logical order of a essay

Logical Order: Guidelines & Correct Structure

• Icon Calendar 26 June 2024
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The primary purpose of writing is to communicate views and ideas. Basically, learners organize written pieces in a way that gives meaning. In this case, a functional organization of sentences in paragraphs helps readers to follow a clear development of thoughts. Besides, such a method allows authors to deliver written works that meet academic standards. Hence, a logical order is a coherent organization of ideas from general to specific, which enhances an overall quality of papers.

What Is a Logical Order and Its Purpose in Writing

According to its definition, a logical order in writing is a structured and coherent arrangement of ideas and thoughts in a way that enhances understanding and readability for a reader. This way of presenting ideas also ensures each point builds upon a previous one, creating a clear and persuasive argument. For example, the primary purpose of writing in a logical order is to facilitate effective communication by presenting different themes in a manner that makes sense and supports an overall argument or narrative (Minto, 2021). This method of organization not only aids in preventing confusion but also enhances an overall persuasiveness and impact of writing. Moreover, when writing in a logical order, authors can ensure their message is conveyed clearly, making it easier for target readers to understand the key points and follow a natural progression of ideas (Barroga & Matanguihan, 2021). Whether in essays, research papers, reports, or creative writing, logical order is fundamental in conveying information clearly and persuasively.

Steps for Writing in Logical Order

• Identify Your Main Idea: Determine a central argument or thesis of your writing.
• Create an Outline: Draft an outline that organizes your main points in a logical sequence.
• Start With an Engaging Introduction: Introduce your topic, provide background information, and present your thesis statement.
• Organize Body Paragraphs: Begin each body paragraph with a specific topic sentence that states a single main theme.
• Use Transitions Effectively: Use transitional words and phrases and link your points between paragraphs and sections.
• Support Each Point With Evidence: Provide relevant evidence, examples, statistics, or quotes to back up each main aspect.
• Analyze and Explain: Analyze and explain how the evidence supports your point, reinforcing a logical progression.
• Address Counterarguments: Consider and logically refute potential counterarguments or alternative perspectives.
• Conclude Effectively: Summarize your central points, restate a thesis sentence, and provide a final thought or call to action.
• Review and Revise: Review your work to ensure logical flow and revise sections where needed for clarity and coherence.

Essay Organization Types

Organizing specific ideas.

A logical order requires learners to organize ideas from general to specific. For example, students make a general statement and then provide explanations (Firth et al., 2021). In this case, authors must ensure readers can understand described concepts. Besides, they must explain one theme exhaustively before moving to a next paragraph. In turn, authors must follow a natural sequence when writing. Finally, a proper flow of information relies on a useful classification of concepts. Therefore, successful learners organize their thoughts logically by making general claims followed by specific details. 

Thesis Statement for Presenting Information

Well-organized papers encourage learners to develop an effective thesis statement. For instance, exceptional essays rely on a unique central argument (Minto, 2021). In this case, students develop a general claim in their introduction. Besides, each body paragraph must support one main idea, covering a logical order. Thus, the need to organize thoughts logically encourages writers to develop strong thesis statements.  

Following a Logical Order

A correct logical order improves an overall quality of paragraphs in essays. For example, effective papers have paragraphs that deal with a single idea (Shapiro & Kissel, 2022). In this case, a first sentence in a section makes a general statement related to a central assertion. Then, other parts of a passage contain supporting examples and explanations. Besides, one should provide a transition to the different parts of an essay. Thus, following well-organized points in writing encourages students to shape a general quality of academic papers through effective subsections.

Enhancing Quality

A good logical order enables writers to enhance an entire quality of written papers by organizing concepts from known to new. For instance, capable learners communicate novel ideas and place them in a right context (Mensh & Kording, 2017). In this case, one should explain familiar concepts followed by unknown thoughts. In turn, a target audience can develop a better understanding of various concepts. Therefore, researchers can express new concepts to readers through logical organization.

