LARGER TEXTUAL PATTERNS

definition
• The textual pattern is a way to classify the
textual style and content. The textual pattern
that constructs an article varies according to
the difference of the textual style, which
means the textual style restrains the textual
pattern.
• There are five types of textual pattern.
1. GENERAL-SPECIFIC
GENERAL STATEMENT

SPECIFIC DETAIL 1
SPECIFIC DETAIL 2
SPECIFIC DETAIL 3….
• The general –specific pattern is also called the
“general-particular pattern”, “general-
example pattern”, or “preview-detailed
pattern”. Its structure breakdown is as
follows:
• General statement – Specific statement 1 –
Specific statement 2 -Specific statement 3 -…
• e.g. All forms of activity lead to boredom
when performed on a routine basis. We can
see this principle at work in people of all ages.
On Christmas morning children play with their
new toys and games. But the novelty soon
wears off, and by January those same toys can
be found tucked away in the attic.
• When parents bring home a pet, their child
gladly grooms it. Within a short time,
however, the burden of caring for the animal
is shifted to the parents. Adolescents enter
high school with enthusiasm but are soon
looking forward to graduation.
Mentioned at the lecture
DAVID CAMERON: Well, there is no doubt when it
comes to the economy that we are badly prepared.
You know we have the highest tax burden in our
history. We've got one the highest levels of budget
deficit of any developed country. We've got one the
highest inflation rates in the G7, we're not well
prepared…
DAVID CAMERON: (GENERAL STATEMENT)
Well, there is no doubt when it comes to the
economy that we are badly prepared.
(SPECIFIC STATEMENT 1) You know we have
the highest tax burden in our history.
(SPECIFIC STATEMENT 2) We've got one the
highest levels of budget deficit of any
developed country. (SPECIFIC STATEMENT 3)
We've got one the highest inflation rates in
the G7, (GENERAL STATEMENT) we're not
well prepared…
(GENERAL STATEMENT) Writing is a complex
sociocognitive process involving complex skills which
range from making the appropriate graphic marks,
through utilising the resources of the chosen language, to
anticipating the reactions of the intended readers.
(SPECIFIC STATEMENT 1) The first skill area involves
acquiring a writing system, which may be alphabetic (as
in European languages) or nonalphabetic (as in many
Asian languages). (SPECIFIC STATEMENT 2) The second
skill area requires selecting the appropriate grammar and
vocabulary to form acceptable sentences and then
arranging them in paragraphs. (SPECIFIC STATEMENT 3)
Third, writing involves thinking about the purpose of the
text to be composed and about its possible effects on the
intended readership.
GENERAL-SPECIFIC SIGNAL WORDS
 2. Claim-counterclaim pattern
• Claim-counterclaim pattern is a typical pattern
for debate and argument. In most articles,
there is one or more than one claim, but there
is only one counterclaim, with the iconic
words such as “say, claim, assert, state, false,
in fact”, etc.
• The writer first prompts a commonly received
opinion, and then clarifies it with his/her own
opinion, or makes a counterclaim.
 examples
• .g. Every other critic has said that On Food and
Cooking is brilliant, a revelation and a unique
combination of scientific insight and literacy which
sweeps aside all myth and jargon as none have done
before.
• McGee’s book is indeed well written, is full of good
things and is good to have on the shelves as a
continuing source of reference and quotes. But it
also has its fair share of mistakes, omissions and
misalignments of emphasis.
 2. CLAIM-COUNTERCLAIM
CLAIM 1 CLAIM 1
COUNTERCLAIM 1 CLAIM 2
CLAIM 3
CLAIM 2
COUNTERCLAIM 2 COUNTERCLAIM 1
COUNTERCLAIM 2
CLAIM 3 COUNTERCLAIM 3
COUNTERCLAIM 3
Many critics of Thomas Hardy argue that Tess of the
d’Urbervilles exhibits a fatalistic vision. They label it the
“darkest” of Hardy’s novels because the force that brings
about the tragic circumstances of the characters, be it Fate
or a transcendent being, is not, as it seems to be in other
novels, impersonal—it is malevolent. This reading misses the
central focus of Hardy’s art. Indeed, the characters often
exhibit a fatalistic understanding of their circumstances
(especially Joan Durbeyfield), but their views are set apart
from those of the narrator. The narrator instead understands
that the final tragedy of the novel is brought about by human
action and choice. Each tragic event occurs as a result of the
faulty decisions of one or more characters.
CLAIM - COUNTERCLAIM
(CLAIM 1) Perhaps the most efficient security method is a
so-called Safe Traveler Card or national ID card. (CLAIM
2) They enable people to drive on highways, bridges, and
tunnels without having to stop and pay tolls. As
attractive as Safe Traveler Cards or national ID cards are,
they are not without drawbacks. (COUNTERCLAIM 2) For
one thing, as Easterbrook notes, these cards would
expedite security procedures only for travelers who do
not mind volunteering such information to obtain a card.
(COUNTERCLAIM 1) Moreover they would not prevent
passengers with "clean" backgrounds from bringing
weapons or explosives on board, as was the case in the
September 11 attacks.

