Compare-Contrast Pattern

Arranges information according to how two or more things are similar or different from one another
(or both).

Sequential Pattern
How to Make Wine
I. Step One: Harvest the grapes

A. Harvesting procedure number one

B. Harvesting procedure number two
II. Step Two: Prepare the grapes

A. Preparation procedure number one

B. Preparation procedure number two

Spatial Pattern
Topics involving geography and locations fit well here.

Topical Pattern
Types of Wine
I. Red Wines

A. European
1. Bordeaux
2. Chianti
B. Californian

1. Zinfandel
2. Pinot Noir

Cause-Effect Pattern
To identify it, ask yourself: What happened first? What was the result? Did something good or bad
happen? Why?
Organizational patterns
Provides focus and direction as the writer composes the document;
Increases the ease with which one can understand and remember the information

Chronological Pattern

Each main section of information represents a particular period of time; Sub-points contained
within refer to significant events that occurred within that time frame

The History of Flint, Michigan

I. 1895 - 1920

A. Significant Event # 1
B. Significant Event # 2
II. 1920 - 1945

A. Significant Event # 1
B. Significant Event # 2

Sequential Pattern
Similar to chronological; Arranges information in a "step-by-step" order that describes a
process

Spatial Pattern
You want to describe how something looks or how parts work together.

To identify it, ask yourself: Where are they talking about? Did a direction or location change?

Things to do in Seattle
I. Downtown Waterfront

A. Aquarium
B. Pike Place Market
II. Seattle Center

A. Space Needle
B. Pacific Science Center
Compare-contrast Pattern
To identify it, ask yourself: What are the two main topics? What similarities do they share?
What differences exist between them?

Cause-Effect Pattern
It's effective when writing a persuasive document in which the writer wants readers to take
some action to solve a problem

Problem-Solution Pattern
To identify it, ask yourself: What needs to be changed? What was wrong? How can it be
made better? What do you want me to do?

Compare-Contrast Pattern
Use when the reader can better understand one subject when it is described in relation to
another

Chronological Pattern
To identify it, ask yourself: Am I following a timeline? What clues let me know I'm going
through a time period?