Text Organization

• Text organization is the way a text is

organized that helps to guide the reader
logically through it. This property
makes a text readable and its message
clear. Organization can be achieved
through the following techniques:
• Physical format
• Signal words
• Structure
Physical Format
The format is an aspect of the organization that is
immediately apparent to the reader. It is seen in how
the text physically appears like headings and
subheadings, bullet points or font emphasis. However,
use this technique with discretion as improper or
superfluous formatting can be confusing.

Example:
Marxist ideology has three main theories. Historical
materialism purports that all the features of society
can historically be traced back to economic activity.
Social class in capitalist societies is what produces
unjust structures of power that exist today. Socialism
would be the next rational step for the development of
human society.
 Explanation:

The words in bold are the three most

important Marxist theories that the first
sentence is referring to. By emphasizing
these words, the reader can identify the
correct term for the concepts along with
their definitions; this would also aid in
remembering the theories since they stick
out from the rest of the text.
Signal Words

Signal words are textual cues that readers can use

to follow a text. They can "signal" the transition from
one point to another, the ordering of events and
concepts, or the writer's chosen text type (e.g.,
linear narration, question and answer).
Example:
Chuck Palahniuk's novel Fight Club greatly
influenced me as a fictional writer. First, his use of
the unreliable narrator fascinated me, and I have
written similar characters in my works. Second, the
theme of patriarchal oppression can also be found in
the stories I write. Third, the novel's stunning twist
is something that I have been trying to recreate. Thus,
I am extremely grateful to have encountered Palahniuk's
genius early in my writing career.
Signal Words

Example:
Chuck Palahniuk's novel Fight Club greatly
influenced me as a fictional writer. First, his use
of the unreliable narrator fascinated me, and I
have written similar characters in my works.
Second, the theme of patriarchal oppression can
also be found in the stories I write. Third, the
novel's stunning twist is something that I have
been trying to recreate. Thus, I am extremely
grateful to have encountered Palahniuk's genius
early in my writing career.
 Explanation:
By using sequential signal words
(first, second and third) before the
beginning of every sentence, the reader
can follow what seems to be the writer's
list of three reasons why the novel
influenced him. The word thus also
signals the conclusion and the end of the
list.
Structure
The structure provides the framework upon which the
text is organized. It consists of the following:
• Beginning: introduction, thesis statement, hook
• Middle: supporting details
• End: conclusion, summary, final message
Example:
Ancient philosophies believe that a person has an
"aura," this appears as a rainbow of light around the
body that can be seen by individuals with clairvoyant
abilities. The colors change depending on one's mood,
health, and thoughts. Some scientists believe that the
existence of the aura has something to do with the
electromagnetic fields produced by cells and tissues in
the human body. Whether auras are real or not, the fact
remains that there are forces everywhere that are real
even though we cannot see them.
Explanation:
Organization in this paragraph is not readily
noticeable as it does not use cues like formatting
or signal words. However, the text is organized in
this way:
• Beginning: Introduce topic of aura
• Middle: Definition and evidence of existence of
auras
• End: Ending message about forces in the world
By adhering to the structure, the writer can
produce a text that is still easy to follow. The
topic, supporting details and concluding message is
still clear to the reader.
 Text organization makes a text
easy to read. It prevents the reader
from becoming confused by a jumble
of words, sentences, and paragraphs
that are in no particular order.
 Organization can be achieved
through the physical format, signal
words, and structure.
Proper language use allows you to
capture the message that you want to
convey to your readers. It is all
about choosing the right words that
accurately capture your ideas.
However, writers sometimes encounter
problems with the following:
• Misused Words
• Words with Unwanted Connotations
• Technical or Highfalutin Words
Misused Words
A writer might sometimes use a word
incorrectly, and this occurs when the word does
not mean what he or she thinks it does. So, it
is important to be certain of the definition of
a word before using it; this often happens with
words that sound or look alike.
Example:
There are many behaviors that past societies
considered legal but are now deemed amoral
including slavery, sexism, and racism.
Explanation:
The writer confused the word "amoral" with
"immoral." The former means neither moral nor
immoral (without moral quality) while the latter
means not moral. Sometimes, it is easy to guess
the correct meaning of a word just by looking at
how it is spelled. The prefix a- signals that
something is without such as in "anarachy"
(without a government) or "atypical" (without
typical features). On the other hand, the prefix
im- simply means not such as in "imperfect" (not
perfect) or "impossible" (not possible).
Words with Unwanted Connotations
There are words that take on a
meaning specific to a context. Some
writers might not be aware of these
connotations, so they end up using
language that is unintentionally
confusing, comical or even offensive to
readers.
Example:
The coast guard salvaged Priscilla
and her sister after their fishing boat
was damaged in the storm.
Explanation:

The word "salvage" means to save usually from the

wreckage of a marine vessel. However, the
Philippine media and police often use the term to
mean a violent killing, which is opposite from its
traditional English meaning. It comes from the
Spanish word "salvaje" that has a meaning similar
to "savage." Thus, if the writer produced this text
for a Filipino audience, the meaning that he or she
intended would be lost. Using the word "saved" or
"rescued" would remedy the issue.
Technical or Highfalutin Words
Writers want to sound smart by using words
that are very technical or have deep
meanings. Though some writing genres require
the use of such words, writers should still
be careful about using them since they make
readers work harder to understand texts.
Example:
There is an ongoing discourse about the
antidisestablishment assemblage and the
administrative political body.
Explanation:
The text is complicated because it is filled
with words that are difficult to understand. If
the terms are important to use, then the writer
could define what they mean. Otherwise, the
sentence could be rewritten simply this way:
There is an ongoing discussion between the
opposition and the government.
This sentence still "sounds smart" but it is
easier for most people to understand and it does
not change the meaning of the original sentence
in any way.