CLAIM 1 – CLAIM 2 – COUNTERCLAIM 2 – COUNTERCLAIM 1

 . Problem-solution pattern
• It narrates the conditions first, and then the
problem appears. As a response is made to
the problem, the problem may or may not be
solved. And an evaluation is prompted at last.
Therefore, the order shall be “scenario –
problem – response – evaluation/result”.
• This pattern is quite common and appears in
science essay, experiment report, news
report, etc. The order may be different, or one
of the four elements may be missing, but in a
well –formed text, it is always expected to
present all of them.
• Helicopters are very convenient for dropping freight
by parachute, but this system has its problems.
(scenario) Somehow, the landing impact has to be
cushioned to give a soft landing. (problem) The
movement to be absorbed depends on the weight
and the speed at which the charge falls. (response)
Unfortunately most normal spring systems bounce
the load as it lands, sometimes turning it over.
(evaluation).
3. PROBLEM - SOLUTION
SITUATION

PROBLEM

SOLUTION

EVALUATION
(SITUATION) Last week we installed a kitty door so that our
cat could come and go as she pleases. (PROBLEM)
Unfortunately, we ran into a problem. Our cat was afraid to
use the kitty door. (SOLUTION) We tried pushing her
through, and that caused her to be even more afraid. The
kitty door was dark, and she couldn’t see what was on the
other side. The first step we took in solving this problem
was taping the kitty door open. After a couple of days, she
was confidently coming and going through the open door.
However, when we removed the tape and closed the door,
once again, she would not go through. They say you catch
more bees with honey, so we decided to use food as bait.
We would sit next to the kitty door with a can of wet food
and click the top of the can. When kitty came through the
closed door, we would open the can and feed her. It took
five days of doing this to make her unafraid of using the
kitty door. (EVALUATION) Now we have just one last
problem; our kitty controls our lives!
(SITUATION + PROBLEM) Our farmers' market is in danger
of closing because a building is going to be constructed in
the empty lot where it has been held for the past ten years.
(SOLUTION) Since the market is such an asset to our
community, a committee formed to look for a new
location. The first idea was to close a street off for a few
hours each Saturday morning. Unfortunately, the city
manager nixed that idea since he believed that too many
people would complain. Barry Moore suggested that the
market could be held in the state park that is just a few
miles out of town. Again, a government worker struck
down the idea. This time, the problem was that for-profit
events are not allowed in state parks. Finally, I came up
with the idea, and our government blessed the idea. Since
the high school is closed on Saturday, we will be having the
market in the school parking lot. (EVALUATION) Everyone
loved the idea and it all turned out well.
PROBLEM – SOLUTION SIGNAL
WORDS
4. QUESTION - ANSWER
QUESTION

ANSWER
(GENERAL STATEMENT+QUESTION) It’s no surprise that
London is the most expensive city to stay in, in Britain:
we’ve all heard the horror stories. But just how
expensive is it? (ANSWER) According to international
hotel consultants Horwath and Horwath’s recent report,
there are now five London hotels charging over 90
pounds a night for a single room.
5. CAUSE - EFFECT
CAUSE

EFFECT
Other fairly recent developments have also contributed
to the alarming rise in child obesity rates (EFFECT).
Fast food outlets offering consumables that are both
low in price and low in nutritional content have
exploded all over the American landscape since the
1960s, especially in suburban areas close to major
highway interchanges. Kids on their lunch breaks or
after school often congregate in these fast food
outlets, consuming food and soft drinks that are high
in sugar, carbohydrates, and fat. Many parents,
themselves, frequently take their children to these fast
food places, thus setting an example the kids can find
justification to emulate. (CAUSE)

(MacKie Shilstone, Mackie Shilstone's Body Plan for Kids.

