Trait 1--Organization
I've conducted my research and have a bunch of information! Now, how do I put it all together so it makes sense?
You are worried about how to organize your paper. No matter what type, strong writing has a clear beginning, middle, and end (introduction, body, and conclusion). The introduction is inviting and supporting information is presented in a clear sequence. Everything connects and the reader can clearly see how the author got from Point A to Point B. In other words, organized writing is like an effective road map that the reader can follow from start to finish.
How do you know how to organize your writing?
There are many different ways to organize the body of your paper. Most of them depend on what type of writing you are doing. Following are some suggestions for a number of types of writing:
| Type of writing | Suggested Organization |
| Analytical | Thesis appears at the end of the introduction paragraph. Body paragraphs ordered from least important to most important. |
| Evaluative | Include thesis at the end of the introduction paragraph. Define criteria for evaluation. Explore strengths/weaknesses of whatever is being evaluated in order of weakest point to strongest point. |
| Narrative | Chronological order that explains main point. |
| Comparison/Contrast | Whole vs. whole comparison or… point by point comparison. |
| Persuasive | Acknowledge and counter the opposition. Reassert the position. Assert and support position. |
| Research | Include thesis at the end of the introduction paragraph. Order body paragraphs from least important to most important. |
NWREL's 6+1 TRAITS of Writing Rubrics and Definitions
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