Patterns of Development

Objectives:
• Distinguish the different types of patterns of development
• Develop one’s writing through the different patterns of development

Patterns of Development
• The logical arrangement of ideas.
• There are different patterns by which ideas are developed. In determining the pattern of
development of ideas in a text, note the signal words used.

EIGHT (8) PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT

1. NARRATION
 Narration is written to explain what, when and who. It reveals what a reader should
learn and usually written in chronological order.
 Therefore, narrative paragraphs are characterized by words that show action and
words that show sequence.

Example:
“...A boy and a girl sat on the floor holding two bamboo poles by their ends flat on the
floor, clapping them together, then apart, and pounding them on the boards, while
dancers swayed and balanced their lithe forms, dipping their bare brown legs in and
out of the clapping bamboos, the pace gradually increasing into fury of wood on wood
in a counterpoint of panic among the dancers and in a harmounious flurry of toes and
ankles escaping certain pain – crushed bones, and bruised flesh, and humiliation. (The
Day The Dancers Came, Bienvenido Santos)

NARRATIVE DEVICES
- A technique that writers use to add flavor and enrich the meaning of their stories.

 Anecdote – brief narratives written from the writer’s memory.

Words have sustained me ever since I was a child. Every Sunday, we went to
National Book Store where my sister and I were each allowed to choose one book
to buy and bring home. I was told that my parents read to me every night when I
was young. As soon as I learned to read, it was my turn to read to them.

 Flashback – an event that happened in the past; an addition to explain or to

elaborate on a point made by the writer.

They would pick up fistfuls of snow, crunch it in their fingers or shove it into their
mouths. He had done just that the first time, long, long ago, and it had reminded him
of the grated ice the Chinese sold near the town plaza where he had played tatching
with an older brother who later drowned in a squall. How his mother grieved over
that death, she who has not cried too much when his father died, a broken man. Now
they were all gone, quick death after a storm, or lingeringly, in a season of drought,
all, all of them he had loved.
 Flashforward – an event that has yet to happen in the main timeframe of the story.

The funny fellow had a huge grin on his face. He wore no makeup (except to Bill his
whole face looked like makeup), but he was bald except for two tufts of hair that
stuck up like horns over his ear, and Bill had no trouble recognizing their clown. Two
hundred years or more, he thought, and felt a crazy surge of terror, anger, and
excitement rush through him. Twenty-seven years later, sitting in the Derry Public
Library and remembering his first look into Mike’s father’s album, he realized he
had felt the way a hunter might feel, coming upon the first fresh spoor of an old
killer tiger. Two hundred years ago...that long, and only God knows how much
 longer. This led to him to wonder just how long the spirit was a thought he did not
really want to pursue. (It, Stephen King)

 Time Stretch – a single event in the story that the author focuses writing about.
 Time Summary – unlike a time stretch, it jams together multiple events and/or
shortening a relatively long period of time (e.g. “in a single night...”, “overnight...”,
“after the winter season...”, “after around a week or so...”, “a few years after...,”
etc.)
 Dialogue – a word or series of words enclosed in a pair of quotation marks which
signals the characters’ spoken language within the confines of the text.

2. DESCRIPTION
 Description provides details on the idea by using either a sensory or spatial pattern.
Through a sensory pattern, ideas are arranged based on one or all of the five
senses.
 Some signal words used in this pattern of development are above, across, adjacent
to, away from, behind, beyond, farther, in front of, near, opposite to, throughout, to
the right, under, etc.

Caroline, or Sister Carrie, as she had been half affectionately termed by the family,
was possessed of a mind rudimentary in its power of observation and analysis. Self-
interest with her was high, but not strong. It was nevertheless, her guiding characteristic.
Warm with the fancies of youth, pretty with the insipid prettiness of the formative
period, possessed of a figure promising eventual shapeliness and an eye alight with
certain native intelligence, she was a fair example of the middle American class ... "
(Dreiser 1)

 Description can be subjective or objective.

