Reading and Writing

Learning Activity Sheets

(2nd Semester, Quarter 3 Week 1)
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READING AND WRITING SKILLS
THIRD QUARTER: WEEK 1
PATTERNS OF PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT

Name of Learner: _____________________________________________________

Section: ____________________________________________ Date: __________

Background Information:
As mentioned in your previous subject, Oral Communication in Context, communication is defined as a way of
expressing one's thoughts, feelings, insights, opinions, and others. Aside from speaking and listening, a person
can also communicate through writing. Writing is defined as a physical and mental act of expressing ideas by
developing them into statements and paragraphs that will be understandable to readers (Nunan, 2003).

From the start, you have known that a paragraph is a group of sentences that expresses a

complete thought. One way of developing a paragraph is by considering the writer's purpose. Does the writer
aim to narrate, describe, define, exemplify, compare, classify, persuade, argue, or give solutions to a problem?
This week's discussion is focused on the first five patterns of written texts across disciplines, which are Narrative,
Descriptive, Definition, Example, and Comparison as defined by Peña and Anudin (2016).

1. Narrative refers to telling a story or recounting a series of events chronologically, from start to finish. It
can be based on personal experience or knowledge gained from reading or observation. For example, if
you are interested to write your daily routines during community quarantines, narration can be used as
your writing pattern.

Every day, I wake up at 6:00 a.m. Before eating my breakfast, I drink two glasses of water to
energize my body. After eating my breakfast, I take a bath and start answering my modules according to
my schedule. During the lunch break, I usually take a nap for 15 minutes to recharge my body. Then, I
go back to my modules. After class, I help in preparing our dinner and washing the dishes to make sure
that I become productive by doing my responsibilities at home and school.

2. Descriptive is used to provide details by allowing readers to create a mental picture of how something
looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels. It may be similar to the narrative; however, through the words
used such as adjectives that describe a person, place, event, and other things in the paragraph, a
descriptive paragraph becomes another pattern of writing. It is also often used to establish a mood or an
atmosphere. For example, if you want to describe a memorable place that you have visited before, you
may use Descriptive as a pattern of writing your paragraph.

Baguio is my most favorite place in the Philippines. I love the cold breeze and historical places
like Camp John Hay and the Philippine Military Academy. They give me a perfect description of a calm
and serene environment brought by pine trees and different plants. I also like the sweet and sour taste
of fresh strawberries. The people there are also friendly, hospitable, and nice especially when they know
that I am a tourist. Most of all, the place gives me a feeling of relief because of its comforting ambiance.
It makes me appreciate the beauty of life, even more, when I am at this place.

3. Definition is understanding the essence of a word, an idea, or an expression. It simply defines an idea
to inform or clarify a concept to the reader. In defining, a writer may use the denotation or connotation of
a word. Denotation is the dictionary, literal, or primary meaning of a word, while connotation is the
implied or associated meaning. Similar to the description, definition can also use adjectives to describe
especially if a writer applies connotations. However, the definition is the exact meaning of a word correctly
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and collectively accepted by the readers and is used when writing academic papers like research articles
and textbooks, while a description varies from one person to another. To make you understand this
concept better, read the example of a definition paragraph titled “E-mail” by Younggren (2005).

E-mail is not something that you can hold in your hand, send in the mail, and a stamp is not
needed to send it. E-mail is simply mail put into digital form and sent to its recipient through the Internet.
Because of the technological advances of society, mail has been turned into something computer made
that can be sent anyplace, anytime, as long as there is an Internet connection. For instance, a person
does not have to wait until the post office is open to sending an important letter or message. All they
have to do is simply get on to the Internet and come up with a draft and hit the send button. Also, the
person looking to send the mail does not have to pay for the sometimes-expensive postage price, but
rather the monthly cost of Internet access. Because of the development of E-mail, people can send
messages without the hassle and in a timely fashion. The E-mail also helps businesses communicate
throughout their company simply with the push of a button. As time goes on, the e-mail will advance
while physical mailing will slowly be turned into something of the past.

4. Example or exemplification is used to explain a concept by giving examples. In contrast with Definition
wherein, the meaning of a word is given, in exemplification, the idea is presented by providing specific
and appropriate examples – facts, specific cases, or instances to elaborate on the main idea of a
paragraph. The paragraph below demonstrates how Exemplification is used in writing by giving examples
of parents’ complaints about the opening of classes this school year. Kindly note that the examples given
are based on the news on television and are not used to give negative comments or notions about
parents.

Most parents complain about the pursuance of classes this school year. Some concrete examples
of these complaints include the following: First, the students cannot have full access to online classes
because most of them do not have an internet connection. Second, most parents are working and do not
have much time to guide their children in answering the modules. Lastly, most parents prefer face-to-
face classes rather than the "new normal" schooling.

5. Comparison (and contrast) is demonstrated by giving an analogy or figurative language like similes
and metaphors to highlight similarities and differences of usually two or more concepts. An example of
a paragraph comparing and contrasting oceans and lakes, which was written by Barger (2020), is
provided below.

