1. The Effective Reader (Updated Edition) by D. J. Henry
Chapter 6: Transitions and Thought Patterns
PowerPoint Presentation
by Gretchen Starks-Martin
St. Cloud State University, MN
© 2004 Pearson Education Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers

2. Transitions and Thought Patterns
Authors use two techniques to clearly show how ideas are related to one another:
Transitions
Thought Patterns

3. Transitions
Transitions are words and phrases that signal thought patterns by showing the logical relationships within a sentence and between sentences.
Example: Fernando is actively involved in several community organizations. Children know Fernando likes them because he goes on all the Boy Scout camping trips and he coaches a youth soccer league.

4. Thought Patterns
Thought patterns are established by using transitions to show the logical relationship between ideas in a paragraph or passage.

5. Example: Relationships Within a Sentence
Weightlifting builds and tones muscles; it also builds bone density.

6. Example: Relationships Between Sentences
Robert and Dorothy had a fantastic time when they vacationed at Valhalla Resort on Marathon Key in Florida. They woke up before dawn every day so that they would not miss the beautiful sunrises….

7. Thought Patterns
Thought patterns (or patterns of organization) are signaled by using transitions to show the logical relationship between ideas in a paragraph, passage, or textbook chapter.
Some common patterns are:
Time Order
Space Order
Listing
Classification

8. The Time Order Pattern
The time order thought pattern generally shows a chain of events.
The actions or events are listed in the order in which they occur (chronological order).
There are two types:
Narration
Process

9. Transitions Used in the Time Order Pattern for Narration
After
Afterward As
Before
Currently
During
Eventually
Finally
First
Last
Later
While
Meanwhile
Next
Now
Often
Previously
Second
Since
Soon
Then
Ultimately
Until
When

10. Example
When Corbin decided to become a teacher, he had no idea that he was also deciding to become a career student. His first notions of wanting only a bachelor’s degree were quickly dispelled. During those early years as a teacher, he found that the more he learned the more excited he was about teaching. Eventually, his passion for learning earned him a master’s degree and a doctorate degree.

11. Transitions Used in the Time Order Pattern for Process (Steps, Stages, or Directions)
After
Afterward As
Before
Currently
During
Eventually
Finally
First
Last
Later
While
Meanwhile
Next
Now
Often
Previously
Second
Since
Soon
Then
Ultimately
Until
When

12. Example
To ensure proper interdental cleaning, floss each day. First, break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Second, wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. Third, hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. Next, guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion; never snap the floss into the gums. Then gently slide it into the space between the gum and tooth.

13. Space Order Pattern
The space order pattern allows authors to describe a person, place, or thing based on its location or the way it is arranged in space.
The writer often uses descriptive details to help readers create vivid mental pictures.

14. Transition Words in the Space Order Pattern
Above
Across
Adjacent
Around
At the bottom
At the side
At the top
Back
Backup
Behind
Below
Beneath
Beside
Beyond By
Center
Close to
Down
Far away
Farther
Front
Here In
Inside
Left
Middle
Next to
Nearby
Outside
Right
There
Under
Underneath
Within

15. Example
From their heads to the tips of their tails, humpback whales bear distinctive markings. On top a humpback whale is dotted with fleshy knobs called tubercles; a strand of hair with many nerve endings grows out of each tubercle.

16. The Listing Pattern
Authors list a series or set of reasons, details, or points.
Changing the order of the details does not change their meaning.

17. Addition Transitions Used in the Listing Pattern
And
Also
Furthermore
Another
Besides
Final
Finally
First
First of all
For one thing
In addition
Last
Last of all
Moreover
Next
One
Second
Third

18. Example
An animal as large and beautiful as a horse needs to be cared for carefully. First, cleaning its stall on a regular basis is absolutely necessary. In addition, a horse needs to be groomed 3-5 times a week. Finally, a horse needs to be fed and exercised on a daily basis.

19. The Classification Pattern
Authors use the classification pattern to sort ideas into smaller groups and describe the traits of each group.
Each smaller group, called a subgroup, is based on shared traits or characteristics.

20. Transitions Used in the Classification Pattern
Another (group, kind, type)
Characteristics
First (group, categories, kind, type)
Second (group, categories, kind, type)
Order
Traits

21. Example
“Wetlands” is a general term that includes several types of vital links between water and land. One type of wetland is a bog; it is characterized by spongy peat deposits, acidic waters, and is covered by a carpet of sphagnum moss. Another type of wetland is the marsh, which is a wetland frequently swamped with water; it is characterized by soft-stemmed vegetation. Finally, a swamp is a type of wetland dominated by woody plants.

22. Thought Patterns in Textbooks
Textbook authors use transitions to make relationships between ideas clear and easy to understand.
Often authors mix thought patterns in the same passage or paragraph.
The effective reader looks for the author’s primary thought pattern.

23. Chapter Review
Transitions are words and phrases that show the relationships between ideas.
A thought pattern is established by using transitions to show the logical relationship between ideas in a paragraph or passage.
Narration and process are two uses of the time order thought pattern.
Transitions of time signal that the writer is describing when something occurred.
In addition to showing a chain of events, the time order pattern is used to show steps, stages, or directions that can be repeated at any time with similar results.

24. Chapter Review
Transitions of addition, such as and, also, and furthermore, are generally used to indicate a listing pattern.
Authors use the classification pattern to sort ideas into smaller groups and describe the traits for each group.
Examples of classification signal words are first type, second kind, or another group.
The space order pattern allows authors to describe a person, place, or thing based on its location or the way it is arranged in space.
Some of the words used to establish the space order pattern include adjacent, below, and underneath.

25. Practice
Complete the Applications, Review Tests, and Mastery Tests for Chapter 6 in your textbook.
Remember to complete your scorecard for the Review Tests in this chapter.