Type of Paragraph Development:

Narrative
- Purpose: A narrative type of graph development serves as the opening anecdote that
illustrates the topic of an article. Authors use narrative paragraphs to tell stories.
Stories often about a personal experience, but you also make a point. So, the purpose is
not only to tell an entertaining tale, but also to expound on the importance of the
experience.
- Feature: A narrative type of paragraph development differs from a mere listing of
events. It tells a vivid story, usually from one person's viewpoint. A narrative uses all
the story elements — a beginning, middle and ending, as well as plot, characters, setting
and climax — bringing them together to complete the story. The focus of a narrative is
the plot, which is told with enough detail to build to a climax. In a story, something often
happens near the end that echoes the beginning, or resolves it. A narrative is usually told
chronologically using transition words. It always has a purpose. Often, this is stated in
your thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. It may use dialogue. For more on
that, here are the ins and outs on how to punctuate dialogue correctly. It’s also written
with sensory details and bright descriptions that involve the reader. All these details
relate in some way to the main point the writer is making. Although you’ll most likely
use narrative paragraphs in works of fiction, they are also useful in journalism,
biographies and other genres where a storyline of events can be found.

- Example: A Teeny, Tiny Treasure Box

The next short narrative essay takes a different approach. Instead of living in a
comfortably loving home, the writer had to deal with the uncertainty of the foster
system. Here’s a short lesson on hope:

She took me by the hand and walked me into the lobby like a five-year old child. Didn’t
she know I was pushing 15? This was the third home Nancy was placing me in - in a
span of eight months. I guess she felt a little sorry for me. The bright fluorescent lights
threatened to burn my skin as I walked towards a bouncy-looking lady with curly hair
and a sweetly-smiling man. They called themselves Allie and Alex. Cute, I thought. After
they exchanged the usual reams of paperwork, it was off in their Chevy Suburban to get
situated into another new home. This time, there were no other foster children and no
other biological children. Anything could happen.

Over the next few weeks, Allie, Alex, and I fell into quite a nice routine. She’d make
pancakes for breakfast, or he’d fry up some sausage and eggs. They sang a lot, even
danced as they cooked. They must have just bought the house because, most weekends,
we were painting a living room butter yellow or staining a coffee table mocha brown.

I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. When would they start threatening a loss of
pancakes if I didn’t mow the lawn? When would the sausage and eggs be replaced with
unidentifiable slosh because he didn’t feel like cooking in the morning? But, it never
happened. They kept cooking, singing, and dancing like a couple of happy fools.

It was a Saturday afternoon when Allie decided it was time to paint the brick fireplace
white. As we crawled closer to the dirty old firepit, we pulled out the petrified wood and
noticed a teeny, tiny treasure box. We looked at each other in wonder and excitement.
She actually said, “I wonder if the leprechauns left it!” While judging her for being such a
silly woman, I couldn’t help but laugh and lean into her a little.

Together, we reached for the box and pulled it out. Inside was a shimmering solitaire
ring. Folded underneath was a short piece of paper that read:

“My darling, my heart. Only 80 days have passed since I first held your hand. I simply
cannot imagine my next 80 years without you in them. Will you take this ring, take my
heart, and build a life with me? This tiny little solitaire is my offering to you. Will you be
my bride?”

As I stared up at Allie, she asked me a question. “Do you know what today is?” I shook
my head. “It’s May 20th. That’s 80 days since Nancy passed your hand into mine and we
took you home.”
 It turns out, love comes in all shapes and sizes, even a teeny, tiny treasure box from a
wonderfully silly lady who believes in leprechauns.

- What I understood: Narrative essays tell a dramatic narrative from the perspective of

one person. A narrative essay brings all of the story elements together to complete the
story, including a beginning, middle, and end, as well as storyline, characters, setting,
and climax.

