UNIT 6

PATTERNS OF PARAGRAPHS

When you read look for the patterns. They will help you understand and remember what
you read. There are many patterns in English. Writers often use these four patterns:
 Listing; in this pattern the writer presents details or generalization of ideas listing
the ideas that are related.
Example:
Ways to travel:
Plane
Train
Bus
Ship

 Time order; this pattern shows order of events based on the time of happening –
chronology. It also describes a sequence or process.
Example:
Wars in American history:
1776 - American Revolution
1812 - War of 1812
1860 - Civil War
1914 - World War I
1940 - World War II

 Cause – Effect; this pattern shows the cause and effect relationship
Example:
Cause: heavy rain
Effect: car accidents on the highway

 Comparison and Contrast; this pattern shows the comparison between two things
or ideas, analyzing their similarity and differences.
Comparing Paris and New York
How they alike?
Expensive
Beautiful buildings
Many art museums
How are they different?
Paris is a capital city;
New York is not a capital city
Paris is safer;
New York is larger

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Listing
There are signal words that you could look for when deciding which pattern the text has.
The following is an example for the listing pattern:

Example:
Diamonds are expensive for several
reasons. First, they are difficult to
find. They are only found in a few
places in the world. Second, they are
useful. People use diamonds to cut other
stones. Third, diamonds do not change.
They stay the same for millions of
years. Finally they are very beautiful.

What is the topic of this paragraph? ____________________________________________

What is the main idea? ______________________________________________________

The underlined words are the signal words. They tell us about the author’s pattern of
organization. The signal word for this pattern is several. It tell us to look for a list. This list
tells us the reasons why diamonds are expensive.

What are the reasons? Write the down beside the signal words.

Signals Reasons

First
Second
Third
Finally

Here are some signal words for the listing pattern:

First second one and for example or some many

Third other another also finally even
several

Task 1

Read each paragraph. Underline the signal words. Write the topic, the main idea and
pattern signal. The list other signal words and the details.

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 1
Judy really loves restaurant, and she would eat out every day if she could. One of
her favorites is the Italian restaurant. Another is the deli and sandwich shop near her house.
She also often eats at the Greek snack bar near the university.
a) Topic ______________________________________________________________
b) Main Idea __________________________________________________________
c) Pattern Signal _______________________________________________________

Signal Details

2
Computers are very useful, but they also can cause problems. One kind of problems
is with the computer’s memory. It is not perfect, so sometimes computers lose important
information. Another problem is with the machinery. Computers are machines, and
machines can break down. When computers break down, they may erase information, like
chalk on a blackboard. Or they may stop doing anything at all. And there is another
different kind of problem with computers. Some doctors say they may be bad for your
health. They say you should not work with computers all day.

a) Topic ______________________________________________________________
b) Main Idea __________________________________________________________
c) Pattern Signal _______________________________________________________

Signal Details

3
Computer language can be funny at times. For example, we say computers have
“memory”. We know they do not really remember or think. But we still say “memory”.
Also, on many computer programs there is “menu”. Of course we are not talking about
restaurants or food. This is a different kind of menu. Another funny example is the
“mouse” in some computers. It is hard to think about real mouse when you hear the word.
But do not worry: there are no little grey animals in the machine.

a) Topic ______________________________________________________________
b) Main Idea __________________________________________________________
c) Pattern Signal _______________________________________________________

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 Signal Details

4
People have many different ideas about what makes a great vacation. Some people
like to go away to a remote, silent forest, where they will not see anyone for days at a time,
Others prefer to spend their in an exciting city like New York, where they walk through
crowded museums all day and dance at discos all night. Still others enjoy the seashore,
where they can spend their days in the brisk salt air and allow the ocean waves to wash
away their thoughts of home and work. A few people decide to be practical and spend their
vacation time at home, doing major household projects, such as painting the house or re-
building a porch.

a) Topic ______________________________________________________________
b) Main Idea __________________________________________________________
c) Pattern Signal _______________________________________________________

Signal Details

Time Order
In the time order pattern the signal words are easy to be spotted because usually they are
the dates and year. However, there are other ways to describe this pattern. Study the
following example:

Albert Einstein was born near the end of

the 1800s in Ulm, Germany. He graduated
from University of Zurich in Switzerland at
age 26. That was also when he did his
famous work in physics. Fourteen years
later he won the Nobel Prize for Physics.
For the next ten years he lived in Germany.
He also traveled a lot to talk with other
scientist. The in early 1930s he had to
leave Germany because of Hitler and the
Nazi Party. He moved to the United States.

