PDF (SG) - EAP11 - 12 - Unit 8 - Lesson 2 - Patterns of Concept (Or Idea) Development

Unit 8: The Concept Paper
Lesson 2: Patterns of Concept (or Idea)
Development

Contents

Engage 1
Introduction 1
Objectives 2
Explore 2
Explain and Elaborate 3

Definition Pattern of Development 3
Exemplification Pattern of Development 7
Expanding Ideas for the Concept Paper 11
Extend 13
Activity 1 13
Activity 2 14
Evaluate 15
Wrap Up 18
Bibliography 18

Unit 8.2: Patterns of Concept (or Idea) Development

Engage

Introduction

Fig. 1. This is a representation of a concept map, with the light bulb representing the central
idea, branching out for developing and defining the central theme.

To develop any abstract concept, one must brainstorm to find ways to concretize it.
Planning for a paper, which requires defining and exemplifying concepts, requires the writer
to be a critical thinker and consider the best ways to present the concept. These abstract
concepts are also applicable in research. For example, if you want to find a solution to
address a problem found in your own community, seek out the problem and deduce ways it
can be tackled through a project.
● What is a possible problem you can address in your community?
● What are the possible solutions to address the said problem?

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Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Identify the different ways of presenting concepts.
● Determine the various structures of sample texts.

DepEd Competency
Determine the ways a writer can elucidate on a concept by definition, explication, and
clarification (CS_EN11/12A-EAP-Ig-j-20).

Explore

10 minutes

With a partner, search for studies and articles related to your research topic. Determine the
different ways in which the writers presented concepts in the said studies.

Guide Questions

1. What are the different strategies the researchers used to present the concepts and ideas
in the topic?

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2. What strategies can you utilize to discuss the concepts in your own research topic?

3. How can these strategies make it easier for a reader to understand your topic?

Explain and Elaborate

Definition Pattern of Development
The definition pattern of development aims to do the following: clarify meaning, set the
foundation of an argument, and give background information about a concept. The
definition essay aims to go beyond a dictionary definition of a term or concept to deeply
examine a word and to see how it is used in various contexts. It will ultimately use the
extended definition of the concept.

A writer should keep the following in mind:
● Choose a seemingly abstract concept.
● Select potential elements of the definition.
● Create the definition using a text structure.

The concept chosen should be distinct from any other use of the word, as there are words
that have multiple meanings and functions. Be familiar with the dictionary definition of the
term, as well as its origin.

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In selecting the potential elements, the writer should include the following:
● analysis of the term
● classification or categorization of the term
● unfamiliar concepts that may be associated with the term
● traditional details about the term
● meanings the term does not cover
● background information of the term

How does the definition pattern help the writer

form concrete concepts?

The definition pattern can be presented in a paragraph or a full essay. A thesis statement
should contain the writer’s own personal definition of the concept, and that definition
should be aligned with the discussion. The succeeding parts of the text should present and
explain the different ways to define the term.

In research, the definition of concepts is usually done in the introduction of the paper. It is
presented before the background of the issue or topic, methods, results, discussion, and
conclusions.

Example 1
One discipline many students consider pursuing in college is psychology. This branch of
social science gives students opportunities to explore humans’ brains, minds, and
behaviors. It is a helpful path to pursue, especially for Filipino people. Students need to have
an overview of the field of psychology for them to truly understand what it is before
considering it as an option for further study. Psychology is the scientific study of the human
mind and its function, especially those affecting behavior in a given context.

The American Psychological Association defines psychology as the scientific study of the
mind and behavior. Many say that it is a relatively new branch of science; however, there are
indications of psychology as far back as 400-500 BC, with the ancient Greeks.

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Psychology has four goals: to describe, explain, predict, and change the behavior and
mental processes of people (McLeod, 2019). It aims to describe conditions by creating
general laws on human behavior, explain these laws and behaviors, and why these
behaviors happen. Once the general laws are established, it aims to predict behavior
according to research. Lastly, after confirmation of behaviors because of research, there can
now be an intervention for people to change their behavior. Though they may seem simple,
the basics of psychology require a lot of research and effort.

Through the definition of psychology, it is safe to say that studying it will require effort in the
studying and observation of humans. Without that kind of perseverance, it is best that those
students who are not serious about studying psychology should consider another program.
Source: “ What is psychology?” (https://www.simplypsychology.org/whatispsychology.html)

Explanation
The short definition essay defines psychology as a scientific study. The writer included his or
her own definition, which is found in the introduction. In the body, the writer uses two
definitions; one is from the APA and one from the researcher McLeod. The first definition is
a basic definition of the term, and the one by McLeod gives a more in-depth definition of
what psychology entails. With this essay, students get to know more about what psychology
is and the steps to find answers in the scientific field.