Process
- Purpose: A process type of paragraph development explains how something
works, how to do something, or how something was done. We use process analysis when
we explain how to bake bread or set up an Excel spreadsheet, how to improve a difficult
situation or assemble a treadmill. Many self-help books are essentially process analysis.
The key to successful process analysis is clarity: it’s important to explain a subject
clearly and logically, with transitions that mark the sequence of major steps, stages, or
phases of the process.
- Feature: A process paragraph consists of a series of connected steps. The steps must
be logical and are often chronological in order. You can use time words and transition
expressions to make the sequence of events or actions clear. Process writing is
 especially important when you want to explain the steps necessary to complete a
task. Process paragraphs usually demonstrate how to do something. You are
probably familiar with a common kind of process writing: a recipe. For the result to
be a success, the steps in a recipe must be clear, in the correct order, and concise. In
academic settings, process writing is commonly used in science classes and labs,
information technology courses, and many other disciplines.
- In describing how a process happens or how to perform a series of actions, always
think of your readers: can they follow this?
a. Analyze the process into a series of steps. Put the steps into sequence.
b. Then isolate the steps: number then, use bullets, put them in separate
paragraphs
c. Use illustrations keyed to the steps when appropriate: people can often
read diagrams better than they can read lists of steps
d. Always ask an outsider to read your process analysis to see if it can be
followed. Once you are close to a subject, it is difficult to know when you
have left something out.
- Example: In the essay “Transsexual Frogs”, Elizabeth Royte uses process analysis to
explain the research of Tyrone Hayes, a biologist at the University of California at
Berkeley investigating the impact of the pesticide atrazine.

The next summer Hayes headed into the field. He loaded a refrigerated 18- wheel truck
with 500 half-gallon buckets and drove east, followed by his students. He parked near an
Indiana farm, a Wyoming river, and a Utah pond, filled his buckets with 18,000 pounds
of water, and then turned his rig back toward Berkeley. He thawed the frozen water,
poured it into hundreds of individual tanks, and dropped in thousands of leopard-frog
eggs collected en route. To find out if frogs in the wild showed hermaphroditism, Hayes
dissected juveniles from numerous sites. To see if frogs were vulnerable as adults, and if
the effects were reversible, he exposed them to atrazine at different stages of their
development.

In this example, Royte explains how something was done, that is, the actual physical
journey that Hayes took when he “headed into the field”: he traveled from California to
Indiana, Wyoming, Utah, and back to California. The verbs themselves emphasize the
 process of his work: he “loaded,” “parked,” “filled,” “turned . . . back,”“thawed,”“poured,”
and “dropped.

- What I understood: A rhetorical style that includes step-by-step instructions or advice is

known as method. A method essay is organized with the intention of giving instructions
or instructions to the reader. The majority of the time, students compose method essays
that explain how to complete a task.

Cause and Effect

- Purpose: The purpose of the cause-and-effect is to determine how various phenomena
are related. The thesis states what the writer sees as the main cause, main effect, or
various causes and effects of a condition or event. The cause-and-effect essay can be
organized in one of these two primary ways: Start with the cause and then talk about the
effect.
- Feature: In composition, cause and effect is a method of paragraph or essay
development in which a writer analyzes the reasons for—and/or the consequences of—
an action, event, or decision. A cause-and-effect paragraph or essay can be organized in
various ways. For instance, causes and/or effects can be arranged in either
chronological order or reverse chronological order. Alternatively, points can be
presented in terms of emphasis, from least important to most important, or vice versa.
- What I understood:
 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.

Compare and Contrast

- Purpose: An essay that uses comparison and contrast as its primary mode of paragraph
development is an essay that tackles the likeness or similarities, and differences of at
least two subjects or topics. Writers opt to use comparison and contrast when wanting
to do an unbiased discussion or give an attempt to persuade a reader into believing
particular perspectives about the world we live in. It also helps us make choices,
whether trivial or serious, as well.
- Feature: Organizing two compare-and-contrast paragraphs is just a mini version of
creating a compare-and-contrast essay. This kind of essay examines two or more
 subjects by comparing their similarities and contrasting their differences. In the same
way, compare-contrast paragraphs compare and contrast two things in two separate
paragraphs. There are two basic methods for organizing compare-contrast paragraphs:
the block format and a format where the writer separates similarities and differences.
- What I understood: A cause and effect essay demonstrates the relationship between two
or more cases. This style of essay is intended to clarify and discuss whether or how
something happened. Action and result, as well as chain of actions, are phrases that are
close to cause and effect.

