This
part of the writing process involves arranging your supporting sentences in a
logical and cohesive manner.
Enumeration is the most common method to do this.
The writer begins with a general class and then
breaks it down by listing some or all of its members or parts.
Words that show the reader exactly what is being listed
are called enumerators. (These usually appear in the topic
sentence.)
These are valuable key words, and using them in your
topic sentence helps you organize your paragraphs more clearly.
When making a list, you usually use numbers to indicate
the various items:
1.
apples
2.
grapes
3.
oranges
In more formal writing, however, you use listing
signals (first, second, third …)
Note:
Familiarize
yourself with the various types of listing signals and structures in your
textbook.
Oftentimes, all the parts of a paragraph will be of equal
importance. (square)
Sometimes, however, the writer will want to single out
an item (which is more important, more interesting, more influential, stronger,
bigger, etc.).
If the writer lists the most important point first
and then goes on to speak of the other points, then s/he is using descending
order. (Triangle with base on top)
If the writer lists the minor points first and saves the
most important point for last, then s/he is using ascending order.
(Triangle with base on bottom)