To determine if using visual patterns can help technically oriented people create coherent papers, 97 students enrolled in a beginning composition class were given five hours of instruction in the use of the "hub and spokes" (central idea supported by examples), "S-curve" (pro-con), and pyramid (inductive or deductive) formats. Holistic evaluations of essays written at the beginning and end of the instructional unit revealed improved coherence and organization in the final writing samples. Evaluation also indicated a student preference for the "hub and spokes" and "S-curve" patterns over the pyramid. (MM)