Ways to Organize an Essay

Time Sequence:

• Narration / chronology / process

Spatial Sequence:

• Top to bottom / bottom to top / north to south / south to north

• Left to right / right to left / west to east / east to west

Logical Sequence:

• Argument organizations

• Problem-solution / proposal organization

• Weakest point to strongest point

• Strongest point to weakest point

• "Sandwich style" -- weakest point(s) between strongest points

• Deduction

• Induction

Deductive Organization:

• Thesis first

• Supporting details second

• The thesis operates as a general principle

Inductive Organization:

• Thesis last

• Begin with specific (supporting) details

• Build toward a general conclusion or thesis