Unit 1-3. English as a universal linguage

Section 1. Guidelines for intensive reading of ESP texts

Patterns of organization of texts. These include the following:

Description: Descriptions include physical descriptions of persons, places, or objects, or descriptions of processes, such as step-by-step explanations of how something is done or directions for doing something.

Comparison and Contrast: In this pattern the main idea is developed through comparison and contrast with other things. Often examples are used to illustrate. Definitions and descriptions are often included in this pattern.

Other patterns of organization of texts include:

Analysis: In this pattern, a topic is broken down into causes, effects, reasons, methods, purposes, or other categories that support the main idea.

Analogy: In this pattern the main idea is implied by the use of analogy. This organizing principle is often used to make complex concepts easier to understand by relating them to better known ones.

Definition: The purpose of a text in this pattern is to define, explain, or clarify the meaning of something. It may involve analysis, comparison or contrast, description, or even analogy. Students become adept at recognizing implied and explicit definitions.