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2.2. Recognizing organizational pattern (Reading)

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • recognize and identify chronological order and problem/solution structures in healthcare texts.
  • explain the significance of signal words (e.g., “first,” “next,” “solution”) that indicate the organizational patterns in texts.
  •  articulate the importance of recognizing organizational patterns to improve comprehension.

Part 1: Warm-Up

Think and Share

  • Answer the following questions:
    • Have you ever followed a set of steps to complete a task (e.g., cooking a recipe, assembling furniture)?
    • How important is the order of steps in completing that task? Explain why.

Part 2: Vocabulary

Match the following words to their correct definition.

Words Definitions
Chronological order A series of steps or events arranged in the order they happen.
Problem A description of an issue or difficulty.
Solution A way to resolve an issue or address a problem.
Sequence The process of identifying a condition or disease.
Diagnosis Actions taken to improve health or address an illness.
Treatment The arrangement of steps in a particular order.

Part 3: Organizational Pattern

Read five statements about ‘How to check a patient’s blood pressure’ and put the statements in the correct order.

  • What words helped you answer the above exercise.
  • What type of organizational pattern is used in the above passage?

Read four statements about ‘Diagnosing and Treating a Patient with High Blood Pressure’ and put the statements in the correct order.

  • What words helped you answer the above exercise.
  • In a problem/ solution organizational pattern, what usually comes first – the solution or the problem?

Part 4: Reading: Managing a Patient’s Recovery Post-Surgery

Read the passage below and complete the tasks that follow:

Managing a Patient’s Recovery Post-Surgery

After surgery, it is crucial to follow specific steps to ensure a patient’s recovery. First, the patient must rest and avoid physical activity for at least one week. Next, follow-up appointments should be scheduled to monitor progress. However, complications can arise, such as infections or delayed healing. If this happens, the healthcare team may recommend antibiotics or additional procedures to address the issue.

  • Highlight or underline words that indicate a chronological order.
  • Circle the section where a problem is described.
  • Underline the section where solutions are provided.

Discussion

  • List at least three signal words that indicate chronological order in a text.
  • How can you tell if a text follows a problem/solution structure?
  • Why is it important to recognize organizational patterns when reading healthcare texts?
  • Write your own example of a situation that could be described using a problem/solution structure.
  • Write your own example of a situation that could be described using a chronological order structure.

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Basic Skills for Clinical Medical Assistant Copyright © 2025 by Montgomery College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.