PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT IN WRITING

NARRATION
• Sequential presentation of events is observed. It is normally chronological although at times can use flashback.
• It contains action words – verbs and adverbs-that help move the story or process along and make it more
interesting.
• It uses transitional words and phrases such as first, then, soon, after, suddenly which maintain coherence and show
movement from one event to the next.
• It usually contains a ‘story component’ –characters, setting, conflict, climax and resolution. It is not simply listing the
events, it is pointing in the direction of a story using specific details.
Example:
Before the girls got to the porch, I heard their laughter crackling and popping like pine logs in a cooking stove. I
suppose my lifelong paranoia was born in those cold, molasses-slow minutes. They came finally to stand on the ground in
front of Momma. T first they pretended seriousness. Then one of them wrapped her right arm in the crook of her left,
pushed out her mouth and started to hum. I realized that she was imitating my grandmother.

DESCRIPTION
• In this paragraph, you convey how something sounds, smells, tastes, feels, and/or looks. Using transitional words
and phrases that indicate location are often recommended.
• Grow (1999) emphasized that successful description record a series of detailed observations. It is not about what the
writer sees but what the readers need to see in order to imagine the scene, the person or the object. He further
suggested the use of sensory language.
• Types of descriptions:
o Subjective – the writer is describing an impression of what is observed and often used in fiction. Ex. ‘It was a
dark and lonely night.’
o Objective – it is usually employed in reportorial and scientific writing. Its goal is to present an impartial and
actual picture of an object or scene. The writer has to stay away from emotional impressions or responses
and must be aware of his/her own biases so as not to influence judgment. Ex. ‘When detectives cover crime
scenes and have to write clear reports of their observation.’
Example:
The dirt of the girl’s cotton dress continued on their ;egs, feet, arms, and faces to make them all of a piece. Their
greasy uncoloured hair hung down, uncombed, with a grim finality. I knelt to see them better, to remember them for all
time. The tears that had slipped down my dress left unsurprising dark spots, and made the front yard blurry and even
more unreal. The world had taken a deep breath and was having doubts about continuing to revolve.

DEFINITION
• It identifies a term and sets it apart from all other terms that may be related to it. Generally, it begins by citing the
general class to which the term belongs. What follows are the particulars to differentiate the term from the other
members of that class providing clear details to support the term’s definition.
• Common methods of Definition:
o by characteristics or features, by function, by what it is not, by what it is similar to, by example, by its
origins, by its effect
• 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.
Example:
The viola is a stringed instrument in the violin family. It is only slightly larger than the violin and is tuned at a
lower pitch. Like its smaller relative, the viola is held on the shoulder under the chin and is played with a bow. While the
violin has many uses, the viola is used mainly in orchestral and chamber music.

EXEMPLIFICATION
• The writer develops a general statement – the topic sentence, with one or more examples. Writers use examples to
make a general idea clear – to exemplify an idea.
• The exemplification may be long or it may be short. It may be a story, an anecdote, a quotation or a statistic.
Example:
Many superstitions are so widespread and so old that they must have risen from a depth of human mind that is
indifferent to race or creed. Orthodox Jews place a charm on their doorposts; so do (or did) the Chinese. Some peoples of
Middle Europe believe that when a man sneezes, his soul, for that moment, is absent from his body, and they hasten to
bless him, lest he should be seized by the Devil. How did the Melanesians come by the same idea? Superstition seems to
have a link with some body or belief that far antedates the religions we know- religions which have no place for such
comforting little ceremonies and charities.

COMPARISON AND CONTRAST

• This paragraphs examines how given subjects are either similar or different. Comparison examines how the subjects
are the same, while contrast examines how the subjects are different.
• This pattern needs the effective use of appropriate transitional words and phrases that signal comparison and
contrast.
For comparison For contrast
in the same way Yet, and yet, nevertheless, nonetheless, but,
by the same token however, though,
similarly otherwise, on the contrary
in lie manner in contrast, notwithstanding
likewise on the other hand
in similar fashion after all,
Example:
Although the interpretation of traffic signals may seem highly standardized, close observation reveals regional
variation across this country, distinguishing the East Coast from Central Canada and the West as surely as dominant
dialects or political inclinations do. In Montreal, a flashing red traffic light instructs drivers to careen even more wildly
through intersections heavily populated with pedestrians and oncoming vehicles. In startling contrast, an amber light is
Calgary warns drivers to screech to a halt on the off chance that there might a pedestrian within 500 metres who might
consider crossing at some unspecified time within the current day. In my home town in New Brunswick, finally, traffic
lights (along with painted lines and posted speed limits) do not apply to tractors, all-terrain vehicles, or pickup trucks,
which together account for most vehicles on the road. In fact, were any observant alien dropped from a space vessel at
unspecified intersection anywhere in this vast land, it could almost certainly orient itself according to the surrounding
traffic patterns.