Oceans and lakes have much in common, but they are also quite different. Both are bodies of
water, but oceans are very large bodies of saltwater, while lakes are much smaller bodies of freshwater.
Lakes are usually surrounded by land, while oceans are what surround continents. Both have plants and
animals living in them. The ocean is home to the largest animals on the planet, whereas lakes support
much smaller forms of life. When it is time for a vacation, both will make a great place to visit and enjoy.
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Learning Competency with code:

Compare and contrast patterns of written texts across disciplines (Narrative, Descriptive, Definition, Example,
and Comparison)

Exercise A
Instructions: Identify the specific pattern of written texts (Narrative, Descriptive, Definition, Example, or
Comparison) being defined or described in the sentences below. Example sentences for a possible paragraph
are also given for numbers 6-15. Focus on the words used to easily identify the specific pattern of paragraph
writing. Write A for Narrative, B for Descriptive, C for Definition, D for Example, and E for Comparison on a
separate sheet of paper.

Example: B 1. It makes use of adjectives to describe a particular thing in a paragraph.

____ 1. It tells a story or recounts an event.

____ 2. It is used to discuss a concept by giving its similarities and differences.
____ 3. It explains a claim by providing examples.
____ 4. It adds vivid details to create a sense of experience for readers.
____ 5. It uses denotations and connotations to inform the readers of what the concept is all about.
____ 6. "Today, I realized that life is full of surprises. Life is amazing and wonderful even these days of the
pandemic. It is the best and most precious gift from the Almighty.”
____ 7. “Sheena likes sweet food. She always eats cake, chocolate, ice cream, and doughnuts.” ____ 8. “Deja
vu is a French word meaning ‘already seen.’ It has also been described as a feeling or experience that one has
seen or done something before” (Ming, 2005).
____ 9. “Oral Communication in Context and Reading and Writing Skills are both core subjects in senior high
school. However, Oral Communication in Context focuses on developing students’ speaking and listening skills,
while Reading and Writing Skills emphasizes the reading and writing skills.”
____ 10. “I asked my parents to buy me a study table, so I can enjoy the comfort of studying at home. Then, I
also requested my sister to be patient with me whenever I ask her to help me in answering my modules.”
____ 11. “Adobo refers to a method of marinating and stewing for any cut of meat or fish in a briny mixture of
vinegar, soy sauce, and spices.”
____ 12. “It was July 21, 1969, and Neil Armstrong awoke with a start. It was the day he would become the first
human being to ever walk on the moon. The journey had begun several days earlier, when on July 16th, the
Apollo 11 launched from Earth headed into outer space.”
____ 13. “A racist can be defined as a prejudiced person who discriminates because of another individual’s
outer appearance or race” (Fauque, 2005).
____ 14. “Books are credible resource materials to consult when looking for definitions of concepts. Some
examples are dictionaries, thesauri, encyclopedias, and manuals.’
____ 15. “Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio are both Filipino heroes. Rizal was born in Calamba, Laguna, while
Bonifacio was a child of Tondo, Manila.”

Exercise B
Instructions: Read the paragraph on online learning and traditional learning environments. Classify the given
paragraph enclosed in rectangle according to the pattern of written texts (Narrative, Descriptive, Definition,
Example, or Comparison). Using 2-3 sentences in bullet form, explain the reason for the classification of the
paragraph. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper. You may get 10 points for this activity, which is
divided into 5 points for correctly identifying the paragraph and another 5 points for the justification given.
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This time of the pandemic, online learning is used as one of the modes of learning
delivery. Just like traditional learning, online learning also requires a great amount of work.
Both emphasize giving and receiving feedback from students and teachers and that they
both have to manage their time wisely to accomplish their tasks related to the
teachinglearning process. Moreover, the challenges and rewards are the same in each
environment. However, online learning includes both synchronous and asynchronous
learning. Students need an internet connection to submit the activities. In the traditional
classroom, students use paper and pen to complete the given tasks. Students' voices and
raising of hands are also observed by the teachers during recitations. Given the analogy
between the two, it is emphasized that education is very possible despite all circumstances
that may happen and that the quality of education will not be sacrificed.

Exercise C
Instructions: Choose one specific pattern of written texts across disciplines (Narrative, Descriptive, Definition,
Example, or Comparison). Then, write a paragraph with 5-10 sentences about one of the suggested topics below
or anything that may interest you. A rubric is given to serve as your guide to achieving a very good score. Kindly,
note that the number of sentences would not affect your score as long as they are 5-10. Put your answer on a
separate sheet of
paper.
• “New Normal” Schooling
• Social Distancing
• Stories about Front liners
• Staying at home
• Experiences during Community Quarantines

Checklist for Scoring

Criteria VGE GE SE LE N
5 4 3 2 1
1. The paragraph is written based on the chosen
pattern of written texts across disciplines.
2. The paragraph is meaningfully and clearly written.
3. The words used are appropriately chosen and written
based on the topic.
TOTAL
GRAND TOTAL /15
Legend: VGE – To a very great extent; GE – To a great extent; SE – To some extent; LE – To a little extent; N
– Not at all

References for Learners:

Peña, Andrew Rey S. and Anudin, Ali G. 2016. Reading and Writing. Quezon City: Vibal Group, Inc.
Morgan, Kori. 2016. Compare and Contrast Online Vs. Classroom Instruction. Retrieved from
http://education.seattlepi.com/compare-contrast-online-vs-classroom-instruction1757.html
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Answer Key:

Exercise A
1. A
2. E
3. D
4. B
5. C
6. B
7. D
8. C
9. E
10. A
11. C
12. A
13. C
14. D
15. E
Answers may vary for Exercise B.
Exercise C
The paragraph is an example of a Comparison. Answers may vary for the explanation.

Prepared:
KATHLYN JOY B. GALANG
T-III/Reading and Writing Skills Teacher
Angeles City National High School-SHS