Patterns of Development

• Narration


  Tells or recounts in time sequence what happened to someone or to something, which may be fictional or true
• A narrative is a story
• Narrative paragraphs contain action verbs that move the story along in an interesting manner, and use transitional words or phrases to indicate time or sequence
• Examples of narrative texts


  • History articles, character sketches, anecdotes, biographies, autobiographies, travelogues, adventure stories, short stories
• Description


  Provides information on what a person, an object, a place, or a situation is like, appealing to the reader's senses
• Types of description


  • Objective (factual, informative, scientific, technical) and Subjective (suggestive, evocative)
• Descriptive paragraphs use adjectives, adverbs, and signal words denoting location or direction
• Definition


  Explains what something is in comparison to other members of its class, along with any limitations
• Types of definition


  • Synonym, Intensive, Extensive
• Exemplification


  Shows or illustrates the characteristics of the rest or the whole of something
• Classification


  Explains something by dividing or grouping it into types of categories based on criteria
• Exemplification and classification are often used together with another pattern of development to provide details
• c. unfair
• d. mean
• Happiness


  The type of definition you would use to explain what happiness is to you
• Exemplification may be used to show or illustrate the characteristics of the rest or the whole of something
• Classification is the process of explaining something by dividing or grouping it into types of categories
• These patterns of paragraph development are often used together with another pattern of development since they provide details necessary to further develop a paragraph
• Priorities, by definition, are the goals, dreams, and concepts that we deem important
• Exemplification is a common and effective way to show or explain an idea or point (e.g., observation, opinion, belief)
• In this pattern of development, the writer explains the main idea by giving an extended example or a series of detailed examples
• Illustrations through clear and specific examples help explain abstract ideas and clarify meaning in texts
• Argumentative essays, feature articles, reviews, reports, and case studies often use examples to prove a point
• Classification refers to the sorting or arrangement of subjects (e.g., persons, places, things, ideas) into groups or categories according to their common or shared characteristics
• The purpose of a classification paragraph is to clearly define something and place it in a group according to some basis or rule
• You must first have a strong sense of purpose. Without this sense of purpose, your system for classifying information may not meet your needs
• This pattern can be applied in various disciplines
• You can use both exemplification and classification in developing your ideas in writing
• Begin by classifying the ideas and then explain each one by giving examples
• As more and more people send emails, three categories of emails have emerged--junk mail or spam, nuisance mail, and the genuine personal mail
• Junk email or spam refer to get-rich-quick schemes, invitations to various websites, and advertisements of unwanted products and services
• Nuisance emails are emails that serve no purpose but to distract people and waste their time
• Genuine personal emails are the best kind of emails. They come from family, friends, and colleagues and are welcome not only for their sincerity but also for their utility
• Your task is to write an editorial for a newspaper based on a chosen editorial cartoon
• As the editorial of the campus paper, this should also represent the voice of the students and raise some awareness in the critical minds of its readers
• Write a good essay with at least 500 words
• Use a combination of at least two patterns of development in writing your essay
• Match the message of your editorial with your chosen cartoon