Patterns of
Development
in Writing
Across
Disciplines
Lesson 3

Writing needs direction before your ideas slip away
Let these patterns in writing help you, if they may
If you tell a story of what happened, narration is the way
Description is when large, sweet or soft are words you say
If you tell the meaning of a concept, term or subject
And explain what something is, definition is what you expect
Put items related in categories or groups in any way,
Classification is definitely the game you play
Stating the reason and result, that’s cause and effect
You want to convince readers? Persuasion is perfect
When there’s an issue or problem and a solution is made today
Obviously, problem- solution pattern is on display
If similarities and differences are the ideas you collect
then comparison and contrast pattern is what you reflect
These are the patterns of developing the thoughts in your head
Remember that to achieve a particular purpose in the end, information
in a written text may be organized and selected.

P S K A O H
L R B Y O C
S T O R Y

T P C E O V
P A E L R N
E V E N T

L V R I T C W
E I E D A S V
V I V I D

R G T K O I R S I
A Y M A S N E H
N A R R A T E

Y I G N L E
S D F M K P
S K I L L

event narrate
N A R R A T I O N
ski l l
vi vi d

I. Narration
- the most basic pattern of
development
- describes how, when, and where an
event or occurrence actually happened
-used to tell a story or focus on a set of
related events

Components of Narrative Text
1. LogicalActions
- are considered the very movements
within the plot or the narrative that
drive the characters forward, be it
during the dialogue, or within a scene

Example
It was late spring the last time we saw
Ross. He was standing at the edge of the hill,
and he never so much as looked up even
though we were sure he knew we were there.
There was a bunch of flowers clutched to his
fist, but there really was no reason for him to
be standing there. We knew that Carrie wasn't
coming to see him. But he stood there anyway,
waiting, even as the afternoon sunlight
deepened towards the evening. He must have
been standing there for hours.

2. Way of Narration
-refers to how the writer presents the
story
-includes the pace by which scenes
are given out
* Having natural progression of time
to the events of the story makes a
good writing.

Clipped Narration
“He came and talked to us. Then he left the
house and then he drove the car back home.
Paced Narration
“He came and talked to us for a few moments.
He seemed upset, but he managed to get
through all the bad news. Shaking our hands
before he left the house come twilight, he
seemed to feel better now that he had delivered
the news. He waved from the car as he pulled
out of the driveway, narrowly missing the
mailbox again, and drove off to return home.”

3. Terminology
- places emphasis on the fact that
concepts are critical to the narration
* Writers must choose how to address
terms and which ones they want to
use in order to create an appropriate
setting.

- words that identify things, places,
and events that can be measured and
observed
- terms that have physical
manifestation in our world
Examples:
spoon, dog, house
Concrete Terms

Abstract Terms
- refer to ideas or concepts that are
intangible
Examples:
love, freedom, feminism

General Terms
- commonly used to denote groups
Example: furniture
Specific Terms
- refer to an individual component of
the group
Examples:
cabinets, desks, chairs

Concrete: “He was shivering violently
from the cold.”
Abstract: “The joy in the air was
palpable.”
General: “He gave her a piece of
jewelry.”
Specific: “Each green stone had fire in
its facets.”

R E M H G T N
A L S P D U B
D E T A I L

O N A S O Y D N I
G R C E A T L U
S E N S O R Y

U C A E Q S A C Y
I E L K O T R D
T Y
Q U A L I T Y

I L U A P R E C M
S TE R S I B A T E
R E A L I S T I C

sensory l ook
D E S C R I P T I O
N
realistic
qual i ty

II. Description
- the pattern of development which
goes into details about a specific object,
person, or location, in order to firmly
set its appearance
What does it look like?
What are its characteristics?

Characteristics of Description
● has a clear focus and sense of
purpose
●uses sensory details and precise
words
● presents details in a logical order

Varieties of Description
1. Objective Description
- looks into factual and scientific
characteristics of what is being
described as objectively as possible
* The writer stays away from emotional
impressions or responses and instead,
describes the scene as it is.

Example
The Acer barbatum is a small to medium-sized,
deciduous tree usually ranging from 15 to 25 m.
(50 to 80 ft.) tall when mature. Its bark is light
gray and smooth on younger trees, and it becomes
ridged and furrowed with age. Leaves are opposite
and shallowly to deeply palmately lobed, with a
few blunt teeth but no serrations. The leaf sinuses
are rounded, unlike those of red maple (Acer
rubrum) which are sharply V-shaped. Also, the
sides of terminal leaf lobes are more or less
parallel, while those of red maple are widest at the
base, tapering to the tip.

2. Subjective Description
-a sort of description that the author
would normally use to “paint a picture”
of how he sees a character, or how he
wants the reader to see a character
-also used in a literary discourse when
there is stereotyped image that can be
attributed to a person, place, or an
event.

