Review the six basic writing structures - Structure

The little red writing book - Brandon Royal 2007

Review the six basic writing structures
Structure

Principle #4: Use the six basic writing structures to put ideas in their proper order.

Writing is very much about the order of ideas presented and the emphasis given to them. In terms of order, we expect ideas to unfold logically, which typically means seeing the most important ideas first. In terms of emphasis, we expect the most important ideas to get the most coverage. The six commonly used structures in writing include: (1) categorical, (2) comparative, (3) evaluative, (4) chronological, (5) sequential, and (6) causal.

The emphasis or weight given to ideas is important in all structures. The more you write about something, the more important that idea or topic is deemed to be. Order is also important, but not of paramount importance in all cases. Structures in which order is important include chronological, comparative, sequential, and causal structures. In chronological structures, you discuss the earliest events first and move forward in time. In comparative structures, the most important ideas come before any others. In sequential structures, you begin with the first item in a sequence and end with the last item in the sequence. In cause-and-effect structures, causes are usually identified and discussed before their effects.

In other structures, order is less important. These include categorical and evaluative structures. If we choose to structure our writing by category, it will not make much difference whether we talk about America, China, and then Britain, or start with Britain, go on to China, and finish with America. The same is true with structures based on evaluation; it generally makes little difference whether we discuss pros first and cons second or cons first and pros last. Moreover, if the writer wants to emphasize one side more than the other (or one idea more than another), he or she should make sure the conclusion does this.

Although not considered classic writing structures, two other common writing formats include “Question and Answer” and “Problem and Solution.” These structures tend to be less formal, and are often used with memos, handouts, and flyers.

Note: Writing structures relate to the body of a writing piece, not to the introduction or conclusion.

SUMMARY OF THE SIX WRITING STRUCTURES

OUTLINES FOR THE SIX WRITING STRUCTURES

The following are sample outlines highlighting the six types of writing structures.

Below are two representative samples of “Question and Answer” and “Problem and Solution” formats. One you might find as part of a travel brochure; the other you might find as part of a business memo.

QUESTION AND ANSWER EXAMPLE

Question: What is the best way to visit another country?

Answer: Take only pictures and leave only footprints.

Question: How can we help protect endangered animals?

Answer: Fight against loss of animal habitat, prosecute poachers, and prohibit the sale or purchase of endangered animals and their by-products.

PROBLEM AND SOLUTION EXAMPLE

During our annual conference, many corporate issues were raised. Here is a list of problems cited and our proposed solutions.

Problem: High employee turnover.

Solution: Put more effort into recruiting; establish an in-house training program; institute weekly happy hours each Friday, paid for by the company.

Problem: Increased marketplace competition.

Solution: Redefine our company focus; discontinue products and product lines that fail the 80-20 rule; hold employee brainstorming sessions in hopes of finding new ideas and creative solutions.