_Example:_
Poorly organized:
- The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776.
- The U.S. Constitution was written in 1787.
- The Bill of Rights was written in 1789.
Better organized:
- The Declaration of Independence (1776), the U.S. Constitution (1787), and the Bill of Rights (1789) are three of the most important documents in American history.
2. Use transitions to connect ideas. Transitions help readers to follow the progression of the text and show how ideas relate to each other.
_Example:_
Poorly organized:
- The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776.
- The Constitution was written in 1787.
Better organized:
- The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776. _Next_, the Constitution was written in 1787.
3. Use headings and subheadings to break up the text. Headings and subheadings can help readers to quickly find the information that they are looking for and to understand the structure of the text.
_Example:_
Poorly organized:
The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are three of the most important documents in American history. These documents were written at different times and for different purposes, but they all share a common goal: to protect the rights of the American people.
Better organized:
The Declaration of Independence
- Written in 1776
- Declared the colonies' independence from Great Britain
- Listed the colonists' grievances against the British government
The U.S. Constitution
- Written in 1787
- Created a federal government for the United States
- Divided the powers of government into three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial
The Bill of Rights
- Written in 1789
- Added ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution
- Protected the basic rights of the American people, such as freedom of speech and religion
4. Use visual aids to support the text. Visual aids, such as charts, graphs, and diagrams, can help to make the information in the text more understandable and memorable.
_Example:_
Poorly organized:
The U.S. economy grew rapidly during the 20th century. The gross domestic product (GDP) increased from $2 trillion to over $20 trillion.
Better organized:
U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 1900-2000
[Chart showing the growth of the U.S. GDP from 1900 to 2000]
5. Use summaries to recap the main points of the text. Summaries can help readers to remember what they have read and to identify the main ideas of the text.
_Example:_
Poorly organized:
The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are three of the most important documents in American history. These documents were written at different times and for different purposes, but they all share a common goal: to protect the rights of the American people.
Better organized:
The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are three of the most important documents in American history. These documents were written at different times and for different purposes, but they all share a common goal: to protect the rights of the American people.
Summary
- The Declaration of Independence (1776) declared the colonies' independence from Great Britain and listed their grievances against the British government.
- The U.S. Constitution (1787) created a federal government for the United States and divided the powers of government into three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial.
- The Bill of Rights (1789) added ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution and protected the basic rights of the American people, such as freedom of speech and religion.