Example
My mother had hair so dark
that it looked like a waterfall of ink.
She always kept it in a braid that fell
to her slim waist, and always tied
with a plain black band. The braid of
black slung over her shoulder, the
plaits shining like scales.

Writing Activity
Write a narrative text
about a time in your life
when you experienced an
emotion strongly. Try to
give as much detail as
possible.

Rubri
c
Focu
s
30
％
Organizatio
n
Integration
25
％
25
％
Conventio
n
20％
100
％

Writing Activity
You are a writer of a travel
magazine. The editor of the magazine
asks you to write a travel article that
tells about a beautiful place where one
can spend a vacation. Your task is to
write a three-paragraph descriptive
article.

N I E T I N W A
F D O R M E G
M E A N I N G

T F B U N E L
S M S R I K
I N F O R M

L A N P B U G T
O R I X E C S
E L A B O R A T E

T P L N O G I X E
I C H E U N B A N
E N L I G H T E N

T Y N C G I N M O
R O U E B R T V
C O N T R O V E R S Y

D E F I N I T I O N
inform
controversy

III. Definition
- explains not just what something
means or is, but also what something
does, what something is used for, what
something looks like, etc

Varieties of Definition
1. Scientific Definition
- defines concepts in the most factual
way, which is often used in scientific,
proper, or real world facts

2. Subjective Definition
-defines the objects in a more personal
way
-usually derived from the author's own
experiences and opinion
-often used by a writer to state
something from the point of view of
the characters or in relation to the
setting

The term could be emphasized by the
following:
1. Characteristics or features
2. Function
3. Effect
4. Origin

Signal Words for
Definition
is defined as means to define
as defined refers to to illustrate

Writing Activity
(Group)
Specific Definition: You are a
medicine student. You would like to
write about the definition of a
controversial medical term in your blog.
The criteria in assessing your blog are
its appeal to the readers, accuracy of
information, and adherence to the style
of format.

D A V E S I T
O G I R C N I
C A T E G O R Y

A T S G N X A R L
E L E I T P O S M
E X A M P L E

I N T
I D A Y R L U O
E A Q C
C R I T E R I A

I L M G L K U F A
S TC A I N R H E T
I L L U S T R A T I O N

CLASSIFICATION
AND
EXEMPLIFICATION
criteria

IV.Classification and Exemplification
Classification
-divides things into groups, classes, or
categories
-organizes ideas into divisions based
on criteria or standards

Exemplification
-provides examples and illustrations in
order to further clarify or explain the
concept or subject matter
-presents the general statement and
then provides specific and concrete
examples to expound on the main idea

Signal Words for
Classification
another classifie
d as
one kind the
last
group
anothe
r
kind
final type the first
categor
y
the
next
part

Signal Words for
Exemplification
after all for instance namely that is
as an
exampl
e
in
other
words
put
anothe
r way
to be
specifi
c
consider
the
following
in particular specifically to clarify
for example in short stated
differentl
to illustrate

Example
Dogs are domesticated animals that have
been living with humans for generations. Dogs
can be classified in a number of different ways.
For example, they can be classified by breed.
Examples of different breeds include beagles,
basset hounds, poodles and countless others as
defined by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
They can also be classified by their role in the
lives of their masters and the work they do. For
example, a dog might be a family pet, a working
dog, a show dog, or a hunting dog. In many cases,
dogs are defined both by their breed and their role.
For example, a dog could be a beagle that is a
family pet.

Writing Activity
(Group)
Task: You are a sales manager.A
customer sent you an e-mail asking about
the different types of products you sell.
You need to respond to the e-mail
indicating the classification of your
products. Your message must contain the
product's category and specific features.

M A U R D I N R
L LI E S C L A

M A U R D I N R
L LI E S C L A
I
M
I
S L A R

F U S R T L E K N
O E I B C E D S

F
F
I
D E R E N C
F U S R T L E K N
O E I B C E D S
E

A H U W E S D
O C Y R C T I
I
O
H
C C E

M A U L I G T O
E P S E Y N C
M
E
L
E E N T

V. Comparison and
Contrast
- organizes ideas based on how events,
places, people, things, and concepts are
similar to or different from one another
a.separately -involves describing one
item first followed by the second item
b.side-by-side -involves discussing
both items based on each point of
comparison

Signal Words for Comparing
also equally in the
same
way
similarly
as in a
similar
fashion
like to compare
both in
compariso
n
likewise

Signal Words for
Contrasting
although despite instead otherwise
and yet even so however still
as
oppos
ed to
even
thoug
h
nevertheless the
fact
remain
s
but in contrast nonetheless unlike
conversely in spite of on the
contrar
whereas

Example
Although I raised Marcee and Obbie from puppies,
they have completely diverse personalities. Obbie is a
six year old, male, toy Pomeranian whereas Marcee is
a one year old, female, Boston terrier. Obbie is small
and soft, unlike Marcee who has bristly hair and is
much bigger. Marcee insists on sleeping on the bed,
under the covers every night. On the other hand, Obbie
will only sleep on the floor, under the bed. Obbie is
tremendously loyal and uptight; however, Marcee is
hyper and friendly to anyone she meets or sees. Around
other dogs, Marcee cowers to the larger dog, yet Obbie
will always stand his ground, never giving up until he
is scolded. Given that they were both treated the same
way all their life, it is hard to believe that they are so
different in everything they do.