Example:

Lars Ulrich vs. Mike Portnoy

Lars Ulrich, the drummer for Metallica, and Mike Portnoy, the drummer for Dream
Theatre, share some common similarities, and some great differences in their playing
style and kit setup. Both Lars and Mike play Tama drums, with full maple shells. Remo
heads provide the resonance for both Mike and Lars. Both drummers play the majority
of their songs with a driving bass line, coming from the bass drums. When given the
chance to solo, both drummers can produce some amazing sounding beats. They take
the cymbals and mix them together in a rather simple sounding way, with unparalleled
rhythm. Both drummers possess amazing speed and control behind the kit. Their
coordination is above most other drummers of today’s music. However, even though
they both play Tama drums, Lars uses a more traditional “metal” double bass drum
setup, and Mike plays a much larger triple bass drum kit. Mike also incorporates some
things into his kit that Lars does not. Mike brings a lot more percussion elements than
drums, such as granite blocks, a cowbell, chimes, and a gong. Mike uses two thrones
(seats) behind his kit, to help him move around the kit between songs, while Lars has
one, and brings his kit in closer to him. Lars prefers a simpler double bass setup, with
much fewer cymbals than Mike uses. Portnoy prefers his Sabian cymbals, while Ulrich
rocks out hard on his Zildjian cymbals. Lars tunes his bass drums to give a rich, driving
sound, while Mike tunes his down to a sharp attack. Lars prefers to drive hard on the
bass drum, as opposed to Mike who uses quick kicks in different sequences to produce a
lighter sounding bass drum. Mike uses Pro Mark sticks, while you can find Ahead 5B
sticks in Lars’ hands. While there are some similarities and differences between the two,
both can be considered masters of their craft.
 Classification
- Purpose: It is important for readers as well as writers to be able to sort material or ideas
into major categories. By answering the question, What goes together and why? Writers
and readers can make connections between things that might otherwise seem unrelated.
In some cases, the categories are ready-made,such as single, married, divorced, or
widowed.
- Feature: In rhetoric and composition, classification is a method of paragraph or essay
development in which a writer arranges people, objects, or ideas with shared
characteristics into classes or groups. A classification essay often includes examples and
other supporting details that are organized according to types, kinds, segments,
categories, or parts of a whole.
- What I understood: Classification essay is an academic paper that classifies concepts,
characters, or objects that have certain characteristics into particular classes or
categories is known as a classification article. This is a popular form of paper requested
in high school and college, but it can also be used at higher education levels.

EXAMPLES:

Dogs
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 roll. For example, a dog could be a beagle
that is a family pet.
Diagram:
Illustration
 - Purpose: Illustration is an informative writing style, which is similar to exemplification
papers. The purpose of this assignment is to learn how to express the existence of an
object or occurrence using a specific method.
- Feature: When writing an illustration essay thesis, it is important to include a brief
description of the entire paper, brief summary, and a sentence which leads to the body
text. Like in all essays, the thesis can be only a few sentences long, which allows readers
to get a better understanding of the overall essay.

Here are sections your illustration essay should consist of:

- What I understood: Illustration is a persuasive technique that employs references to

justify a paragraph's or essay's argument or key concept. An analogy essay is a type of
essay that focuses on using illustrations to illustrate an argument.

Example:
 Social media has many impacts on young people. Social media is quite new, with the
most famous social media site Facebook only being introduced to the world in 2004.
This illustrative essay will explain and provide examples of the many ways young people
engage with social media every day. The essay will begin with an explanation of what
social media is, followed by several illustrative points with examples to give details
about what social media is and how it has changed young people’s lives.

