Chapter 15: Organizing

How can I choose an organizing pattern?

How can I arrange my argument?

How can I create an outline?

  • Understand the types of organizing patterns

  • Reflect on your writing situation

  • Labeling

  • Grouping

  • Clustering

  • Mapping

  • Create an informal outline

  • Create a formal outline

image A well-organized document allows a reader to predict what will come next. Choose an appropriate organizing pattern by reflecting on your writing situation, thesis statement, reasons, and evidence. With that pattern in mind, use labeling, grouping, clustering, and mapping to arrange your argument and formal and informal outlining strategies to organize your document.