CAUSE-AND-EFFECT
• It is useful in explaining why something happens. A paragraph emphasizing the ‘cause’ normally starts with an effect.
The goal is to explore how a particular paragraph is to explore how such effect came to be. Similarly, a paragraph
emphasizing the ‘effect’ begin with a particular cause then explains the consequences of effects of this cause.
• Transitional words or phrases help to emphasize cause and/or effect relationship include because, since, is due to
and caused by, for this reason, it follows, as a result, as a consequence, thus, so, therefore.
Example:
An avalanche is a huge snow slide that rushes down the side of a mountain, carrying large trees, rocks, and other
debris in its path. Avalanches are similar to landslide nut can be more dangerous and destructive. Avalanches can occur
when huge amounts of new snow fall on layers of snow and ice that have become unstable because of melting. They can
also be triggered by explosions or earthquakes.

PROCESS ANALYSIS
• A paragraph that discusses step that one must take to achieve a particular end. Some intend for an audience that
needs to learn how to perform a process themselves.

• Other process analysis writing is informative rather than instructional.

• The steps in a process happen in a sequence, thus, are presented in chronological order and use transitional words
that include first, second, then, and finally.
Examples:
There are basically two ways to make a web page. The first way is to create the page(s) offline and then upload
them to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) via FTP. The second way is to create your web page(s) online using a Telnet
program by accessing your UNIX account, if you have one.
If you are creating your web page(s) offline, do so in any text editing or word processing document. Make sure
that when you save your document, you save it as a ‘text’, ‘plain text’ or ‘text only’ document. Otherwise it will not be
read properly by a web browser. Once you have created your page(s), you will need to contact your ISP about how to go
about uploading them to your server.

DIVISION AND CLASSIFICATION

• They are related methods for organizing objects or information. In division, we divide a general category of things
into smaller subcategories. In classification, we develop criteria for the items in a subcategory based on
relationships between the items.

PROBLEM-SOLUTION
• One of the commonly used paragraph patterns which has two parts: a problem and a solution.
• The writer presents the problem and some facts or reasons why it is a problem.
• The closing statement or conclusion highlights the connection between the problem and the solution.
Example:
Malnutrition is a big health issue in Niger. Niger is located in Africa close to the Equator. It has extremely high
daytime temperatures and very little rainfall. Yearly droughts threaten food production. As a result, many people starve.
With 10 million people to feed, they need a more reliable food supply. The challenge for people living in Niger is to
develop hardy drought resistant crops. With ample food supplies, the people of Niger would experience better health.

PERSUASION
• To persuade is to convince someone that your opinion on a subject is the right one.
• The methods of persuasion include using facts, referring to authority who can give impartial and unbiased
information, predicting the consequence and answering oppositions.
Example:
Laughter is one of the greatest healing devices known to man. Laughter is powerful and can help people in many
different ways. It has the power to cure something little as a bad day or to heal the wounds of a terminally ill person.
Laughing has helped create the smile which is the universal sign of well-being. Generally, individuals who do not laugh
live miserably and have unhappy lives. Dr. Robert Holden found out that smiling and laughing releases endorphins in the
brain which gives people a overall happy well-being. Using comedy, many doctors have stimulated the healing process in
manic depressants and fatally ill patients giving them hope and ambition. In many clinics laughter is being used in
replacing anti-depressants and reduces the need for pain killers (Dr. Gael Crystal). Take comedians for example, they
usually live long and happy lives. Putting a smile on faces and laughs in souls is what makes it complete. Laughter helps
heal people and brightens spirits for a better and healthier life. Laughing is a sign of joy and hope and keeps people
normal and the world happy. Using the techniques of laughter and happiness is the best medicine known to man.
Laughter is the universal sign of well-being and happiness within health. Laughing brightens the spirit and heals the mind
and body of people who allow it to overcome them. Therefore try a smile and laugh on for size and live a longer happier
life with loved one.

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