Review
A definition essay may utilize informal, formal, and extended definitions of
concepts. The best ones to use for research and concept papers would be
the formal and extended definitions.

Example 2
In order to find answers in research, the best method is the scientific method. The scientific
method is a procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century. It
consists of the following steps: systematic observation, measurement, experimentation, and
formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses. It is a step-by-step process, usually

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done over and over again to get results. The scientific method requires researchers to be
inquisitive and to constantly engage themselves critically to get answers.
Source: ”scientific method” (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/scientific-method?s=t)

Explanation
The paragraph discusses the scientific method by presenting a definition. The writer also
stresses that researchers must be inquisitive and engaging, as it is important when doing
the scientific method. Moreover, the writer lists the steps of the scientific method in the
paragraph. Each step would probably be discussed in the succeeding paragraphs, with its
own definition and an elaboration on how to perform the step.

Tips
Remember to cite your source if you quoted the definition from
another author.

Example 3
Many students want to attend prestigious schools for the quality of education they provide,
but many of these schools can be expensive to attend. Tuition fees, facility fees, and in some
cases, housing fees, are unaffordable, especially for students who come from families that
do not make much money. However, there is a way to help out students who may be
interested in pursuing a certain school. The answer to their plight could be financial aid.
Financial aid is money given or lent to students in order to help pay for their education.

Financial aid can come in different forms. Grants, scholarships, work-study jobs, and loans
can be offered to and applied for by potential candidates. They all aim to give financial aid
for students. Grants are not meant to be repaid, as grants are a way for an institution or
organization to help students pursue a particular project. It covers only the fees for the
project and research. Scholarships, the most familiar kind of aid, are considered to be “free
money” for students to use to pay for tuition. Scholars are usually chosen for a certain talent
or academic merit. Work-study jobs, on the other hand, allow students to work to pay for
their schooling. Lastly, a loan is the kind of aid that allows students to borrow a certain
amount of money to pay for school, then students repay it with interest. These kinds of

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financial aid are helpful for students with different circumstances who wish to pursue their
education but may not be financially able.

Financial aid can either be given or lent, and based on their definitions, a student must work
hard for financial aid. Aid gives students opportunities to prove their work ethic and
perseverance to continue studying, even if they are struggling financially.
Source: “Types of Financial Aid” (https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types)

Explanation
This short essay discusses financial aid for students. As the basic definition is stated in the
thesis statement, there is a need to discuss the different kinds of financial aid in the body
paragraph. Each kind of financial aid is defined, as it brings more information for readers
who may need it.

Exemplification Pattern of Development
The exemplification pattern of development utilizes examples to clarify a point, give a
picture or specific instance, and to concretize an abstract idea. It illustrates examples in
great detail, which can help readers understand the points of the concepts. It is essential to
create examples which are relevant, strong, and properly used in the context.

These examples must discuss the 5 W’s and 1 H questions: who, what, when, where, why,
and how. The examples must be related to the overall topic that determines the author’s
intended meaning, difficult concepts, and unfamiliar ideas.

Lastly, the examples should logically represent the main idea or the concept being
discussed. The use of statistics should be accurate, and details should be specific enough to
give clarity to the intended meaning being discussed.

How does exemplification help expand definitions

of concepts?

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When creating a paragraph or essay that uses exemplification, the thesis statement should
still contain the concept being discussed and the specific ways that it will be exemplified in
the written output. If writing an essay, each body paragraph should contain a different
example in order to illustrate the main idea more clearly and logically.

Tips
Use transitional devices to coherently go from a concept to an
example in your writing.

Example 1
Psychology has four goals: to describe, explain, predict, and change the behavior and
mental processes of people (McLeod, 2019). It aims to describe conditions by creating
general laws on human behavior, explain these laws and behaviors, and why these
behaviors happen. For example, if one wanted to study how the youth react to political
issues, one can observe how they react to political posts on social media sites. For research,
one can post particular questions about political issues on social media, and allow people to
post comments. Then, the researcher may observe the results and posit a hypothetical
theory about this particular human behavior. Once the trends are explained, the researcher
must attempt to predict behavior via additional research. An experiment can then take
place. The researcher can expand the scope of the research through several possible
means: distribute questionnaires, ask for the help of a focus group, adjust the scope of
experimental posts on social media, etc. Lastly, after the confirmation of behaviors through
research, there can be intervention for people to change their behavior if it is deemed
necessary. In this case, the researcher may create a program or class that focuses on a
campaign to make social media discourse about politics more civil. This may include steps
such as classes on netiquette and logical fallacies, therapy for people who are easily
triggered by troll posts, and further research on the methods and rationale behind troll
behavior. These steps are parts of studying human behavior. Though they may seem simple,
the basics of psychology require a lot of research and effort.

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Explanation
The paragraph gives examples of the steps in studying psychology. Each step is defined,
followed by an example to help readers understand the concept being discussed in the
paragraph.