 Objective Description - technical and factual in nature. It allows readers to clearly
and objectively identify whatever is being described because the writer reports their
experience as accurate and thoroughly they can.

A teenager is someone between 13-19 years old. They are called such because their
age number ends in “teen.” (Wikipedia entry on “Teenager”)

 Subjective description – expressive, evoke more emotions and ideas about an

image. Connotative language is more commonly found in such descriptions allowing
readers to understand the underlying messages associated with the details used.
There’s a teenager in my house. Until a few years ago, he was my son. But when he
turned 13, he also became this new stranger with new pimples around his nose and an
insolence in manner. (There’s A Teenager in My House by Kerima Polotan Tuvera)

3. DEFINITION
 Definition helps to clarify concepts by answering the question "What does it mean?"
 It explains information through the use of illustrations, examples and descriptions.
 Some signal words used in this pattern of development are: is defined as, as defined,
means, refers to, to define and to illustrate.
 In a definition paragraph, the writer's goal is to help the reader understand new
terms or concepts, or to come to new understanding of terms they may be familiar
with.

Social engineering is defined as any method which tricks people to share personal
information through the use of technology. The 'social' component in this scheme means
that there is reliance on various psychological tricks and on the gullibility of users rather
than technical hacking. Social engineering also refers to various malicious acts online,
such as phishing, spamming, and pretexting.

TYPES OF DEFINITION
  Denotation – primary, explicit, or literal definition of a word (based on the
dictionary meaning).
 Connotation – secondary meaning of a word; it is how people understand a
word based on their own personal or consensual experiences.

Example: red is a color denotatively but could also means as love, war, blood
connotatively.

METHODS OF DEFINITION
 By characteristics or features: Scientific definitions typically rely on this type
of definition. Physical features as well as behaviors (as in animal or cell
behavior) may be a part of this type of definition.

 By function: how something works, or what it does can be an important part

of definition.

Whether it may be an ancient sundial, a classy pocket watch, a Rolex or Swatch

wrist watch, an antique grandfather’s clock, or the mighty Big Ben of London,
a clock, foremost, is a piece of technology whose primary purpose is to measure
time.

 By what it is not: Ironically, we can get a pretty good sense of What

something is like, by learning what it is not, or what it is lacking

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not
proud...”

 By what it is similar to: Comparison and analogy help us understand things

that are unfamiliar to us.

“Mawkish” is “characterized by sickly sentimentality” or “weakly emotional.” It

can be considered synonymous to “nauseating” and “sickening” due to
dependence on too much emotion and disregard for logic and reason
(Mawkish, 2018).

 By example: Giving examples illustrating what the term means can be highly
effective.

Books are considered to be credible and reputable resource materials to consult

when you are trying to find the definition of a word. Some examples are
dictionaries, encyclopedias, journal articles, textbooks, and thesauri.

 By its origins: Providing a history of what a term has meant can help us
understand its current meaning.

For example, the slang term "wimp" comes from the term "wimple," which refers
to a head scarf women wore in mediaeval Europe.

 By its effect: Discussing what effects the subject produces is important with
certain subjects or in certain contexts.

For example, in an essay on global warming, a definition of CO2 emissions

emphasizing the consequences of these emissions to the environment would
be important.

4. EXEMPLIFICATION/CLASSIFICATION
 Exemplification presents the general statement and then provides specific and
concrete examples to expound on the main idea. It is used to provide an example
of something.
  Classification entails categorization which enables one to group together items
according to their similarities.
 Some signal words used in this pattern of development are: after all, as an example,
in particular, specifically, to illustrate, etc.