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 From that time until his death he lived in
Princeton, New Jersey. He died at the age
of 74.

The signals for this type of paragraph are underlined. Write down the signals and the
events.
Signals Events

Here are some years that might be suitable to replace the time signals. Match the year with
some of the signals: 1872, 1905, 1919, 1919-1929, 1933, 1933-1955, 1955

Dates are often signals for the time order pattern. Here are some other time order signal
words: first, next, soon, at last, finally, dates, last, later, before, while, then, times.

Task 2
Read each paragraph. Underline the signal words. Write the topic, the main idea, and the
patterns signal. Then list the other signal words and the details.

1
Alan was checking his bicycle to make sure he could ride it to work safely. First, he
checked the tires to make sure they had enough air. Then, he cleaned the frame and rims of
the tires. Next, he oiled the axle. After that, he checked the cable for gears. And finally, he
examined the brakes to make sure they were adjusted for quick stops in the city traffic.

a) Topic ______________________________________________________________
b) Main Idea __________________________________________________________
c) Pattern Signal _______________________________________________________

Signal Details

2
The second part of the Vietnam War began in 1954. After the French Army left,
there were two Vietnams: North Vietnam and South Vietnam. There were also two
governments. But both governments wanted to be the only government for all of Vietnam.
So, from 1954 until 1960, the North and South were fighting all the time. The North
Vietnamese grew slowly stronger. By the beginning of 1965, The North Vietnamese were

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winning the war. But the United States government did not want the North Vietnamese to
win. So, in March 1965, the United States sent began to help South Vietnam. They sent
guns and airplanes to help the South. At first, the United States sent only a few soldiers.
But by July 1965, there were about 75, 000 American soldiers in Vietnam.

a) Topic ______________________________________________________________
b) Main Idea __________________________________________________________
c) Pattern Signal _______________________________________________________

Signal Details

3
Anh Nguyen is Vietnamese. She was born in 1960 in Hue, a large city in South
Vietnam. When she was four years old her family moved to Saigon. She finished grammar
school in 1972, and then she went to high school. The first year of high school was a happy
year for Anh. She liked her classes, especially French and English. In the fall, she won a
prize for a French paper. That winter she decided she wanted to go study in France. Anh
dreamed about France all year. She studied very hard for her French class, and in the
spring she did very well on her examinations.

a) Topic ______________________________________________________________
b) Main Idea __________________________________________________________
c) Pattern Signal _______________________________________________________

Signal Details

4
When you decide to take a trip, the planning can be fun. First, you have to decide
where to go. Next, you need to look at maps and books about the place, and figure out how
to use your time while you are there. Soon after that, you should talk to travel agent to find
out how you travel agent to find out how you will travel, and how much it will cost. Then,
if you are going to a country with a language different from yours, you may decide to learn
a few phrases in that language. Finally, you need to make a packing list, and check to be
sure you have everything you need. After all this, you can relax and have a great trip.

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 a) Topic ______________________________________________________________
b) Main Idea __________________________________________________________
c) Pattern Signal _______________________________________________________

Signal Details

Cause – Effect

This pattern of text organization is not always easy to understand. There is a relationship
between a cause and its effect as a result from some cause. The following sentence is an
example of cause and effects:

Shoes with high heels can cause foot problems.

What is the cause of foot problems? Shoes with high heels.

What is the effect of shoes with high heels? Foot problems.
What are the signal words? Can cause.

Here are some of the sentences to practice understanding causes and effects. Find the
cause and the effect, and then underline the signal words.