Example 2
The steps of the scientific method are the following: systematic observation, measurement,
experimentation, and formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses. If a study
wanted to observe which kinds of rope can carry the heaviest mass, the scientific method
can be used to get answers to solve the problem. Observation would mean that the
researchers had observed that rope can be used to carry objects of different mass.
Experimentation can entail using different types of ropes to carry the same object with a
fixed mass. While doing the experiment, researchers need to take note of the strain each
rope manifests while carrying the object. A hypothesis can be that the strongest rope would
have the least strain while carrying the object, while the weakest kind of rope would exhibit
the most strain. The steps in testing could be the same as those in the earlier experiment,
but with additional steps and changes in the variables to better test the hypothesis. Lastly,
based on the results of the experiment, the hypothesis can be revised, especially if the
results produced did not confirm the hypothesis. Though the steps initially seem simple,
they are numerous phases, and it can take time to produce a definitive result.

Explanation
This paragraph explains how a rope experiment can be undertaken using the scientific
method. Not all the details of the experiment are included; however, the paragraph gives
the reader insight on how to perform the scientific method. The paragraph answers the
“what” and “how” questions to explain the details. Examples for each step of the scientific
method were also presented.

What are other strategies that can be used in

creating examples for texts?

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Example 3
Grants are not meant to be repaid, as they are given by an institution or organization to help
students pursue a particular project they deem worth backing. It covers only the fees for the
project and required research. A student can apply for a grant, for example, if he or she
wants to create a prototype of a firefighting robot, and the sponsoring organization can be
someone from a STEM organization or institution dedicated to the rights and safety of
firefighters.

Scholarships, the most familiar kind of aid, are considered to be “free money” for students
to use to pay for tuition. Scholars are usually chosen for a certain talent or academic merit.
The valedictorian of a senior high school batch may use his or her academic merit to apply
for a scholarship to college. Additionally, a varsity basketball player may want to apply for an
athletic scholarship.

Work-study jobs, on the other hand, allow students to work to pay for their schooling.
Common examples of jobs for students include being assistant researchers, teachers, or
librarians. Food service, clothes and retail clerks, and office staff are other jobs that can be
given as options for work-study.

Lastly, a loan is the kind of aid that allows students to borrow a certain amount of money to
pay for school, then students repay it with interest. This kind of financial aid is theoretically
open to almost any type of student who wishes to pursue his or her education but may not
be able to afford it. A student who comes from a low-income family may apply for a loan for
his or her entire schooling, then once he or she starts working after graduating, find a way
to pay it back. This may be the most difficult kind of financial aid for any student, as the
debts do tend to pile up over time.

Financial aid can either be given or lent, and based on their definitions, a student must work
hard for financial aid. Aid gives students opportunities to prove their work ethic and
perseverance to continue studying, even if they are struggling financially.

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Explanation
Each paragraph in the body utilizes both definition and exemplification. This will help
readers find out more information about the different kinds of financial aid. The examples
to describe each kind of financial aid discusses a specific situation in order for the reader to
relate to the text. For example, many readers would be familiar with the scholarship option;
the writer was able to expand and relate the concept to situations wherein students can be
offered a scholarship.

Expanding Ideas for the Concept Paper
As discussed in the previous lesson, the concept paper intends to propose a project or
research which can be executed by the writer. Before a writer can discuss the project itself,
the concepts must be discussed. These concepts and ideas, first presented in abstract form,
are discussed in the introduction. They serve as the backbone for the concept paper, as
readers now have more opportunities to understand the ideas being developed in relation
to the project or research to be executed. Since the writer should substantially discuss the
concepts, the definition and exemplification patterns of development may be helpful in
writing a concept paper.

Why is the usage of the definition and

exemplification patterns helpful in creating a

concept paper?

A writer can give the definitions and concepts presented in research studies and articles.
These give the writer a foundation for the entire paper, especially if he or she intends to
make his or her own definitions. As a writer uses definitions and examples from the
different research of other authors, he or she also creates the contextual situation for his or
her own project. This is also essential for the readers’ understanding.

Example 1
The study aims to determine if psychology students are aware of the rigors of the program
they are pursuing and if they have any plans of shifting to another program. This will
determine if the students pursuing psychology are doing so based on their own interests.

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This will also help determine if they are mentally prepared for the rigors of the program in
college. With the results of the paper, the writer can create recommendations for students
who intend to pursue the discipline in higher education.

Explanation
This introduction could be found in a research paper about students who are pursuing
psychology as their program in college. The concept “psychology” had to be defined before
delving into the study. The research problem is indicated in the third sentence of the
paragraph, as well as the researcher’s intent to make recommendations for psychology
students.

