This section of our ParaPro Study Guide covers the organizational structures that writers use in their work. Knowing the different organizational patterns an author can use in a passage is imperative to being prepared for the ParaPro Reading exam.
What Do We Mean When we Say “Organization”?
All good writing will follow a standard organization to communicate ideas effectively. Writers do not just put down their ideas in the order they pop into their head; rather, their ideas need to flow in a way that groups together like topics and thoughts and ensures the work progresses to a logical conclusion.
You have probably organized your own writing without knowing it if you have made an essay outline as a pre-writing strategy. The outline helps your ideas connect with one another and tell a cohesive story.
The ParaPro exam will likely ask you to determine how a passage is organized. The options will usually include one of the following patterns:
Compare/Contrast: When an author shows how things are alike and/or different.
Example introduction: “Golf and tennis are similar sports in that they aren’t team sports. However, they also differ in many ways, such as the type of ball used and the location in which they compete.”
Problem/Solution: When an author lays out a conundrum and proposes how it can be solved.
Example introduction: “Hurricanes continue to cause destruction across many coastal communities. One way to limit the potential destruction is to build stronger buildings and higher seawalls so water won’t infiltrate into homes as much.”
Cause/Effect: When an author explains an incident and the consequences of it.
Example introduction: “Inflation has had a major impact on the economy. As a result, home prices have increased and more people are living paycheck to paycheck.”
Degree Order: When an author lays out a passage in order of most important to least important.
Example introduction: “Preparing for a vacation involves a lot of planning. The most important thing you must do is first buy your plane or train ticket. The second most important step is packing appropriately for your trip.”
Chronological Order: When an author lays out a passage in order of time, starting with the earliest event first.
Example introduction: “America’s pursuit of independence was a long and demanding journey. It began in 1773 when the English tried to impose taxes on all types of goods, including tea. This led to the Boston Tea Party. In 1776, America voted to break free from England and declare their own independence. In September 1783, they officially won the Revolutionary War, making them a fully free nation.”
Note that reverse chronological order is also an organizational structure, but you likely won’t encounter it on the ParaPro exam. As the name suggests, it is just like chronological order, but it starts with the most recent event and works backwards in time.
Spatial Order: When an author uses directional words to describe the positioning of something, working to create a full picture.
Example introduction: “The front of the house includes large double doors and ornamental bushes. The right wing is where you’ll find the master bedroom. In the backyard, you’ll find a playground and exercise area.”
Classification: When an author groups items into specific categories. This will usually include a phrase followed by a colon and sequence of terms.
Example introduction: Baseball has four bases: first, second, third, and home plate. You will also find that each team has three outfielders: left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder.”
Description: When an author uses a lot of adjectives to describe a scene, painting a picture in the reader’s mind. They will invoke the five senses to allow you to better “see” the story.
Example introduction: “It was a clear and sunny day. As we sat on the beach, we could smell the fresh salt water coming from the east. The ocean was a distinct turquoise-blue color while the waves crashed in and the white caps flew high into the air.”
Flashback: When an author starts a story in the present before going back in time.
Example introduction: “The earth shook, knocking my book off the shelf. Immediately, I thought back to the last earthquake I experienced and how I was trapped in the elevator.”
Understanding these organizational structures will go a long way in helping you answer the applicable ParaPro questions quickly and accurately. The biggest mistake that students make is confusing the different “order” options. Thus, it’s important to know the difference between chronological order, degree order, and spatial order.
Example 1
The Civil War is one of the most destructive battles in American history. It started with the South’s secession from the Union when Abraham Lincoln called for all states to be free and abolish slavery. The South followed it in April 1961 by firing the first shot at Fort Sumter, officially beginning the Civil War. The war then progressed through a series of significant battles that turned the tide, none more than the Battle at Gettysburg in 1863, which gave the North the upper hand. Two years later, in 1865, the North trapped the South and forced Robert E. Lee to surrender.
How is the information in the passage organized?
- Chronological order
- Degree Order
- Spatial Order
- Problem/Solution
The correct answer is (A). Two huge clues are in this passage. “It started with” helps indicate that we will be going through events chronologically. The author also gives the years of each important event in order, starting with 1861 and 1865. If it were in degree order, it would begin with the most important events and end with the least important. If it were spatial, it would use directional words, perhaps to describe where the battles took place.
It’s essential to note that some passages could be organized in multiple ways, but there will never be four options where two are too similar or relevant. For example, spatial order tends to be descriptive, since it describes a setting; thus, you probably won’t get those two options in the same question.