1. Exercise can make you hungry and thirsty.

Cause __________________ Effect ___________________

2. Many car accidents happen because of reckless driving.

Cause __________________ Effect ___________________

3. Bad food and not enough sleep are two reasons for bad health.

Cause __________________ Effect ___________________

4. Many doctors today believe that smoking cigarettes may lead to cancer.

Cause __________________ Effect ___________________

5. Some people become nervous because of drinking coffee

Cause __________________ Effect ___________________

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 6. Many fires in homes are due to careless smokers.

Cause __________________ Effect ___________________

7. Heart disease is sometimes the result of eating too much.

Cause __________________ Effect ___________________

8. Very bright sunlight can cause your eyes to hurt.

Cause __________________ Effect ___________________

9. High insurance cost are one result of car accidents.

Cause __________________ Effect ___________________

10. Serious family problems can cause illness.

Cause __________________ Effect ___________________

Here is another example of a cause – effect paragraph:

A cold winter causes serious problems in Florida. It has a bad

effect on farming. The farmers there grow a lot of oranges. Very cold
weather can cause orange trees to die. Cold weather also results in fewer
tourists. There are many hotels and vacation places in Florida. These
places are in trouble if there are fewer tourists. And finally, very cold
weather can cause health problems. Many people do not have heating in
their homes. So, they can become ill from cold.

Topic: the effect of cold weather in Florida

Main Idea: cold weather in Florida can cause many problems

Cause Signals Effects

Cold Weather causes problems
Can cause orange trees to die

Task 3

Read each paragraph. Underline the signal words. Write the topic and the main idea. Then
write the effects and the causes.

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 1
There are many different causes of car accidents in the United States. Sometimes accidents
are caused by bad weather. Ice or snows make the roads dangerous. Accidents can also
result from car problems. Even a flat tire can be serious. Bad roads also cause accidents,
and bad drivers can cause them, too. Drivers who fall asleep and drivers who drink alcohol
cause many accidents in this country.

Topic:
Main Idea:

Causes Signals Effects

2
The pollution of many rivers and lakes is caused by the draining of all the waste water into
them. Ships on the harbor also causes sea water polluted because they throw away tanks
there. Another problem of sea water pollution is caused by the factories and hospitals that
dump many chemicals to the harbor, some even directly to the river.

Topic:
Main Idea:

Causes Signals Effects

3
Most people do not think of coffee as a drug. But, in fact, it is a drug and it ahs important
effects on your body. Some of the effects are good some are not. Coffee can help you stay
awake when you are driving or working. But it can also keep you awake when you want to
sleep. Coffee makes some people feel more alive so they can work better. Other people
feel to nervous when they drink coffee. After a large meal, coffee can help your stomach.
But too much can cause a stomach ache

Topic:
Main Idea:

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Causes Signals Effects

4
Aspirin is a simple drug. It has many useful effects. It can stop a headache or earache. It
helps take away pain in the fingers or knees. Aspirin can stop a fever if you have flu. Or it
can make you feel better if you have a cold. Some doctors believe that

Topic:
Main Idea:

Causes Signals Effects

Comparison and Contrast

This pattern of text organization compares two things or ideas in term of their similarities
or likeness and difference. Study the following example of how apple and orange is
compared and contrasted.

Compare an apple and orange.

How are they alike? Both are kinds of fruit.

Both are round.
Both have skins.
Both taste good.
How are they different?
They are different colors.
They taste different
Orange grows in warm places. Apple grows in cool places.
Sometimes oranges do not have seeds. Apples always have seeds.

Now, try to compare and contrast the following things ideas

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 a) Home telephone and cellular phone.
b) Studying abroad and home.
c) _____________________________________________________________
d) _____________________________________________________________

Some comparison signal words are: alike, like, both, in the same way, similar, same, also,
different, unlike, more than, less than, but, however, different from, etc.

Task 4

Underline the signal words in each paragraph. Write the likeness and differences in the
spaces.

1
The food in India is similar to the food in China. First of all, in both countries, rice
is a very important food. It is served at almost every meal in India and China. Indian and
Chinese cooking can be very spicy. And they are also alike because they both use many
different vegetables. In both countries, the meat dish is not always the most important dish.
Finally, these are very large countries with long histories. So both include many different
kinds of cooking. In India and China, each part of the country has its own favorite kinds of
food and way of cooking.