Example 2
This study aims to see if students are critical of the scientific method in their
experimentation and laboratory reports in the subjects of biology, chemistry, and physics.
Although many students theoretically know about the scientific method, they may fail to
realize that the process applies to making their laboratory reports in three major science
subjects. To be critically aware of the process will lead to better understanding of the
requirements of experimentation. Having students who have in-depth understanding of the
scientific method will help teachers who teach biology, chemistry, and physics.

Explanation
This study would like to test the understanding of STEM students, who must know the
scientific method in order to complete their laboratory work. The scientific method and the
steps are mentioned in the introductory paragraph of the concept paper. Before the
research questions were presented, the definition had to be made concrete in order to give
the readers a clear view of the flow of the discussion.

Why should a writer present all the concepts in

the introduction?

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Example 3
It is essential to see which method young Filipinos prefer when paying for their college
education, especially that of students from low- to middle-class income families that cannot
easily afford private universities. Although many young Filipinos are in dire need of financial
aid to continue their education, there is limited knowledge of the options available to them.
By disseminating information on these options for financial aid, the Filipino youth can have
better opportunities to continue their education without straining the income and savings of
their families. Therefore, it is essential to study the available financial aid systems in the
Filipino setting. This study aims to determine the preference of SHS students when it comes
to financial aid options.

Explanation
The last example utilized both definition and exemplification to discuss the concepts in the
study. The research gap is presented in the Filipino context before the presentation of the
purpose of the research. This is essential for Filipino readers, as the main concept, in this
case financial aid for education, may be unfamiliar.

Extend

Activity 1
Look for a study that you have used for your own research and cite how the writer used the
definition pattern to discuss the concepts in the study.

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uide
G
Look at the introduction of the research and look for how the researcher introduced
the concepts of the topic.

Activity 2
Create an extended definition of at least two concepts from your own research topic. Cite
your sources if necessary.

14


uide
G
Use a dictionary to help you create the initial definition. Use examples as you create
an extended definition.

Evaluate

A. Answer the following questions as accurately and

precisely as you can.

1. What is the aim of the definition pattern of development?

2. What is the aim of the exemplification pattern of development?

3. Why is it better to include examples to expand concepts?

4. Why would a writer need to have examples in the introduction of a concept paper?

15


5. How do the definition pattern and exemplification pattern complement each other in a
concept paper?

B. Carefully think before writing a complete answer for each

question.

1. What different strategies could a writer use to exemplify a paper about the animal
kingdom?

2. What pattern is best used to introduce a topic about the romanticization of healthcare
workers in times of crisis?

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3. Justify why defining the roles of society in a concept paper about good governance is
better than using exemplification.

4. What is the best pattern of development to use if a researcher would like to do a
concept paper on the nutritional value of pandesal when served to patients in
hospitals?

5. Justify using the exemplification pattern of development for a paper on the mobile
phone brand preferences of SHS students.

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Wrap Up
___________________________________________________________________________________________

● Writers can use the definition and exemplification patterns of development for a
concept paper.
● The definition pattern allows writers to clarify concepts into something that is
concrete.
● The exemplification pattern of development allows writers to illustrate their points
about a topic.
● The two patterns can be used together in an introduction paragraph of a concept
paper.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Bibliography

Editage Insights. “What Is a Concept Paper?” Editage Insights, April 14, 2019. Accessed May 9,
2020. https://www.editage.com/insights/what-is-a-concept-paper.

“Exemplification,” n.d. Accessed May 9, 2020.
https://www.bucks.edu/media/bcccmedialibrary/tutoring/documents/writingareahan
doutrevision/writingparagraphandoutlines/Exemplification.pdf.

Koci. “English Composition I: Rhetorical Methods–Based.” How to Write a Definition Essay |
English Composition I: Rhetorical Methods–Based, n.d. Accessed May 9, 2020.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-englishcomp1v2/chapter/how-to-write-a-defi
nition-essay/.

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Oaks, Susan. “College Writing.” Patterns of Development Overview | College Writing, n.d.
Accessed May 9, 2020.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-esc-wm-englishcomposition1/chapter/text-r
hetorical-modes/.

The Grantsmanship Center. “Concept Papers and How to Use Them.” The Grantsmanship
Center, February 7, 2020. Accessed May 9, 2020.
https://www.tgci.com/blog/2017/02/concept-papers-and-how-use-them.

“What Is a Concept Paper?” The Concept Paper, n.d. Accessed May 9, 2020.
http://sociology.morrisville.edu/perpetual/Writing/What_Is_A_Concept_Paper.htm.

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Explain and Elaborate 3

Explain and Elaborate

How does the definition pattern help the writer

How does exemplification help expand definitions

What are other strategies that can be used in

Why is the usage of the definition and

Why should a writer present all the concepts in

A. Answer the following questions as accurately and

B. Carefully think before writing a complete answer for each

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