Methods Of Development

Methods of Development
And Organization

Remember that unless you are writing a very short essay, it’s unlikely that you will write an entire academic paper as “comparison/contrast,” “process,” “definition” or whatever. However, portions of your essay could be written in any one of these, and, as you will see, brainstorming how your essay could be developed in a variety of methods can help you organize and develop your paper.

Example and Analysis
The basic building block of the academic paper, using logical organization.
This is the TEA paragraph, the “dna” of critical analysis, that you have been using so far all term.
Get into the habit, as you read, of summarizing and analyzing your reading and keep records in your notes. You can then use these directly in your paper (remembering to cite, of course).

Descriptive/Narrative
Focus on sense details
Spatial or Chronological organization
Personal essay, memoir

Process
How to
Organization is step by step
Need for clarity and detail
Not often used in academic writing, but consider it for effect.

Comparison/Contrast
Analysis through comparison
Must have some reason for comparison – have basic similarities
Must be fair
Needs careful organization

Definition
demonstrates full understanding and insight.
Needs narrow focus
Avoid “dictionary” definition, however
May overlap with Classification

Classification
Examines “types” of things
May be similar to “Definition”
Both need Logical organization

Examples (for an essay on “Student Life”)
Description: “My Campus Cafeteria”
Process: “How to Fail a Course”
Comparison/Contrast: “College vs University”
Definition: “The Good Teacher”
Classification: “Student ‘types’ on Campus”