Mastering Organization in Writing

1. Organization The second element of the 6 + 1 Traits

2. What does organization mean? When you organize your desk you put things in neat piles with each kind of book in a different pile. Then you put your supply box where it would fit best. So to organize means to put things together in an orderly way. When writing we have to put our thoughts and ideas in their proper place. Everything fits together just like a puzzle.

3. So how do I organize my paper? • Introduction – Beginning of a paper • Transitions – moving from one subject to the next • Sequence – one thought following another in order • Pacing – the speed of moving from one thing to the next • Conclusion – the last section of the paper

4. Introduction • Create an exciting first beginning • Give the reader a clue of what the piece may be about • Make it exciting so the reader will want to find out what will happen next. • Once upon a time an eagle lived in the country. • I want to talk about eagles. • An eagle soared over the green pasture keeping a close eye on the fox below.

5. Transitions • When moving from one paragraph to the next remember to do it like stairs. Don’t skip steps. One at a time! • If your piece moves too fast the reader will get confused. • If you spend too much time on one step the reader will get bored.

6. Sequencing When you get ready each morning you don’t put your shoes on before you pants. Things need to be done in order! When we write, events or information need to be told in order of how it happened.

7. Pace Yourself As these boys run the race they can’t run too fast at first. They will run out of energy and not be able to finish. On the other hand if they take it too slow the crowd will lose interest and stop watching. We need to remember the same things in writing. Don’t move from one subject to the next too quickly. Although, don’t spend too much time on one subject.

8. Conclusion If the beginning of the story hooks the reader, like a fisherman hooks a fish. The conclusion needs to be like the fisherman reeling in the fish and finding out what kind of fish is on the other end. The end of the story needs to answer any question and leave the reader thinking. Just as the fisherman thinks, “Where can I get another big one like that.”

9. Organize Yourself Unlike your desk or mine, organize the pieces of your writing. • Introduction • Transition • Sequence • Pace • Conclusion

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