While the internet offers so many benefits to man, it also has its downsides. One of
these is phishing, which refers to the act of obtaining personal information, such as
passwords and credit card details through online means. In other words, phishing is a
form of cybercrime. As an example, let us consider the case of Mr. X. He received an
email stating that his Gmail account has been compromised and that he needed to click
a link to untie personal information. If Mr. X clicks on the link, his personal information
will be illegally acquired by cybercriminals.
Picking the right career is such a daunting task because it pits passion against reality.
Would you choose the profession you love or would you choose a more lucrative
profession? Some find a hard time choosing at first, so do not be surprised if you see
people shift careers several times before they achieve success. On this note, here are
some tips to help you choose the right career. Identify your interest. Are you fascinated
with numbers, arts, sciences, human behavior, computer technology, or teaching? Try
to process as well your reason for choosing a particular career; you can also factor in
the financial component during this stage. Another thing that you can do is to focus on
and learn everything about your chosen career. If you want to be a doctor, know
exactly what a doctor does and check whether you can handle this type of profession.
In addition, try to visualize yourself five or ten years from now, and develop a plan to
achieve the goal in your mind. Remember not to rely on luck when it comes to your
career; instead, make reasoned decisions based on what you want.

5. COMPARISON & CONTRAST

 Comparison/Contrast text shows how two or more people, places, or things are alike
or different.
 In the contrast paragraph, two subjects are discussed as how they are different,
again, listing a few examples.
 There are two ways to write a paragraph:
 Point by Point- writing back and forth between the two subjects. First, talking
about topic A. then talk about topic B., then right back to topic A. and so on.
 Block paragraph- only discusses one topic and then finishes the paragraph
with the other subject that is to be compared or contrasted with the first. Then
the conclusion puts what you are comparing or contrasting together.
 A graphic organizer, such as a Venn diagram, may be used to depict the similarities
and differences in facts, events, items, or concepts.

Are you not sure yet which phone to buy? To help you decide, this review will inspect the
basic similarities and differences of the flagship phones of two giant companies: Apples
iPhone 6 and Samsung's Galaxy S5. Both brag to be the best smart phones in the market
to date. While these state-of-the art phones have similarities in the form of their sleek
design, multi-touch touch screen, and multimedia features, they have their distinctive
features as well. First, Galaxy S5 has a larger screen at 5.1 inches as compared to iPhone
6's 4.7 inches. As for the operating system, iPhone 6 uses iOS(8.x) while S5 uses Android
(5.0,4.4.2). In terms of the camera, S5 has a 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera which
is higher than iPhone's 1.2 megapixels. Unlike S5, iPhone's battery is not user-replaceable
and has a shorter talk time, but when it comes to built-in storage, IPhone 6 outperforms
S5. Now that you know the basic differences of the two phones, you can decide!

6. CAUSE & EFFECT

 A cause is a reason for, or events leading up to.
 An effect is the results of a cause or causes.
 Cause/Effect is used to show how the facts, events, or concepts result due to
other facts, events or concepts. Words that signal this type of text structure are
because, since, therefore, if... then, as a result of, thus, and hence. A graphic
 organizer may be used to represent the relationship between the causes and
effects.
 A cause and effect paragraph analyzes the causes or effects of a certain
situation.
 One element is shown as producing another element. The passage could focus
on the causes of disease for example, or could focus on the effects of a trauma..
 A paragraph emphasizing the causes of something typically begins with an
effect; the purpose of the paragraph is to explore how that effect came to be
—to show what caused it.
 In a paragraph emphasizing the effects of something, a writer begins with a
particular cause, and then explores the consequences or effects of this cause.
 Using transition words to emphasize cause-and-effect relationships between
ideas is useful.

Words and phrases showing cause: because, since, is due to, is caused by, the
first cause (second, third), the first reason (second, third), yet another factor,
results from

Words and phrases showing consequence: as a result, consequently, therefore,

it follows, then, for this reason, one important effect, another result, a third
outcome, as a result, consequently, then, next, therefore, thus, so

The advancement in technology and economy has created major changes in modern
society. One of these changes is globalization. As we know, globalization has
affected the world in many ways. First, it served as a catalyst to worldwide trading,
thus allowing countries to access foreign products. Although this had positive
effects, it also posed a real threat to the merchandise of local traders. Second,
globalization affected the financial market. As a result, different countries had
more access to funds, and the exchange in national currencies dramatically
increased. Finally, globalization also led to the privatization. of various facilities,
such as public health institutions. These institutions were being privatized due to the
idea that the private sector can better manage and provide health services. In
consequence, health policies become more and more of a commodity on a global
scale.