Consistency

A logical order method helps learners to improve a particular tone of academic essays through consistency. For example, capable learners rely on a uniform writing style (Putra et al., 2023). In this case, authors must develop complete and clear sentences that enhance an overall meaning of a single paragraph. Besides, writers use similar grammatical structures throughout papers. Then, citing references determines an uniformity of one’s work. In turn, students should use the same style to acknowledge materials used to support arguments. Finally, this approach enhances an overall credibility of written pieces. As such, authors who utilize consistency improve written articles through uniformity of sentences and citations.

Common Mistakes

• Lack of a Clear Thesis: Failing to present a clear main argument or point at the beginning can confuse readers about a primary purpose of your writing.
• Weak Transitions: Poor or absent transitional phrases between paragraphs and sections can disrupt a natural flow and make your writing feel disorganized.
• Irrelevant Information: Including details that do not support your main point can distract readers and weaken an overall argument.
• Inconsistent Structure: Changing an organizational pattern mid-way, such as switching from chronological order to thematic order, can confuse readers.
• Overloading Paragraphs: Packing too many themes into a single paragraph can overwhelm readers and disorganize a main point.
• Repetition: Repeating same points without adding new insights can make your writing boring to read.
• Ignoring Counterarguments: Failing to address and refute counterarguments can make your writing appear one-sided, biased, and less persuasive.
• Weak Evidence: Using insufficient or weak evidence to support main points can undermine an argument’s credibility.
• Poor Conclusion: A conclusion that merely repeats an introduction paragraph or fails to provide closure can leave readers unsatisfied.
• Grammar and Syntax Errors: Grammatical mistakes and poor sentence structure can distract readers and obscure a logical flow of ideas.

In conclusion, successful learners unify written works to ensure they meet a right quality. Basically, a logical order technique refers to a defined organization of discussed points from general to specific. In this case, students develop a thesis statement, which is a comprehensive claim. Besides, authors must provide accurate details to support a central argument. In turn, this approach helps writers to organize concepts and ideas to achieve a unique flow. On the other hand, organizing papers logically enhances their overall quality.

Barroga, E., & Matanguihan, G. J. (2021). Creating logical flow when writing scientific articles. Journal of Korean Medical Science , 36 (40), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e275

Firth, K., Connell, L., & Freestone, P. (2021). Your PhD survival guide: Planning, writing and succeeding in your final year . Routledge.

Mensh, B., & Kording, K. (2017). Ten simple rules for structuring papers. PLOS Computational Biology , 13 (9), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005619

Minto, B. (2021). The pyramid principle: Logic in writing and thinking . Pearson Education Limited.

Putra, J. W., Teufel, S., & Tokunaga, T. (2023). Improving logical flow in English-as-a-foreign-language learner essays by reordering sentences. Artificial Intelligence , 320 , 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artint.2023.103935

Shapiro, S., & Kissel, T. K. (2022). Classical first-order logic . Cambridge University Press.

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Ordering Information in the Body of the Essay

Choosing a Logical Order for Ideas - Once you have your thesis and your groups of supporting information with topic sentence ideas, you can determine the best possible order in which to present them in the essay. To determine the most logical shape or order, ask and answer these questions:

• Is there a basic topic sentence idea that you should present first, before you explain the others, because the reader needs its information as background and because the other topic sentence ideas build upon it?
• Are there some topic sentences and groups of information that are more important than others? Can you discern a logical pattern, either in ascending or descending order of importance?
• Are there some topic sentences and groups of information that normally come first in a time sequence?

Order of complexity, order of importance, and time order are three basic, logical ways of shaping ideas to help the reading audience follow the flow of thought.

For example, consider the sample topic sentence, Adults returning to college face time, study, emotional, and family problems. Assuming that the order of the topic sentences in the support follows the order of ideas in the thesis, are these ideas arranged in a logical order? There doesn't seem to be any idea that has to be explained first. Also, each of the topic sentences that could be developed from this thesis seems equally complex. And the ideas don't exist in any type of chronological order.  So how do you determine a logical shape and order of ideas for this essay? One way is to move from the problems that affect just one person, the student, to the problems that affect the whole family (emotional problems, study skills, juggling work and family, changing family roles).  Another way is to move from the problems that can be dealt with more directly to those that are more complex to deal with (study skills, juggling work and family, changing family roles, emotional problems). The point here is that there needs to be some rationale or logical connection for ordering the ideas in the essay so that the essay's shape makes sense to others. And, whatever way the writer chooses, he/she then needs to align the order of ideas in the thesis to reflect the actual order of ideas in the support in order to complete the essay's logical shape.

