Reading and Writing Skills

Patterns of Development:
Narration, Description,
Definition
 Academic text types
or writing genres have
certain conventions
depending on the
discipline.
Sciences
The sciences deal with
information that is based on
verifiable data gathered through
research or experimentation.
Scientific writing requires
precision in the use of
terminology, simple and direct
language, objectivity, and
clarity.
Example:
Fill a beaker with 100 mL
of tap water and another
beaker with seawater of the
same amount. Then place
them on a hot plate. After
two minutes, measure the
temperature of the water in
each beaker using an
alcohol thermometer.
Humanities
Humanities usually deals
with analyses and
interpretations of works or
texts. Writing in this
discipline uses a subjective
tone which reveals the
writer’s thoughts, opinions,
attitudes, and feelings on a
topic.
Example:
The Little Prince is
truly a masterpiece! It
centers around the
protagonist’s quest for
the meaning of life.
Business
Writing in business aims a
specific audience to perform an
action. It uses straightforward
and concise sentences that are
structured or formatted for
optimal readability.
Example:
I am writing to request a four-
day leave of absence. I intend to
go on vacation from March 1 to
March 4, 2016.
There are different ways to
develop your ideas in
writing. This lesson will
focus on the following
patterns of development:
1. Narration
2. Description
3. Definition
1. Narration
Narration tells a story. It
relates an incident or a series of
events that leads to a conclusion
or ending. It tells the readers
when, where, and what
happened.
A narrative paragraph
contains action verbs and
transition words that indicate
time or sequence.
The following are some transition
words used to signal time or
sequence order:
- First, second, etc.
- After, next, then, eventually, soon
- Meanwhile, a short time later
- During, at the same time, simultaneously
- Suddenly, instantly, momentarily
- The next day, following, thereafter
- In the end, ultimately
Example:
Last night, I was walking on my
way home when it suddenly rained. I
forgot to bring my umbrella, so I ran to
avoid getting completely soaked in the
rain. Not seeing where I was going, I fell
into a paddle of water. Then a guy
helped me stand up. When I looked up, I
recognized him. Momentarily, I forgot
that I was soaking wet and that I was
very cold. He offered to walk me home,
and I just nodded. The next day, he and
I saw each other at school. At last, we
talked like old friends.
2. Description
Description gives
information of what a
person, an object, a place,
or a situation is like. It
appeals to the reader’s
senses; it makes the reader
see, hear, taste, smell, or
feel the subject.
 A descriptive paragraph
has concrete and specific
details, which are carefully
chosen by a writer to paint a
picture in the mind of the
reader. Literary analyses,
descriptive essays, business
plans, lab reports, and
research papers are some
examples of writing genres that
use descriptive paragraphs.
Example:
The tarsier has soft, grayish
fur. It has bat-like ears and a long,
rat-like tail. It only stands about
100 millimeters. It feeds on
insects like crickets, beetles, and
termites; and on small animals,
too, like lizards, frogs, and small
birds. Also, it is capable of turning
its head 180 degrees and jumping
backward with accuracy.
3. Definition
Definition explains a concept,
term, or subject. Its main purpose is
to tell what something is. It consists
of three parts: (1) the term, concept,
or subject to be defined; (2)
the general class to which it belongs,
and (3) the characteristics that
differentiate it from the other
members of its class. This pattern of
development is commonly used in the
sciences, humanities, and business.
Example:
The greenhouse effect is a
natural process. As the sun shines,
Earth absorbs some of its energy.
Then the greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere like water vapor,
carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, and the ozone absorb and
emit that energy. This energy
warms the atmosphere as well as
the Earth’s surface. As a result, the
process keeps Earth warm.
Tips
- You can develop your paragraphs in any
pattern that suits your writing purpose.
- Use narration to relate an incident or a
series of events. Remember to use transition
words that indicate time and sequence.
- Use description to tell what someone or
something is like. Remember to use
concrete and specific details.
- Use definition to explain a concept, term,
or subject. Remember to give specific
characteristics of what you are defining.
Thank You for
listening….
God Bless!!!!