Patterns of Development in

Writing
 1. Development by Description
It is the most commonly used method of writing a
paragraph. Its purpose is to present image or a picture.
 Subway
by Gilbert Highet
Standing in the subway station, I began to appreciate the
place-almost to enjoy it. First of all, UI looked at the lighting:
a row of meager light bulbs, unscreened, yellow and coated
with filth, stretched toward the black mouth of the tunnel,
as though it were a bolt hole in an abandoned coal mine.
Then I lingered with zest, on the walls and ceilings: lavatory
tiles which had been a white about fifty years ago, were
Now encrusted with soot, coated with the remains of
dirty liquid which might be either atmospheric humidity
mingled with smog or the result of perfunctory attempt
to clean them with cold water; and above them, gloomy
vaulting from which dingy paint was peeling off like
scabs from an old wound, sick black paint leaving a
leprous white undersurface.
Key points in Writing Description
1. Be alert with your senses.
2. Decide which single impression you
will emphasize.
3. Select details that will help convey
the desired description.
4. Don’t catalog.
5. Put things first.
6. Be brief but accurate.
7. Use vivid specific words.
8. Use comparisons.
9. Use a transitional devices as
a guide post.
2. Development by Narration
It is the most difficult to write compared to
other types of paragraph development. It is
also spiced up with picture words. Its
events must be arranged according to
order of time.
 The most embarrassing moment of my sophomore year was
how I earned my nick name, Crash. It all started after school
when I turned to the busiest street by the school. First, I pulled
up right behind this truck at a stop sign. After a second, a fellow
older student told me that I was really close and that I was going
to hit the truck in front of me. At that moment I was trying to
tell the kid that I was giving a ride to get back in the car because
he was hanging out the window. Since I was distracted, I
thought the long line of traffic had started to move, but it
hadn’t. in a blink of
An eye I hit the back of the truck in front of me. The
devastation sunk in. I was so worried that the I damage
the truck but all that I did was scratch his bumper. Lucky
for him, then it came the time to look at my car. My car
was ruined. The hood was buckled, the front end was
pushed back, and my headlight were broken.
Humiliated and scared, I drove my car home.
Key Points in Writing Narrative

1. Know what to write.

2. Develop strong topic
sentence.
3. Choose your materials.
4. Organize the events.
5. Consider your advice.
6. Use dialogue
7. Use figurative language.
8. Use narrative details.
3. Development by Comparison and Contrast
Comparison means explaining how
a thing is similar to another;
Contrast explains that a thing is not
like.
 There are many differences and likeness between my two
brothers. Glenn, my eldest brother, was very rebellious as a
teenager. For example, he would go out drinking all night with his
buddies, and was always looking for trouble. Eric, who is older
than me, but younger than Glenn, was not rebellious as a
teenager. A couple of examples are the fact that Eric always put
his academics ahead of everything and stayed out of trouble.
They are both religious, but Glenn is a Catholic who speaks with
anyone and everyone about his religion, and Eric is a Christian
who lets you believe what you believe.
Reminders in Order to Make an Effective Comparison

1. Things compared should belong to

the same class.
2. Comparison should be based on
the same set of measurement.
3. Dangling comparison should be
avoided.
4. Use comparative degree in
comparing two person , places or
things.

5. The superlative is used for

emphasis only when no
comparison is intended.
4. Development by Definition
This is a method that gives a satisfactory
explanation of the meaning of a word.
 The iPhone 4 is a touchscreen 3G smartphone
developed by Apple Inc. It is the fourth generation
iPhone, and successor to the iPhone3Gs. It is particularly
marketed for video calling, consumption of media and e-
mail access. It was announced on June 7, 2010, at the
WWDC 2010 held at the Mosone Center, San Francisco
and was released on June 24, 2010, in United States,
United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan.
5. Development by Classification
It is a systematic arrangement f things that are
related and is based on principles or basis in
order to come up with a well-organized data.
 There are three kinds of book owners. The first has all
the standards sets and best sellers- unread, untouched.
(This deluded individuals owns wood pulp and ink, not
books.) the second has a great many books- a few of
them read though, most of them dipped into, but all of
them as clean and shiny as the day they were bought.
( This person would probably like to make books his own,
but restrained by a false respect for their physical
appearance.)
The third has a few books or many-every one of them
dog-eared and dilapidated, shaken and loosened by
continual use, marked and scribbled from front to back.
( This man owns books.)
General Principles in Giving Classification

1. Classification place related items into

categories or groups.
2. Only plural subjects can be classified.
3. The categories should be coordinated,
parallel and must be in the same rank
in grammatical form and content.
4. Categories must not overlap.
6. Development by Cause and Effect
In this method the writer explains how
certain causes produce results or effects.
 Heavy rainfalls are one major causes of floods. The
level of water in rivers or lakes rises due to heavy
rainfalls. When the level of water rises above the river
banks or dams, the water starts overflowing, which
causes floods. The water overflows to the areas adjoining
the rivers, lakes or dams, causing flood to deluge. The
flood water causes havoc and great destruction in the
areas where it flows. Flood occur more in the regions
that get heavy rainfall.
7. Development by Analogy
Analogy points out similarity and difference
between things. It shows point-to-point
comparison of two things.
 A book is like a single house. It is a mansion of many
rooms on different levels, of different sizes and shapes, with
different outlooks, rooms with different functions to
perform. These rooms are independent, in part. Each has its
own structure and interior decoration. But they are lot
absolutely independent and separate. They are connected by
doors and arches, by corridors and stairways. Because they
are connected, the partial function which each performs
contributes its share to the usefulness of the whole house.
Otherwise the house would not be genuinely livable.
8. Development by Question and Answer
This is used in argumentation and
explanations.
 At the outset, the explorer confronts these fundamental
questions which have perplexed thinkers since civilization begun
on this planet. Do nations, like human beings, pass thru youth,
middle life and old age to death? Or do they resolve endlessly,
as some ancient writers thought, in a cycle- despotism, kingship,
tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy and mob rule or some
succession forms? Or is it possible for a nation to stand still
through countless ages, preserving what it believes to be an
ideal arrangement of things.
9. Development by Example
This method presents examples to
support and make clear the topic
sentence. This type is useful in
developing argumentation and
exposition.
 Colors can mean a lot of things. It can
influence our emotions, our actions and the way
we perceive things. Red, the warmest of all
colors, means confidence, courage and vitality.
Yellow symbolizes wisdom, happiness and
intellectual energy. Pink symbolizes love and
beauty. Green symbolizes life, fertility and
nature. Blue symbolizes youth truth and peace.
10. Development by Process Analysis
This paragraph development is
concerned with “How” topics.
 CPR, or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation can be done in three
simple steps. First check the victim for unresponsiveness.
Second, if the victim is still not breathing normally, coughing or
moving, begin chest compressions. Push down in the center of
the chest 2 inches 30 times. Pump hard and fast at the rate of
at least 100/minute, faster than once per second. Then tilt the
head back and lift the chin. Pinch nose and cover the mouth
with yours and blow until you see the chest rise. Give 2 breaths.
Each breath should take 1 second. Continue with 30 pumps until
help arrives.
11. Development by Problem and Solution
It is where the information is presented as
a problem or issue and solution that can be
done to solve that issue.
 Drug abuse causes multiple problems for countries and
communities. The medical and psychological effects are
very obvious. Addicts cannot function as normal members
of society. They neglect or abuse their families, and
eventually require expensive treatment and hospitalization.
However, the menace of drugs can be fought.
Educations is the first battle. Children need to be told at
home and in school about drugs. People need to be aware
of the effects so that they can avoid this problem.