Writing Activity
(Group)
You are a film critic. You are to
write a comparative review of two
films of the same genre. Use the
comparison and contrast pattern of
text development in your review.

A X Y L N A P O
R C N I E U D
L
P
X
E A I N

O R U N E F C O S
N T S E M C U Y

S
N
O
C E Q U E N
O R U N E F C O S
N T S E M C U Y
C E

T
I
R
C I C
A
L
E K C H
T A R B G I O L
U Q C

N A S O R C P I O
S I C N E U T N L A

N
N
O
C E C
T
I O
N A S O R C P I O
S I C N E U T N L A
N

A S N U T O L
F FE D R I C B
S
A
E
R O N

H
S
I
F B O
N
E
N A F E
O I T Q Y H A R
S B L

VI. Cause and Effect
- explains why something happens
or what results a particular event
produces
a. Paragraph empasizing cause
b. Paragraph emphasizing effect

Signal Words for Cause
as for in view
of (the
fact)
owing
to (the
fact)
because
(of the
fact)
for the
reason
that
inasmuc
h as
seeing that
being that in that one reason since
due to
(the fact
that)

Signal Words for Effect
accordingly consequently in
consequenc
e
so that
as a
consequenc
e
for
this
reaso
n
so therefore
as a
result
(of this)
hence so much
(so)
that
thus
becaus

Example
Automation is the use of machines to reduce
the need for human labor. In other words
automation is when jobs done by people
become jobs done by robots. Automation can
be a good thing. Because of automation,
clothing, cars, and other manufactured
products are available at good prices and in
large supply. But automation can also be a bad
thing. Because of automation, there are over
700,000 robots in America alone that do jobs
once performed by humans. The way of
automation may not be best for humanity, but
it is the course we are taking.

Writing Activity
(Group)
Typhoon Yolanda took the lives of
over 6,300 Filipinos and displaced
thousands of others. Write a text that
explains why there were so many
casualties even when they were warned
of a storm surge beforehand by the
officials. Use the cause and effect
pattern of development in writing.

O P T E M Y N U
N H C A G C L I
C
N
O
C E R N

T U B N D A I
Q E X L C O
S
U
A
C E

E
I
C
S N T
I
F I
A T C I U N A M I
Y I B F O S L C E
C

VII. Problem-Solution
- focuses on either a problem
or solution in a particular area
or situation

Signal Words for Problem-
Solution
but the
proble
m
one
soluti
on is
first, second the
solutio
n
one way is
nonetheless one
reason

Writing Activity
(Group)
You are a marketing manager. You are to
send business proposals to your clients about
a new product/service your company is
offering. Write the main text of the proposal
using the problem-solution pattern of
development. Your writing must be concise,
organized, and clear. Remember to use
language appropriate to your audience and
purpose. Use a professional tone and
positive words.

V
N
O
C I N
C
E
N A S O P N U Y
V D C E V E W I

L E R I M N Q
A E K M D C
I
A
L
C M

U
G
R
A M E
N
T
R I S
U Q E A G O R L
N T D P

D
I
V
E E N C
E
N C Y
E T A M I S O D I
N X E T

C I S E T U
F JB D A H
C
F A T

VIII. Persuasion
- convinces readers to agree to
an argument or claim about a
particular topic.

Signal Words for
Emphasizing a
Point
again in
that
case
to
emphasiz
e
truly
for
this
reaso
n
indeed to repeat with
this in
mind

Signal Words for Concluding
and
Summarizing
accordingly consequently in brief inevitably in a
nutshel
l
all in all due to in
conclusio
n
on
the
whol
e
therefore
as a result finally in short since thus
as I in in in to

Signal Words for Conceding a
Point
admittedly it is
true
that
obviously true
assuredly needles
s to
say
of course undoubtedly
certainly no doubt to be sure unquestionably
granted

Writing Activity
(G
roup)
You are an editor of a newpaper. You would
like to react strongly to a new government
policy in the editorial section of the
newspaper. Your editorial must contain a
well-supported argumentative thesis, and
counter-arguments for opposing viewpoints.
It must also encourage a certain course of
action. The criteria in assessing your
editorial are its appeal to the readers,
accuracy of information, and adherence to
the style and format.

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