Chapter 9 : Reading Graphics and Electronic Sources

          Visuals in the forms of Tables, Graphs, Charts, Diagrams, Maps, and Photographs are seen throughout our lives. They serve to be rather useful in which they help to evaluate, comprehend, and bring information across. Each have their own purpose, some very similar some very different. They help in reading, speaking, and writing. While serving to provide information for you to grasp and acknowledge.
          The graphics listed prior help to organize information. Tables arrange facts, graphs help to compare and contrast. While charts organize information in a more attractive visual display. Diagrams show relationships between parts, and maps describe location and direction, while photographs spark interest and draw out the viewers emotion. All of these graphics are considered to be visual aids and they serve a great purpose. By engaging both the speaker and view in the conversation, or display of information. With visual aids you are able to get your point across in a simpler and perhaps even quicker manner. They provide evidence and give reason to the meaning of what you are trying to bring across in speech.

Chapter 8 : Following the Author's Thought Patterns

          Thought patterns allow you to explain something in various ways. There are six common thought patterns and they are recognized as such:  (1) illustration/example, (2) definition, (3) comparison/contrast , (4) cause/effect, (5) classification, and (6) chronological order/process. The first thought process allows you to give an example such as a specific event that can illustrate what you the writer is trying to say. The second thought process is used to explain or describing an object/idea and their distinguishing characteristics/features. The third pattern explains similarities and differences, and the fourth pattern connects between events and show the result of what has occurred. The firth pattern explains an object and or idea while describing/explaining it by dividing it up into sections/categories. The final pattern puts events and procedures to be made in order from beginning to end.
          As a writer thought patterns can be extremely useful in which they help to state, and clarify what we want to explain. They help to summarize, and add information while maintaining a functional and orderly fashion of writing. Some or all can be used within our day to day writing. Once we have been able to grasp the concepts of each writing pattern we will then be able to organize our ideas more effectively. Transitional words also play a strong role within each thought pattern and can be of great use when emphasizing an idea in your writing.