIZATION. Here are ten common methods of organizing ideas:
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See pages 4-5 in The Sundance Reader for a definition and examples of each method. Think of these options as tools at your disposal. It is possible that one tool might be sufficient for an entire essay (your whol essay, for example, might describe the process of becoming a skilled juggler or compare the platforms of two political candidates). On the other hand, you may use several tools in a single essay. You might, for instance, open with a narration that illustrates a problem, then define key terms, then explore the causes and effects of the problem, then analyze the proposed solution.
The "C" Test will ask you to read a selection and then write an essay in response. In this essay you will need to identify the author's PURPOSES and METHODS OF ORGANIZATION. Review Lesson 2 for an explanation of the four writing purposes (Expressive, Referential, Persuasive, Literary). As you read the essays for this class, get into the habit of identifying the writer's purposes and of listing all of the methods of organization that he or she uses. If you have questions about any particular essay, email me.
Several of the methods of organization are complex and deserve more in-depth study. Read pages 237-242 of Sundance to learn more about Comparison/Contrast, pages 425-429 for more on Division and Classification, and 542-550 for more information on Cause and Effect.
Once you have completed this reading, you will be ready to take Quiz 2 on Essay Structure and Methods of Organization (Lessons 4 and 5). Good Luck! Remember, after you submit the quiz, use your "Back" button to return to this page.
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