CRCB Ch. 8 Summary - Textbook Methods of Organization

CRCB Ch. 8
Textbook Methods of Organization


This chapter is about the methods of organization in textbooks and how to recognize them and the advantages of that. Authors use different organization methods depending on what they want the reader to take from the book and depending on the subject matter. You can use organization word clues (owc) to help you recognize the different methods. There are six different classical organization methods. The first is Listing. The list is organized alphabetically, numerically, or by order of importance. Some of the organizational word clues for this method are the phrases “first of all”, “secondly” and “finally”. The next method is Analysis. In this pattern, the author breaks down the concept into different parts to show characteristics or properties. Some of the OWCs’ for this are: types, characteristics, aspects and properties. The next organizational method is the cause/effect method. This shows why something happened or the effects of it. OWCs for this method are: since, therefore, results, because, impacts, effects and then. The fourth method is the comparison/contrast method. This goes over the differences or similarities between two or more things. OWCs for this method are: compared with, similar to, as, but, like, although and however. The fifth method is the definition/example style. Authors use this to clarify meanings by using analogies and clear examples. Some OWCs for this are: defined as, another meaning, synonymous with and also referred to as. The final method the chapter discusses is the sequence method. This is showing the steps in a specific process or the order of events in their chronological sequence. Knowing how to recognize an authors method will help with a readers understanding of the text and help with remembering the information more efficiently. Authors may use a different method for each chapter in a book so you must be proficient in recognizing all six of them. I think this can help me in the future when I read textbooks in other classes. By knowing and recognizing an authors organization method, I can better predict what type of questions I should prepare for on tests and quizzes.