Organization deals with the overall structure of communication as well as the order of its parts. Effective communication has a three-part structure—an opening, a middle, and a closing.
Three-part structure isn’t an academic invention. Everything that is experienced in a specific sequence has this structure: a phone call, a conversation, an email, a movie, a novel, a concert, a game—even a class or a date.
When arranging details within the middle of a message, you have many options. Choose the organizational pattern that best fits your content. Here are common patterns and transitions.
Pattern
Transitions
Time: Move from start to finish.
first, second, third, last
start by, continue with, be sure to, finish by
to begin, afterward, next, finally
Location: Move from near to far, left to right, or top to bottom.
in front, beyond that, next in line, at the back
on the left, next to it, in the middle, on the right
at the top, in the middle, below that, at the bottom
Classification: Split topic into categories and deal with one at a time.
one type, another type, the third type, the last type
group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4
a common variety, a second variety, a rare variety, the rarest variety
Importance: Move from most important to least or from least to most.
the biggest reason, another reason, in addition, a final reason
first of all, secondly, furthermore, most importantly
to begin, additionally, significantly, certainly
Deduction/ Induction: Move from specific to general or from general to specific.
generally, in some cases, an example, one specific
a case study, similar studies, studies agree, we can conclude
the rule states, we would expect, looking closer, the evidence shows
Compare/ Contrast: Examine the similarities of and the differences between two subjects.
as/like, similarly, in the same way, likewise, also
however, in contrast, nevertheless, though, but/yet/still
both, neither, on the one hand, on the other hand, by comparison
Cause/ Effect: Outline the causes and effects of a situation.
because, due to, the reason, the catalyst
as a result, consequently, the outcome, the conclusion
whenever, once, from then on, in consequence
