Organization
Just as the text you are writing needs to be focused and well developed, it also needs to be organized effectively, logically, and clearly for readers. Organization pertains to the following:
- the overall structure of the text
- the connections among the parts within the text known as unity and coherence
- introduction and conclusion
Organization in Context
While in general the writing projects you write will need to be clearly organized, what organization looks like and how it works in the text will depend on the context. For example, the number and type of sections, the order in which they appear, and whether or not headings are to be used, all depend on the discourse community, genre, and your rhetorical situation.
TRY THIS to understand organization in context. A lot of academic articles use headings (and subheadings), which reveal clearly the organizational structure of the text. Review the following headings from various academic texts and complete the following:
- What can you say about what you think the discourse community, the genre, and the rhetorical situation are for the texts from which each example is excerpted? Feel free to do a web search of the journal titles and authors to see what academic disciplines they are from.
- What do you notice about the concept of organization when it comes to each text? Compare and contrast as helpful to illustrate or show what you notice.
- If it were your job to identify the conventions or “rules” for organization for each text’s discourse community, genre, and/or rhetorical situation, what would you say? For example, “in this discourse community and genre it seems that. . .”
After responding in your notes, click on each passage to check your responses.
Passage 1 From the article “Disciplinary Landscaping, or Contemporary Challenges in the History of Rhetoric” by Jacqueline Jones Royster in the journal Philosophy and Rhetoric (we’re revisiting this text discussed in the previous section of this chapter on development)
(Introduction section—no heading)
Shifting where we stand
Shifting rhetorical subjects
Shifting the circle of practice
Shifting the theoretical frame
Coda
Works Cited
Passage 2 From the article “Executive Insights: A Road Map for Creating Profitable Operations in Foreign Markets—A Case Study” by Myron M. Miller in the Journal of International Marketing
(Introduction section—no heading)
The Most Urgent Concern of a Chief Executive Officer
Miller Medical Case Study
Willingness of CEO to Take Risk Investing in Europe
Strategies and Programs 1994-1997
Determination of Revenues and Costs
Impact on International Operations on Total Company Profitability
Alternative Strategy #1
Alternative Strategy #2
Guiding Principles for Winning in Foreign Markets
A Guide to Developing a Road Map to Profitability in Foreign Markets
Further Use of this Case Study
Conclusion
Passage 3 From the article “The Effects of Stress on the Lives of Emerging Adult College Students: An Exploratory Analysis” by Justin W. Peer, Stephen B. Hillman, and Emma Van Hoet in the Adultspan Journal (we’re revisiting this text discussed in the previous section of this chapter on development)
Abstract
(Introduction section—no heading)
Purpose of the Study
Method
Participants
Procedure
Data Analysis
Results
Sources of Stress
Effectiveness of Stress Management Efforts
Effects of Stress
Discussion
Implications for Counseling Practice
Limitations of the Study
Areas for Future Research
Conclusion
References
Passage 4 From the article “Synchrony Effects in Inhibitory Control Over Thought and Action” by Cynthia P. May and Lynn Hasher in the Journal of Experimental Psychology
Abstract
(Introduction section—no heading)
Experiment 1
Normative Data
Method
Participants
Materials
Procedure
Results
Participants
Sentence Completion Rates for Experimental Frames in Phase 1
Sentence Completion Rates for Test Phase
Discussion
Experiment 2 (the same headings above are repeated, differing in results)
General Discussion
References