This exercise, especially useful for an Arguing paper, requires you to make large posters, depicting the Example Organization List below. Then, have your students hold the posters while the others tell them where to stand. For example, "Jeff, you go to the right of Gina." Students think this is dorky, but it works.

First, ask students to order only #1 through #7. Encourage them to explain their reasoning, as well as to consider alternatives. It's important here to point out that some of these items may not be essential. For instance, a paper might not have an essay map, or #6 and #7 might be the same thing.

Next, take out #5, #6, And #7 and add #8 through #10 to illustrate the importance of organizing to highlight strengths and minimize weaknesses.

Third, take those three out and put in #11 through #16, and students begin to see that they can break their argument into a point-by-point format. A similar strategy works well with organization on a paragraph label. You can literally cut up a piece of writing and have students put it back together. This works with weak as well as strong samples. Students see that weak writing lacks clear metadiscursive cues and a logical, chronological, or hierarchical sequence of ideas. Typically, visual exercises work best for teaching organization.

Example Organization List

Essay Map
Background Information
Introduction
Conclusion
Your Claim and Evidence
Refutation of Opposing Arguments
Address Drawbacks or Weaknesses of Your Claim
Strong Point
Medium Point
Weak Point
Point One and Evidence
Point Two and Evidence
Point Three and Evidence
Address Opposition or Weaknesses: Point One
Address Opposition or Weaknesses: Point Two
Address Opposition or Weaknesses: Point Three