What is this paragraph comparing? _____________________________________________

Likeness

2
Medical care is very different in England and in the United States. In England
medical care is national. That means the government pays for all medical care. But in the
United States they are all very expensive. Everyone in England gets medical care, even
poor people. It is not like this in the United States. Only Americans with a lot of money can
pay for good medical care. Poor Americans sometimes get help from the government.

What is this paragraph comparing? _____________________________________________

Differences

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 3
Tomatoes are very popular in most parts of the United States, but most people
prefer tomatoes grown in the home garden. There is a great difference between tomatoes
from the supermarket and home garden tomatoes. The supermarket tomatoes have a very
little taste, their color is pale yellow-red, and they as hard as rocks. On The other hand,
home garden tomatoes are deep red, juicy, tasty, and tender.

What is this paragraph comparing? _____________________________________________

Likeness Differences

4
In some ways English breakfasts are very similar to American breakfasts. In both countries
people usually eat large breakfast. English and American breakfast both include several
dishes. They may include some fruit juice, cereal, and then egg and toast. In both places,
there may also be some meat with breakfast. However, there are also some differences
between American and English breakfasts. In England, people usually drink tea in the
morning. However, most Americans prefer coffee. The English usually do not eat sweet
things for breakfast, but d
What is this paragraph comparing? _____________________________________________

Likeness Differences

Task 5 Identifying the Four Patterns

Identify the relationship pattern in the following sentences. In the blanks write TO if the
pattern is Time Order; CC if it is Comparison – Contrast; CE if it is Cause – Effect; and L
if it is Listing.

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 1. _______ The tornado came from collision of the warm low front with the
cold high pressure air mass.
2. _______ After the tornado had passed, the city was drowned in the heavy
rain.
3. _______ The rain added problems to the disaster victim of trying to keep
dry.
4. _______ Officials said that the storm was worse than any other disaster
that had struck the area during the past fifty years.
5. _______ There were not so many injuries as in 1950 tornado, but the
property damage was ten times as great.
6. _______ Two hundred and fifty families were left homeless by the storm.
7. _______ In the past few months, the city has had many trouble: sewerage
water flood, high unemployment, a water shortage, a flu epidemic, and
now a tornado
8. _______ The people have shown patience, courage, ingenuity, and a
remarkable sense of humor.
9. _______ The trouble seemed to inspire many people to behave
unselfishly.
10. _______ Although the Citizen were too confused to do anything, a few of
the men began to organize volunteer to cleaning up.

Task 6

Decide the pattern of each paragraph – TO, CC, CE, or L- and write it down. Then read
the extra sentence at the next page. Find the best sentence that fits the pattern, and write
down the letter beside the paragraph.

1. The kitchen in Linda’s new house had many problems. The first
problem was the sink. The water did not go down the drain. And finally,
there was also a problem with the refrigerator. Water came pouring out and
it made a terrible mess. Pattern

2. Linda had a time in her new house last week. On Monday, the sink
was not draining well. She had to call the repair company. Next, on
Wednesday, the stove broke. The repair person had to come back to her
house. The repair person spent many hours working in Linda’s house that
week. Pattern

3. Linda thought the problem with the stove was serious. But then she
found out that the refrigerator problem was worse. The stove was not easy
to fix. But then the refrigerator was much more difficult. It was also much
more expensive to fix the refrigerator. Pattern

4. Linda had difficult week because of all the problems in her house.
She could not cook any food because the stove did not work. And then, all

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 her food was ruined because the refrigerator broke. She had to throw it all
away. Linda was upset. She almost decided to sell her new house.
Pattern

Sentences:
a) The refrigerator was much messier than the sink problem.
b) And then, on Friday the refrigerator made a terrible mess.
c) Linda decided to buy a new stove and a new refrigerator.
d) Another problem was with the stove. It did not get very hot.
e) She could not wash her dishes because of the broken sink.

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