Emphasis as a Means of Ordering Information in an Essay

Emphasis, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is a "special importance or significance placed upon . . . something." You can choose to emphasize different things in an essay by choosing where to place the essay's main ideas (the thesis and topic sentence ideas).

You emphasize main ideas when you place them at the start of the essay or the unit of support. If you place the thesis toward the start of the essay and the topic sentences toward the start of each unit of support, you gear all of the support toward proving those main ideas. Emphasizing main ideas by placing them first is called deduction, which creates a general-to-specific structure in the essay by placing the major information first. Deduction helps you focus on an argument and create a case, as it requires you to develop support around a main point.

For example:

The Impatient Silent Twitchers form an interesting group of line-standers because of their variety. The Wristwatch Checkers are the mildest sub-group of this larger group. Their bodies remain quiet except for the one arm where that powerful necessity, the wristwatch, sits. Maybe that the electric battery in the watch emits tiny electrical impulses to the nerves, but whatever it is, something creates a knee-jerk reaction in the arm to make the Wristwatch Checker's elbow defy gravity every minute and a half. Wristwatch Checkers are dangerous only in busy lines that wind back on themselves. As long as you're far enough away from them, though, they can make good line companions on warm, windless days.

You emphasize the method of reasoning and the particulars of the support as opposed to the main idea when you place the main ideas at the end of the essay or the unit of support. Main ideas still remain important when you place them at the end, but you offer them more as logical outcomes than as initial arguments (so the emphasis has changed). Putting the main idea at the end is called induction, which moves from specific information to general conclusions. Induction may help you present a controversial thesis to your reading audience. For example, if you were in favor of banning smoking in the doorways outside of buildings, you'd probably alienate many in your audience by placing that main idea first. But if you presented your support and lead into the main idea, your reading audience (smokers included!) might see the logic of your case (even if they didn't agree).

Some people stand in line quietly except for one arm which they constantly move up and down. These people check their wristwatches persistently, usually in regular short intervals which seem to become shorter as the line wait gets longer. Their arms jerk upward compulsively, elbows thrust out to the side, while their heads go down simultaneously. As the spasms subside, they usually accompany the arm's return to position by tapping their feet, exhaling loud breaths, or fidgeting in some other way. The Wristwatch Checkers are the subtlest and mildest members of the Impatient Silent Twitchers group of line-standers; they lend variety to a group whose movements usually are more pronounced.

You emphasize major ideas and method equally when you place main ideas in the middle of the essay or unit of support. In this case, the main idea exists neither as a generating point for the essay nor as a logical conclusion. Instead, it's a fulcrum which both grows out of and generates more particular support.

Imagine a sultry day. Imagine having to stand in a slow line to cash your paycheck after hours at an ATM. Imagine, all of a sudden, feeling a slight but steady breeze. The trees are not affected; where is the breeze coming from? After a while you realize that you're getting fanned by the arm motions of the Wristwatch Checkers, the mildest group of the Impatient Silent Twitchers, an interesting group of line-standers. Their bodies remain quiet except for one arm where that powerful necessity, the wristwatch, sits. It may be the battery's impulses to the nerves that causes the twitch, but whatever it is, something creates that urge to make the arm defy gravity every minute and a half. On a hot day, though, you'll be grateful for whatever causes their compulsion to make the line move by checking the time as that slight breeze wafts your way.

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Does my paper flow? Tips for creating a well-structured essay.

by Jessica Diaz

A sure way to improve your paper is to strengthen the way you present your argument. Whether you only have a thesis statement or already have a fully-written essay, these tips can help your paper flow logically from start to finish.