Description
- Purpose: The primary purpose of descriptive writing is to describe a person, place or
thing in such a way that a picture is formed in the reader's mind. Capturing an event
through descriptive writing involves paying close attention to the details by using all of
your five senses. Teaching students to write more descriptively will improve their
writing by making it more interesting and engaging to read.
- Feature: Good descriptive writing includes many vivid sensory details that paint a
picture and appeals to all of the reader's senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste
when appropriate. Descriptive writing may also paint pictures of the feelings the person,
place or thing invokes in the writer. Good descriptive writing often makes use of
figurative language such as analogies, similes and metaphors to help paint the picture in
the reader's mind. Good descriptive writing uses precise language. General adjectives,
nouns, and passive verbs do not have a place in good descriptive writing. Use specific
adjectives and nouns and strong action verbs to give life to the picture you are painting
in the reader's mind. Good descriptive writing is organized. Some ways to organize
descriptive writing include: chronological (time), spatial (location), and order of
importance.
- What I understood: The descriptive essay is a type of essay in which the subject is asked
to explain something, such as an event, an individual, a location, an encounter, an
emotion, or a circumstance. This genre promotes the skill of students to write a detailed
account of a specific event.
Example:
Hymenopus coronatus, the orchid mantis, is a remarkable creature. Against any
opponent but a careful entomologist with a cardboard box, the mantis is a lethal hunter
and master of camouflage. Its four front legs, head and thorax are covered in delicate
structures resembling colorful flower petals. In appearance, it looks like nothing so
much as a praying mantis covered in beautiful painted fans.
As for its behavior, like any good mantis, it is an ambush predator. It takes full advantage
of its unique appearance, settling amongst the petals of orchids and awaiting visiting
insects. It favors butterflies and moths for its meals, but will happily take any insect on
offer. Indeed, it need not even be an insect: particularly voracious orchid mantises have
been known to feed on small lizards, frogs, mice and even birds.

Its behavior among its own kind is no different. Like many mantises, orchid mantises are
opportunistic cannibals. They don't go out of their way to devour their own kind, but
should one stray into striking range of another when it's feeling peckish, it may well
become a meal. H. coronatus is not recorded as performing the praying mantis's
infamous reproductive cannibalism, however.

Its relationship to humans is neutral, verging on positive. H. coronatus is not an ally of

the committed gardener like the aphid-devouring ladybug, but it will nibble on any pests
that present themselves. Aside from that, the orchid mantis is only valuable to humans
for its extraordinary beauty.

Hymenopus coronatus is an example of a unique form of beauty that exists only in

nature, careless of human judgment, designed for function rather than form, but still
capable of making an observer catch their breath at its strange loveliness.
 Argument or Persuasion
Purpose

To support ideas presented in sequence to justify a particular stand or viewpoint that a writer is
taking.

The writer's purpose is to take a position on some issue and justify it. Persuasive writing is
intended to present a point of view on an issue being debated, or to market a particular product,
process or line of thought. The author sets out to state their view in a way that will influence
others.

Knowing the intended audience is important in selecting both the language and the ideas that
will sway the reader. For example, if seeking to persuade a local government member the
language would be quite formal, but if hoping to sell cakes at a school gala, the language needs
to be much more emotive and invitational. In teaching persuasive writing it is important to
include this defining of the audience and appropriate choice of language.

FEATURES
An argument usually consists of the following:

● a statement of position at the beginning

● a logical sequence
● the argument is put forward in a series of points with back up evidence
● a good argument shows cause and effect. This is the connection between an action and
what leads to it, eg. The fish died as a result of pollution in the water: Violence in movies
contributes to violence in society
● a summing up or restating of position at the end

In addition to the writing, consideration should also be given to the inclusion of graphics and
data that will support the idea or product to be promoted. Sound and video can also be added to
support the written proposal, advertisement or argument. In meeting the needs of today's
learners, it is important to factor this into the persuasive writing process, so that students are
aware of the impact that adding these forms of media will have on selling their product or point
of view.

FEATURES IN DEBATES
Debates, which are conducted orally, are a form of argument in which two opposing points of
view are stated and both sides are argued. Supporting evidence for each side is put forward and
finally an opinion is stated based on the two arguments.
Types of arguments

● To plead a case - letters to the school principal / local council with regard to current
issues.
● To promote/sell goods and services - advertisement writing to promote the school
concert/sports.
● To put forward an argument - School uniforms should not be compulsory.

Language Features

● The argument is written in the timeless present tense. This might change to the past if
historical background to the issue was being given. If predictions are being made the
tense might change to the future.
● The writer uses repetition of words, phrases and concepts deliberately, for effect.
● Verbs are used when expressing opinions, eg. I think ___ are the best! We believe
students should not be stopped from eating junk food.
● Strong effective adjectives are used.
● Thought provoking questions are used. These may be asked as rhetorical questions.
(Rhetorical questions: a question asked only for effect, not for information, eg. Would
you give your preschooler matches to play with?)
● Use of passive verbs to help structure the text.
● Written in the timeless present tense.
● Use of pronouns (I, we, us) is used to manipulate the reader to agree with the position
argued. eg. We all know that smoking causes cancer so we do not smoke.
● Use of emotive language ie. words that will appeal to the reader's feelings, eg. concern,
unreasonable, should.
● Use of passive voice ie verbs in which the subject is acted upon and not doing the action.
This helps structure the text, eg. We would like to suggest that an enquiry be held into
the running of the steel mills. Water is being polluted.
● Conjunctions that can exemplify and show results - they are usually used in concluding
statements to finalise arguments

