D'Angelo's Paradigms

Paradigms are mental representations of some course of action. They act like maps that help you navigate your writing-before you write. Writers can use these maps to discover the organization possibilities inherent in some ideas and experiences. Again, these are not a prescription for organization a paper, but a suggestion or the beginning of an organization scheme. These paradigms relate material through coordination (giving ideas equal status) or through subordination (by subdividing material)

Static Topics

1. Description Paradigm
   1. Paradigm 1: Vertical Order (bottom to top, top to bottom)
   2. Paradigm 2: Horizontal Order (left to right, right to left)
   3. Paradigm 3: Depth Order (inside, outside)
   4. Paradigm 4: Circular Order (clockwise, counterclockwise)
2. Definition Paradigm

Extended Definition A

• Introduction (includes logical definition)
• Expansion of the genus
• Expansion of the differentia
• Conclusion (includes clincher sentence)

Extended Definition B

• Introduction (includes logical definition)
• Supporting details
• Supporting details
• Conclusion (includes clincher sentence)

Extended Definition C

• Introduction (includes thesis)
• Meaning 1 (partial definition of key term)
• Meaning 2 (partial definition of key term)
• Meanings 3, 4, 5,…
• Conclusion (includes clincher sentence)

3. Analysis Paradigm

• Introduction (includes thesis)
• Characteristic 1
• Characteristic 2
• Characteristic 3, 4, 5, …
• Conclusion (includes clincher sentence)

4. Enumeration Paradigm

• Introduction (includes thesis)
• First (the first, one)
• Second (the next, two)
• Third (another, three)
• Finally (the final, four)
• Conclusion (summary, return to beginning)

5. Classification Paradigm

• Introduction (includes thesis)
• Type 1 (or subclass 1)
• Type 2 (or subclass 1)
• Types 3, 4, 5, …
• Conclusion (includes clincher sentence)

6. Exemplification Paradigm

• Introduction (includes thesis)
• Example 1 (or cluster of examples)
• Example 2 (or cluster of examples)
• Examples 3, 4, 5, …
• Conclusion (includes clincher sentence)

7. Comparison Paradigms

Half and Half Pattern

• Introduction (includes thesis, sets up comparison)
• Subject 1
  • Characteristic 1
  • Characteristic 2
• Subject 2
  • Characteristic 1
  • Characteristic 2
• Conclusion (includes clincher sentence)

Characteristics Pattern

• Introduction (includes thesis, sets up comparison)
• Characteristic 1
  • Subject 1
  • Subject 2
• Characteristic 2
  • Subject 1
  • Subject 2
• Conclusion (includes clincher sentence)

Point by Point Pattern

• Introduction (includes thesis, sets up comparison)
• Subject 1 is similar (dissimilar) to Subject 2 in this respect
• Subject 1 is similar (dissimilar) to Subject 2 in this respect
• Conclusion )therefore, subject 1 is similar [dissimilar] to subject 2 in some respect know about 1 but not about 2)

Progressive Topics

1. Narration Paradigm
   1. Introduction (setting, character)
   2. Event or Incident 1
   3. Event or Incidents 2, 3, 4, …
   4. Conclusion
2. Process Paradigm
   1. Introduction (organizing sentence, description of the materials, principles, implements)
   2. Step or Phase 1
   3. Steps or Phases 2, 3, 4, …
   4. Conclusion (includes clincher sentence, summary)
3. Cause and Effect Paradigms

Cause to Effect Pattern A

• Introduction (includes background material, thesis)
• Cause 1
• Causes 2, 3, 4, …
• Effect
• Conclusion (includes clincher sentence)

Cause to Effect Pattern B

• Introduction (includes background material, thesis)
• Cause
• Effect 1
• Effects 2, 3, 4, …
• Conclusion (includes clincher sentence)

Effect to cause Pattern A

• Introduction (includes thesis)
• Effect 1
• Effects 2, 3, 4, …
• Cause
• Conclusion (includes clincher sentence)

Effect to cause Pattern B

• Introduction (includes thesis)
• Effect
• Cause 1
• Causes 2, 3, 4, …
• Conclusion (includes clincher sentence)