 Causal chain – a set of cause and effect that leads to multiple other sets – all
happening one after the other.
Example: Acing an exam could result in receiving praises, good marks or grades
in the subject, even a spot in the honor roll – all these events gives you a causal
chain.
 Faulty Causality (propter hoc, ergo propter hoc) – happens when one assumes
that event A is always the cause of Event B, and/or B is always the effect of
Event A.
Example: the notions of lucky charms then attributing one’s passing of an exam
because they wore or had a particular charm with them at that time

7. PROBLEM-SOLUTION
• Problem- solution paragraph presents a problem and describes two or more possible
solutions to that problem.
• While writing a problem-solution paragraph, there are several steps to follow:
 State and define the problem: Briefly, clearly, and simply explain what the problematic
issue is and why it should be treated as a problem.
 Suggest the possible solutions: Present the reader with at least two possible solutions
to the problem. The solutions should be acceptable, realistic, reliable and mutually
exclusive. Otherwise, there is no point in suggesting them as solutions.
 Evaluate the solutions: Discuss the advantages (strengths) and the disadvantages
(weaknesses) of the solutions. Your aim is to make your reader understand why one
solution is better than the others). However, keep in mind that your solutions should be
effective; otherwise, you wouldn't have suggested them in the first place.
  Make a recommendation: If you think that one of the solutions is better than the others),
state directly which of the solutions in your opinion is better (the best) and why. You may
also suggest that solutions be implemented together to overcome or prevent a problem.

Astronauts face many problems in space caused by weightlessness. One of these problems
is floating around the cabin. To solve this problem, astronauts wear wear shoes that are
coated with a special adhesive. This adhesive sticks to the floor of the cabin. Serving food
is another problem. It won't stay put on the table! Experts solved this problem by putting
food and drinks in pouches and tubes. It only needs to be mixed with water. Weightlessness
also causes problems when an astronaut tries to work. The simple task of turning a wrench
or a doorknob can be difficult. Since there is no gravity to keep him down, when he exerts
a force in one direction, the opposite force may flip him over completely. To solve this
problem, he must be very careful about how much force he uses to do these simple tasks.
Here on earth, life is much simpler, thanks to gravity.

8. PERSUASION
 Persuasion means to convince someone that your opinion on a subject is the right
one.
 There are many forms of persuasion; you might not even know you are being
persuaded.
 For example advertisements are persuading you to buy a certain product. Or
family is always trying to convince you to do something or that they are always
right.
 It is important to consider the audience as your write persuasively.
 Directing your paragraph toward a particular audience can be helpful.
 Consider what kind of evidence this audience would respond to.
 When you take your audience into consideration, you will make your persuasive
paragraph more convincing

METHODS OF PERSUASION
 Facts - A statement of what is.
 Referring to authority - An expert who can be relied on to give unbiased facts and
information.
 Examples - An example should clearly relate to the argument and should be typical
enough to support it.
 Predicting the consequence - Helps the reader visualize what will occur if something
does or does not happen.
 Answering the opposition - Answering possible critics shows you are aware of the
opposing opinion and are able to respond

 Transitional expressions used to:

Give Reasons: first (second, third), another, next last, finally, because, since, for,
although

Answer the Opposition: of course, some may say, nevertheless, on the other hand
Draw Conclusions: therefore, thus, hence, consequently

Euthanasia or mercy killing has been a widely debated issue. It is an act to end a
person's life to alleviate the suffering brought about by a terminal or grave illness.
While it may be supported by some, mercy killing is not only an unethical medical
practice, it is also a crime. After all, on the most basic level, euthanasia still takes
a life. In fact, majority of the countries in the world, including those that have
legalized it, consider it as homicide. Aside from being a crime, euthanasia is
unethical in the medical context because it violates the principle of "primum non
nocore" which means "first, do no harm." In their code of ethics, doctors have the
responsibility of saving lives, not destroying them, which is why euthanasia can
never be acceptable.