- What I understood: In a persuasive essay, you want to get the reader to agree with your
point of view. You're attempting to persuade the reader to choose one side of the other
by presenting points, research, and suggestions.
EXAMPLES

How to use the internet should be required

In this age of technology all students in the Montana University System should be required to
learn Internet use, and there should be a course to teach it as a core requirement. The first
reason is going to school in the twenty-first century almost all classes require some computer
use. Every time you go to the library at M.S.U.C.O.T, you need to know how to go online as there
are very few books anymore, and almost everything is on the Web. Following that when you go
to find a job, more and more companies are using computers. It's getting almost impossible to
find a job that doesn't require computer skills of some sort. One of the big things is
communications within the company. Most companies use electronic communications of some
sort, such as e-mail or memos on line. Even the jobs people used to think of as unskilled labor
such as a mechanic are using computers. All cars built today have a computer built into them.
The mechanic uses it to figure out what's wrong with your car, then a lot of time they go online
to find out the best way to fix it faster, saving time and money. Some people might say that the
courses that need computer skills have them built into them, but I say we should get a jump on
the future and have all students learn the internet. If people don't learn it, they will fall behind in
the job market and in life.
Descriptive paragraph / Description Purpose-
https://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/descriptive_writing#:~:text=The%20primary
%20purpose%20of%20descriptive,all%20of%20your%20five%20senses.

Descriptive paragraph / Description Features-

https://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/descriptive_writing#:~:text=Good%20descriptive
%20writing%20includes%20many,thing%20invokes%20in%20the%20writer.

Descriptive paragraph / Description Example-

http://english120.pbworks.com/w/page/19006860/descriptive%20paragraphs

Descriptive paragraph / Description Diagram-

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%20paragraph
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Cause and effect:

https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_writing-for-success/s14-08-cause-and-
effect.html#:~:text=The%20purpose%20of%20the%20cause-and-effect%20essay%20is
%20to,the%20cause%20and%20then%20talk%20about%20the%20effect .

Comparison and Contrast as Mode of Paragraph Development (elcomblus.com)

10 Cause and Effect Example Paragraphs | Ereading Worksheets

How to Organize Compare-Contrast Paragraphs (thoughtco.com)

Definition and Examples of Cause and Effect in Essays (thoughtco.com)

https://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter/10-8-cause-and-effect/
english120 / contrast and comparison paragraph (pbworks.com)

Argument or Persuasion:
https://englishonline.tki.org.nz/English-Online/Planning-for-my-students-needs/Resources-
research-and-professional-support/Features-of-text-forms/Persuasion

EXAMPLES :: http://english120.pbworks.com/w/page/19007010/persuasion%20paragraph

Illustration:
https://essaypro.com/blog/illustration-e
https://helpfulprofessor.com/illustration-essay-example-template/
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quora.com%2FHow-can-I-
write-a-good-illustrative-
essay&psig=AOvVaw2uNV0vtFQtcriCqz1A8ups&ust=1619598608556000&source=images&c
d=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCKCw7JGBnvACFQAAAAAdAAAAABAK

Classification:
Classification: Definition With Examples (thoughtco.com)
https://www.essaytigers.com/how-write-classification-essay
https://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter/10-4-classification/#:~:text=The
%20purpose%20of%20classification%20is%20to%20break%20a%20subject
%20into,is%20organized%20by%20its%20subcategories.
https://go.bfwpub.com/rs/122-CFG-317/images/Handout_AP%20Language_Patterns
%20of%20Development.pdf

Narrative, Process and Description:

https://examples.yourdictionary.com/narrative-essay-examples.html

https://l.messenger.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F
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6LQC6qrpUvnTcfsUWLaNEqTVnZvNcTkrGvC99loIp_uvlw_0A

https://go.bfwpub.com/rs/122-CFG-317/images/Handout_AP%20Language_Patterns
%20of%20Development.pdf

http://jicelc.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/4/4/13449366/theprocessessay.pdf