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Understanding Text Organization

This document discusses techniques for organizing text, including physical formatting, signal words, and structure. Physical formatting uses headings, bolding, or bullets to guide the reader. Signal words like "first", "second", and "then" indicate the sequence or type of information. Structure provides an introduction, supporting details, and conclusion to frame the text. Together, these techniques help make the text logical and easy to understand for the reader.

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Fretz Ael
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819 views

Understanding Text Organization

This document discusses techniques for organizing text, including physical formatting, signal words, and structure. Physical formatting uses headings, bolding, or bullets to guide the reader. Signal words like "first", "second", and "then" indicate the sequence or type of information. Structure provides an introduction, supporting details, and conclusion to frame the text. Together, these techniques help make the text logical and easy to understand for the reader.

Uploaded by

Fretz Ael
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Understanding Text Organization

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to recognize different techniques for achieving organization in a text.

Are your texts sometimes difficult for readers to follow?


Do you want to know how to arrange or structure different elements in your written compositions?
Would you like to learn how to write more logically?

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.

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.

Tips
 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.

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