PATTERNS OF

DEVELOPMENT
 The logical arrangement of
ideas is known as the pattern
of development. The pattern
helps you follow ideas easily
and understand a text better.
Having the ability to
recognize it help you
distinguish major details from
minor ones and predict 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. These signal words may
help you identify the pattern
of development, but it is more
important that you understand
the meaning of the text.
  DEFINITION
Using definition to develop an
idea helps to clarify and explain
concepts by answering the
question “What does it mean?”
This pattern explains the
information through the use of
illustrations, examples and
descriptions. It may also include
one or more different patterns.
 Take note of the term to be defined
and detailed explanation of the
term, as these are important parts
of this pattern. You can also use
spidermap to better understand a
definition text. The following signal
words will also help you in
identifying this pattern.
 Signal words for Definition
 Is defined as means to define
 As defined refers to to illustrate
  EXEMPLIFICATION
- An exemplification pattern
presents the general statement
and then provides specific and
concrete examples to expound
on the main idea. Simply put,
this pattern is used to provide
an example of something.Pay
attention to the main idea and
the specific examples, as these
are the most important parts of
 Signal words for Exemplification
After all Put another way
Specifically
As an example Stated
differently
Consider the following That is
For example To be specific
For instance To clarify
In other words To illustrate
In particular In short
Namely
DESCRIPTION (SENSORY and
SPATIAL)
-A descriptive pattern basically
provides detail on the idea by using
either sensory or spatial pattern.
Through a sensory pattern, ideas are
arranged based on one or all of the five
senses. A spatial pattern, on the other
hand, arranges ideas by location or
physical space.
 The most important elements of
this pattern are the types of
description used (i.e, evocative or
informational, spatial or sensory),
the clustering of details, and the
progression of description. A
concept map can be used to
understand descriptive texts.
 Signal words for Spatial Pattern or
Visual Description
Above Away Down On
Across from Farther On top of
Adjacent Back of Here Onto
to Behind In Opposite
Against Below In front to
Along Beneath of Outside
Over
Alongsid Beside Inside
To the
e Between Into right
Amidst Beyond Near Under
 Chronology/Procedure
A chronological pattern
organizes ideas or events
according to time. It can either
be in the form of a narration or a
process. A narration sequences
events in the order in which they
occurred in time, while a process
organizes details based on
stages or steps.
 The most essential parts of this
pattern are the main idea, major
dates and events such as the final
outcome, major steps/stages and,
of course, the order of
presentation. To better comprehend
a a text that follows a chronological
or procedural pattern, a chain of
events or cycle can be used.
SIGNAL WORDS FOR CHRONOLOGY
 About  first  Soon
 After  Immediately  Then
 Afterwards  In the  Till
 As soon as meantime  Today
 At  Later  Tomorrow
 At this/that  Meanwhile  Until
point  Next  When
 Before  Next week  Yesterday
 During  Presently
 Eventually  Prior to
 Finally  Second
  LISTING
A listing pattern organizes ideas
using enumeration. Unlike
chronological pattern, listing does
not require the items to be
sequenced chronologically
Because it does not have the
element of time. It basically
presents a series of items (facts,
examples, features, reason, and
tips) that support a main idea.
 SIGNAL WORDS FOR
LISTING
 AdditionallAnother  In addition

y  As well  In the
 Again  Besides same way
 Along with   Likewise
Equally
 Also important  Next
 And  Further  Together
 And then  Furthermo with

re
 COMPARISON-CONTRAST
 A pattern that organizes ideas based
on how events, places, people,
things, and concepts are similar to or
different from one another. There are
two ways on how ideas can be
arranged: separately, which involves
describing one item first followed by
the second item or side-by-side,
which means discussing both items
based on each point of comparison.
Concentrate on the most
important parts of a
comparison-contrast pattern:
the purpose of comparison,
points of comparison, and the
actual similarities and
differences of the items being
compared. Try using a Venn
diagram or a compare/contrast
matrix to better understand this
pattern of development.
 SIGNAL WORDS FOR COMPARING
 Also compariso compare
 As n
 Both  In the

 Equally same way

 In a  Like
 Likewise
similar
fashion  Similarly
 In  To
 SIGNAL WORDS FOR
CONTRASTING
 Although  In contrast  On the other
 And yet  In spite of hand
 As opposed  In the  Otherwise
to meantime  Still
 But  Instead  The fact
 Conversely  However remains
 Counter to  Nevertheless  Unlike
 Despite  Nonetheless  Where as
 Even so  On the  Yet
 Even though contrary
 CLASSIFICATION AND
DIVISION
 This pattern organizes ideas into
categories or divisions based on
criteria and standards. This pattern
can be used when classifying
people, objects, events, things,
places, and other items. Make sure
to always double-check whether
each item is undeniably part of a
certain category.
Takenote of the superordinate
(name of the larger group)
ideas, the subordinate
(subcategories of a larger group)
ideas, and the relationship
between them, since these are
the most important parts of this
pattern. You can also use a
network tree to better
understand this pattern.
 SIGNALS WORDS
 Another  The first
 Another category
kind  The last
 Classified group
as  The next
 Final type part
 One kind
 CAUSE AND EFFECT
This pattern organizes details based
on the cause, the reason, and the
result or consequences of a certain
phenomenon. This pattern may
discuss both the causes and effects,
the causes only, or the effects only.
To better comprehend a text that
follows a cause-effect pattern, a
fishbone map can be used.
SINGLE CAUSE, SINGLE EFFECT,
MULTIPLE MULTIPLE
EFFECTS CAUSES

MULTIPLE ALTERNATING
CAUSES, CAUSES/EFFECTS IN A
MULTIPLE CHAIN
(DOMINO EFFECT)
EFFECTS
SIGNAL WORDS FOR
CAUSES
 As  In view of  Since
 Because  Inasmuch
 Due to as
 For  One

 For the reason

 Owing to
reason
that  Seeing
 In that that
SIGNAL WORDS FOR EFFECT
 Accordingl ntly  So that
y  For this  Therefore
 As a reason  Thus
consequen  Hence
ce
 In
 As a result
consequen
 Because
ce
(of this)  So much
 Conseque (so)that
 PROBLEM-SOLUTION

A problem-solution pattern
organizes ideas into problems and
proposed solutions. The problem
section usually includes the what,
when, where, why and how of the
problem. The other part then
presents the major effects of the
problem and the possible solutions
to address it, as well as the steps
in implementing the solution.
SIGNAL WORDS FOR PROBLEM-SOLUTION
 But  The
 First solution
 Second  One
 Nonetheles solution is
s  One way
 One is
reason for The
the problem
 PERSUASION
Thispattern organizes ideas to
show how a set evidence leads to
a logical conclusion or argument.
Specifically, this pattern presents
the issue, the position, and the
supporting evidence that supports
the position. Make sure to check
these three essential elements
while reading a persuasion text.
 SIGNAL WORDS FOR
EMPHASIZING A POINT
 Again
 For this  To
reason emphasiz
 In fact e
 In that  To repeat

case  Truly
 Indeed  With this
in mind
 SIGNAL WORDS FOR
CONCLUDING AND SUMMARIZING
 Accordingl  Due to  In
y  Finally summary
 All in all  In any  Inevitably
 As a result event  Since
 As I have  In brief  In essence
said  In  Therefore
 Conseque conclusion 
Thus
ntly  In short  To sum up
SIGNAL WORDS FOR CONCEDING A POINT

 Admittedly  Needless  Undoubtedl

 Assuredly to say y
 Certainly  No doubt
 Unquestion
ably
 Granted  Obviously

 It is true  Of course

that  To be sure
 True