PATTERNS OF

DEVELOPMENT
PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT
 In writing refers to the particular strategy writers
use to develop ideas. It is the logical arrangement
of thoughts.
 Whether you are aware of it or not,you already use
patterns of development to express yourself.
 The different patterns help you follow ideas easily
and understand a text better.
 Learning to use these patterns of development in
writing is not difficult: you will need to familiarize
yourself with key transitional expressions that
send a signal to the reader that particular is being
used.
SEVERAL PATTERNS OF
DEVELOPMENT USED:
 Narration
 Description
 Definition
 Exemplication
 Comparison-contrast
 Classification
 Division
 Problem-solution
 persuation
NARRATION
 Is written to explain what,when ,who.It reveals
what a reader should learn and usually written
in chronological order.
 As a method od development, storytelling can
be very effective for the simple reason that
people love to hear stories, and will tune in to
a story when their eyes glaze over at other
styles of writing.
 A story takes place over period of time and is
built around people doing things-thinking,
talking,running, etc.
EXAMPLE
 I took up the river road as hard as I cloud
put.By and by I begin to hear guns a good
ways off.When I came in sight of the log store
and the woodpile where the steamboats lands
I worked along under the trees and brush till I
got to a good place,and then I clumb up into
the forks of a cottonwood that was out of
reach,and watched.There was a wood-rank
four foot high a little ways in front of the
tree, and first I was going to hide behind that;
but maybe it was luckier I didn’t.
Concrete and Specific Detail
 Controlling Idea in a narrative paragraph
presents some difficulty for developing
writers in that they think of a story as a series
of events without natural weeks.

 DESCRIPTIVE- in a narrative paragraph are

essential to a good story.
 Details help readers to connect to the world

the author envisions.

Concrete and Specific Detail
 Controlling Idea in a narrative paragraph
presents some difficulty for developing
writers in that they think of a story as a series
of events without natural weeks.

 DESCRIPTIVE- in a narrative paragraph are

essential to a good story.
 Details help readers to connect to the world

the author envisions.

II. 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.
 Important elements of this pattern are the types
of description used, the clustering of details and
the progression of description.
 Some signal words used in 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.
Subjective Description
 Writers used descriptive paragraphs most
often in fiction. Just think of lines like “It was
a dark and stormy night,” or “The mountains
loomed above them.”
 Description of time and place draws readers

into other words and sets the stage where a

story can unfold.
 Description of characters,their

appearance,mannerisms, and utterances,help

us imagine what people are like.
Objective Description
 Is also used in reportorial and scientific
writing, or other writing in which the goal is
to present an objective picture of an object or
scene.
 In this writing situations, the writer attempts

to stay away from emotional impressions or

responses,instead report what is seen, as a
video camera records a scene.
III. 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 used in this pattern of development
are:is defined as, as defined, means, refers to, to
define and to illustrate.
 It is very important in the sciences,where the
terminology is extensive and dicipline-specific.In
defining scientific terms, a writer should be as
objective as possible,and when impressions are
essential,the writer should strive to use analogies and
impressions that thereader can readily identify with.
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 part of this type of definition.
 By function: how something works,or what it

does can be an important part of definition.

 By what it is not: Iconically, we can get a

pretty good sense of what something is like,

by earning what it is not,or what it is lacking.
METHODS OF DEFINITION
 By what it is similar to: Comparison and
analogy help us understand things that are
unfamiliar to us.
 By example: Giving examples illustrating what
the term means can be highly effective,as in the
above definition of “idiocy”
 By its origin: 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.
METHODS OF DEFINITION
 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 emission to
environment would be important.
 IV. EXEMPLIFICATION
 Presents the general statement and then
provides specific and concrete exmples to
expound on the main idea. It is used to
provide an example of something.
 Some signal words used in this pattern of

development are:after all,as an example,in

particular,specifically, to illustrate,etc.
V. CAUSE AND EFFECT
 A cause is a reason for, or events leading up
to.
 An effect is the results of a causes.Having the

skill to think in the mode of cause and effect

is a key to victory in daily situations.
 Cause/ Effect is used to show how the

facts,events, or concepts results due to other

facts, events or concepts.
Using transition words to emphasize
cause –and-effect relationship ideas and
useful
 Words and phrases showing cause:
because,since, is due to, is caused by, the
first cause(second, third) the first
person(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
VI.COMPARISON AND CONTRAST
 1.Comparison/Contrast text show how two or
more people,places, or things are alike or
different.
 2. In the contrast paragraph, two subjects are

discussed as how they are different, again,

listing a few examples.
 3.There are two ways to write a paragraph:
 A.)Point by point – writing back and forth

between the two subjects.First,talking about

topic A. then talk about topc B.,then right back
to topic A.and so on.
3.There are two ways to write a paragraph:

 Point by point – writing back and forth

between the two subjects. First,talking about
the 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 thess
4.Authors use descriptions
 Being compared to illustrate the differences
or the semilarities of the items being
compared.
 5.A graphic organizer, such as a venn

diagram, may be used to depict the

semilarities and differences in facts, events,
items,or concepts.
Transitional expressions used in:
 Comparison: in the same way,and, also,in
addition,as well as,both, neither,each of,just
as…so,similarly,like,too,the same
 Contrast:

although,whereas,but,however,conversely,on
the other hand, in contrast,while,yet,unlike
VII.PROBLEM-SOLUTION
 SEVERAL STEPS TO FOLLOW:
 1. State and define the problem:
Briefly,clearly,and simply explain what the
problematic issue is and why it should be
treated as a problem.
 2. 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.
VII. PROBLEM -SOLUTION
 3. Evaluate the solutions: Discuss the
advantages (strenghts) and the
disadvantages(weaknesses) of the solutions.
Your aim is to make your reader understand
why one solution is better than the other’s.
 4. Make a recommendation: If you think that
one of the solutions is better than the
other(s),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.
VIII.PERSUATION
 1.Persuation means to convince someone that
your opinion on a subject is the right one.
 2.There are many forms of persuation;you

might not even know you are being

persuated.
 3.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.
VIII. PERSUASION
 4. It is important to consider the audience as
your write persuasively.
 5. Directing your paragraph toward a

particular audience can be helpful.

 6. Consider what kind of evidence this

audience would respond to.

 7. When you take your audience into

consideration,you will make your persuasive

paragraph more convicting.
Methods of Persuasion
 1. Facts –A statement of what is.
 2.Refering to authority – an expert who can

be relied on to give unbiased facts and

information.
 3. Examples-An example should clearly relate

to the argument and should be typical

enough to support it.
Methods of Persuation
 4. Predicting the consequence – Helps the
reader visualize what will occur if something
does or does not happen.
 5.Answering the opposition – Answering

possible critics shows you are aware of the

opposing opinion and are able to respond to
it.
Transitional Expression used to:
 Give Reasons: first(second,
third),another,next
last,finally,because,since,for,although
 Answer the Opposition: of course, some may

say,neverthelees,on the other hand

 Draw Conclusions: therefore,

thus,hence,consequently