Going from a thesis statement to a first outline

Break down your thesis statement

No matter what you are arguing, your thesis can be broken down into smaller points that need to be backed up with evidence. These claims can often be used to create a ready outline for the rest of your paper, and help you check that you are including all the evidence you should have.

Take the following thesis statement:

Despite the similarities between the documentaries Blackfish and The Cove , the use of excessive anthropomorphism in Blackfish allowed it to achieve more tangible success for animal rights movements, illustrating the need for animal rights documentaries to appeal to human emotion.

We can break the thesis down into everything that needs to be supported:

Despite the similarities between the documentaries Blackfish and The Cove , the use of excessive anthropomorphism in Blackfish allowed it to achieve more tangible success for animal rights movements , illustrating the need for animal rights documentaries to appeal to human emotion .

In the paper, we have to (1) explain and support the similarities between the two documentaries, (2) provide support for excessive anthropomorphism in Blackfish , (3) show that Blackfish achieved more tangible success than The Cove , and (4) demonstrate the importance of human emotion in animal documentaries.

Already, we have four main points that can serve as the backbone for an essay outline, and they are already in an order that makes some intuitive sense for building up the argument.

It is likely that you will need to rearrange, expand, or further break down the outline. For example, in this case we would probably need to add a paragraph that explains anthropomorphism. We also might want to move the section on differences in animal rights success earlier so that it contrasts with the similarities between the films. However, having this starting structure and identifying the main sections of the paper can allow you to go ahead and start writing!

Checking that your argument builds

Reverse outline

While writing, it is often hard to take a step back and assess whether your paper makes sense or reads well. Creating a reverse outline can help you get a zoomed-out picture of what you wrote and helps you see if any paragraphs or ideas need to be rearranged.

To create a reverse outline, go through your paper paragraph-by-paragraph. For each one, read it and summarize the main point of the paragraph in 3-5 words. In most cases, this should align closely with the topic sentence of that paragraph. Once you have gone through the entire paper, you should end up with a list of phrases that, when read in order, walk through your argument.

Does the order make sense? Are the ideas that should go together actually next to each other? Without the extra clutter, the reverse outline helps you answer these questions while looking at your entire structure at once.

Each line of your reverse outline should build on the last one, meaning none of them should make sense in isolation (except the first one). Try pretending you don’t know anything about this topic and read one of your paragraph phrases at random (or read it to someone else!). Does it make sense, or does it need more context? Do the paragraphs that go before it give the context it needs?

The reverse outline method and the line of thinking detailed above help put you in the mind of your reader. Your reader will only encounter your ideas in the order that you give it to them, so it is important to take this step back to make sure that order is the right one.

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How to Write Academic English

• Understanding the Question
• Academic Vocabulary
• Coherence and Cohesion
• Summarising and Paraphrasing
• Incorporating Sources and Using References
• Showing Critical Thinking
• Planning and Organising your Writing
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Skills for Success  /  Academic Skills  / How to Write Academic English

Planning and Organising your Answer

Effective academic writing requires careful planning and organisation. A well-structured piece of writing not only makes your arguments clearer but also makes them more effective. 

The Importance of Planning

• Clarity and Coherence: Planning helps you arrange your ideas logically, ensuring that your writing flows smoothly from one point to the next.
• Focus: A clear plan keeps you focused on the main argument (or 'thesis'), preventing you from straying off-topic.
• Thesis Statement: Write down a thesis statement and plan your writing based on this. .
• Avoiding Repetition: A structured plan helps you avoid unnecessary repetition and ensures that each point is addressed only once.

