Organization in Illustration

For more on order of importance, see pages “Order of Importance” in Chapter 3.

Illustration often uses order of importance to organize several examples, saving the most vivid, convincing example for last.

Transitions are important in illustration because they signal to readers that you are moving from one example to another. Use transitions to move between sentences within a paragraph and also to move between paragraphs.

Common Transitions in Illustration

also finally for instance in addition
another for example for one thing one example . . .
another example

ILLUSTRATION AT A GLANCE

Introduction with thesis statement

Says what you want readers to know about the topic

First example

Details about the example

Second example

Details about the example

Third example (often the most powerful)

Details about the example

Conclusion

Reminds readers of the main point and makes an observation based on it