Basic Health Publications, 2009)
Since my daughter has been in daycare she has become better at a few
different things. (CAUSE) To start off, her vocabulary is much larger and
more developed. Before she started daycare, my daughter had a few
select words that she would say like; momma, dada, Cocoa (one of the
puppies), and some other simple words. Now she tries to repeat
everything that is said. (EFFECT 1) Another result of her being in daycare
is that she has the ability to interact with other children better. In the
past, she was only around one child. Now she is around about six to eight
kids, and she has learned to share her toys and to play in a group with the
other children. Her learning to share has carried over at home when she
tells her daddy or me that it’s his turn or mommy’s turn when putting her
socks on. (EFFECT 2) A third outcome of her being in daycare is the fact
that she is becoming more self-reliant. Before daycare, she wouldn’t try
very hard to help me with getting dressed, but now she wants to try to do
it all on her own. She puts her pull ups on and tries to pull on her shirts
and pants herself. Socks still go on upside down, but at least her shoes go
on the correct feet. (EFFECT 3) I am really glad that I decided to put her in
a daycare, for the benefits have been great. (EVALUATION)
CAUSE – EFFECT SIGNAL WORDS
6. COMPARISON - CONTRAST
(GENERAL STATEMENT)
COMPARISON/CONTRAST – ITEMS 1, 2…
EVALUATION
 COMPARISON – CONTRAST
Simply put, it is an essay evaluating the similarities and differences
between two subjects. These subjects will be in the same category,
but different. You might compare and contrast two different kinds
of pets, or two novels from the same historical time period.
• Step 1 - Choose Your Subject
• Remember that your two subjects must be different, but still in the
same ballpark, to create a meaningful compare-and-contrast essay.
For example, if you want to write about two different historical
figures, it makes sense to choose two great artists rather than an
artist and a politician.
• Make two lists: one list of similarities, and
another of differences. If you are a visual
person, a Venn diagram can facilitate this
process. Simply create two overlapping circles,
one for each of the topics that you are
comparing. Traits that differ are noted
separately, within those that they share are
written in the overlapping space.
• This is a helpful visual aid, because it organizes
similarities and differences clearly. All you have to do
is glance at your Venn diagram to get a sense of the
things that you could write about. If you prefer to
focus on one subject at a time, jot your lists down on
a blank sheet of paper and flip it over to the other
side for the other subject. Remember to keep
characteristics of the different subjects somewhat
parallel. This will make it easier to structure a good
argument.
COMPARISON-CONSTRAST SIGNAL
WORDS
7. ORAL NARRATIVE PATTERN
(Labov’s model)
8. WRITTEN NARRATIVE PATTERN -
SEQUENCE
GENERAL STATEMENT

EVENT 1

EVENT 2

EVENT 3…
(GENERAL STATEMENT) During the months from May
to September, the Loggerhead turtle comes ashore to
nest at night. (EVENT 1) First the turtle crawls out of
the sea to the beach in search of the right place to
build a nest for its eggs. Once the location is
identified, (EVENT 2) the turtle digs a hole with its
flippers that measures 8" wide and 18" deep. (EVENT
3) Next, the turtle lays around 120 eggs the size of
ping-pong balls. (EVENT 4) The turtle then covers the
nest by throwing sand over the nest with its flippers.
The turtle does this to protect the eggs from
predators. (EVENT 5) Finally, the turtle makes its way
back to the sea, and does not return to attend to the
nest.
SEQUENCE SIGNAL WORDS
• When deciding which sequence is right, make
sure to consider the needs of your reader.
First and foremost, think what sequence will
be interesting to your audience. 
• The introduction should perform two
fundamental functions. First, it should provide
the reader with the brief overview of the
topic. Second, it should engage the reader by
making him/her read the entire essay. You
have to explain your topic in one-two
sentences, which are also known as a thesis
statement.
• It is vitally important to put a thesis statement into
the introduction since the main body will be dedicated
to its exploring.
• Also, you have to include an attention better (a hook)
into your introduction since it should grab the
reader`s attention by causing curiosity. Start with
some thought-provoking or even shocking statement,
an appropriate joke, or an emotional story. Without
the hook, most probably, you will lose the reader`s
interest and will not be able to reach the desired goal.
• The main body usually follows the
introduction and includes the key evidence
and arguments that the author considers as
appropriate within the scope of the particular
topic. When it comes to the proper structure
of the main body, there are two ways to
organize it effectively.
• As such, you can start by stating the most important
information and continue providing the reader with
the less meaningful details. This style is often called
an inverted pyramid and it is often exploited by the
persuasive writers and journalists. They utilize this
approach since they believe that the readers will lose
their attention until the end of the essay, so the most
relevant information and reasonable arguments
should be stated at the very beginning.