Practical Tips for Planning and Organising:

• Understand the Assignment: Before you start, make sure you fully understand the assignment question or prompt. Identify the key requirements and any specific instructions.
• Brainstorm Ideas: Take some time to brainstorm and jot down all your ideas. This can help you see the bigger picture and identify the main points you want to cover.
• Create an Outline: Develop a detailed outline that includes your main points and subpoints. An outline serves as a roadmap for your writing and helps you maintain a logical flow.
• Introduction: Introduce your topic, provide background information, and state your thesis.
• Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea, supported by evidence and analysis.
• Conclusion: Summarise your main points, restate your thesis in the light of the evidence you have presented, and suggest implications or future research.
• Drafting: Start with a rough draft based on your outline. Don’t worry about perfection at this stage; focus on getting your ideas down on the page.
• Revising and Editing: After completing your draft, take time to revise and edit. Look for areas where you can improve clarity, coherence, and flow. Ensure that each paragraph transitions smoothly to the next.
• Use Visual Aids: Tools like mind maps, flowcharts, and diagrams can help you visualise the structure of your writing and see how different parts connect.
• Seek Feedback: Share your outline or draft with other students, instructors, Skills for Success, even friends and family to get feedback. This can provide new insights and help you refine your structure.
• Interpreting the Question in The Basic Steps in Doing an Assignment
• Brainstorming   in The Basic Steps in Doing an Assignment  
• Paragraphs in this guide
• Our Paragraphs Resources Page
• Coherence and Cohesion in this guide
• Our  Editing and Proofreading Resources Page
• Our  HowTo Guide: Writing an Essay Introduction
• Our  HowTo Guide: Writing an Essay Conclusion  
• Manchester Academic Phrasebank - Signalling Transition
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9.3 Organizing Your Writing

Learning objectives.

• Understand how and why organizational techniques help writers and readers stay focused.
• Assess how and when to use chronological order to organize an essay.
• Recognize how and when to use order of importance to organize an essay.
• Determine how and when to use spatial order to organize an essay.

The method of organization you choose for your essay is just as important as its content. Without a clear organizational pattern, your reader could become confused and lose interest. The way you structure your essay helps your readers draw connections between the body and the thesis, and the structure also keeps you focused as you plan and write the essay. Choosing your organizational pattern before you outline ensures that each body paragraph works to support and develop your thesis.

This section covers three ways to organize body paragraphs:

• Chronological order
• Order of importance
• Spatial order

When you begin to draft your essay, your ideas may seem to flow from your mind in a seemingly random manner. Your readers, who bring to the table different backgrounds, viewpoints, and ideas, need you to clearly organize these ideas in order to help process and accept them.

A solid organizational pattern gives your ideas a path that you can follow as you develop your draft. Knowing how you will organize your paragraphs allows you to better express and analyze your thoughts. Planning the structure of your essay before you choose supporting evidence helps you conduct more effective and targeted research.

Chronological Order

In Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” , you learned that chronological arrangement has the following purposes:

• To explain the history of an event or a topic
• To tell a story or relate an experience
• To explain how to do or to make something
• To explain the steps in a process

Chronological order is mostly used in expository writing , which is a form of writing that narrates, describes, informs, or explains a process. When using chronological order, arrange the events in the order that they actually happened, or will happen if you are giving instructions. This method requires you to use words such as first , second , then , after that , later , and finally . These transition words guide you and your reader through the paper as you expand your thesis.

For example, if you are writing an essay about the history of the airline industry, you would begin with its conception and detail the essential timeline events up until present day. You would follow the chain of events using words such as first , then , next , and so on.

Writing at Work

At some point in your career you may have to file a complaint with your human resources department. Using chronological order is a useful tool in describing the events that led up to your filing the grievance. You would logically lay out the events in the order that they occurred using the key transition words. The more logical your complaint, the more likely you will be well received and helped.

Choose an accomplishment you have achieved in your life. The important moment could be in sports, schooling, or extracurricular activities. On your own sheet of paper, list the steps you took to reach your goal. Try to be as specific as possible with the steps you took. Pay attention to using transition words to focus your writing.

Keep in mind that chronological order is most appropriate for the following purposes:

• Writing essays containing heavy research
• Writing essays with the aim of listing, explaining, or narrating
• Writing essays that analyze literary works such as poems, plays, or books

When using chronological order, your introduction should indicate the information you will cover and in what order, and the introduction should also establish the relevance of the information. Your body paragraphs should then provide clear divisions or steps in chronology. You can divide your paragraphs by time (such as decades, wars, or other historical events) or by the same structure of the work you are examining (such as a line-by-line explication of a poem).

On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph that describes a process you are familiar with and can do well. Assume that your reader is unfamiliar with the procedure. Remember to use the chronological key words, such as first , second , then , and finally .

Order of Importance

Recall from Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” that order of importance is best used for the following purposes:

• Persuading and convincing
• Ranking items by their importance, benefit, or significance
• Illustrating a situation, problem, or solution

Most essays move from the least to the most important point, and the paragraphs are arranged in an effort to build the essay’s strength. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to begin with your most important supporting point, such as in an essay that contains a thesis that is highly debatable. When writing a persuasive essay, it is best to begin with the most important point because it immediately captivates your readers and compels them to continue reading.

For example, if you were supporting your thesis that homework is detrimental to the education of high school students, you would want to present your most convincing argument first, and then move on to the less important points for your case.

Some key transitional words you should use with this method of organization are most importantly , almost as importantly , just as importantly , and finally .

During your career, you may be required to work on a team that devises a strategy for a specific goal of your company, such as increasing profits. When planning your strategy you should organize your steps in order of importance. This demonstrates the ability to prioritize and plan. Using the order of importance technique also shows that you can create a resolution with logical steps for accomplishing a common goal.

On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph that discusses a passion of yours. Your passion could be music, a particular sport, filmmaking, and so on. Your paragraph should be built upon the reasons why you feel so strongly. Briefly discuss your reasons in the order of least to greatest importance.

Spatial Order

As stated in Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” , spatial order is best used for the following purposes:

• Helping readers visualize something as you want them to see it
• Evoking a scene using the senses (sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound)
• Writing a descriptive essay

Spatial order means that you explain or describe objects as they are arranged around you in your space, for example in a bedroom. As the writer, you create a picture for your reader, and their perspective is the viewpoint from which you describe what is around you.

The view must move in an orderly, logical progression, giving the reader clear directional signals to follow from place to place. The key to using this method is to choose a specific starting point and then guide the reader to follow your eye as it moves in an orderly trajectory from your starting point.

Pay attention to the following student’s description of her bedroom and how she guides the reader through the viewing process, foot by foot.

Attached to my bedroom wall is a small wooden rack dangling with red and turquoise necklaces that shimmer as you enter. Just to the right of the rack is my window, framed by billowy white curtains. The peace of such an image is a stark contrast to my desk, which sits to the right of the window, layered in textbooks, crumpled papers, coffee cups, and an overflowing ashtray. Turning my head to the right, I see a set of two bare windows that frame the trees outside the glass like a 3D painting. Below the windows is an oak chest from which blankets and scarves are protruding. Against the wall opposite the billowy curtains is an antique dresser, on top of which sits a jewelry box and a few picture frames. A tall mirror attached to the dresser takes up most of the wall, which is the color of lavender.

The paragraph incorporates two objectives you have learned in this chapter: using an implied topic sentence and applying spatial order. Often in a descriptive essay, the two work together.

The following are possible transition words to include when using spatial order:

• Just to the left or just to the right
• On the left or on the right
• Across from
• A little further down
• To the south, to the east, and so on
• A few yards away
• Turning left or turning right

On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph using spatial order that describes your commute to work, school, or another location you visit often.

Collaboration

Please share with a classmate and compare your answers.

Key Takeaways

• The way you organize your body paragraphs ensures you and your readers stay focused on and draw connections to, your thesis statement.
• A strong organizational pattern allows you to articulate, analyze, and clarify your thoughts.
• Planning the organizational structure for your essay before you begin to search for supporting evidence helps you conduct more effective and directed research.
• Chronological order is most commonly used in expository writing. It is useful for explaining the history of your subject, for telling a story, or for explaining a process.
• Order of importance is most appropriate in a persuasion paper as well as for essays in which you rank things, people, or events by their significance.
• Spatial order describes things as they are arranged in space and is best for helping readers visualize something as you want them to see it; it creates a dominant impression.

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