PATTERS OF

DEVELOPMENT IN WRITING
ACROSS DISCIPLINE
 What is paragraph?
Paragraph is a collection of related sentences
with one central idea.
As an independent unit, it is a complete in
itself. It has its beginning, middle and end.
As a related unit, it is a part of composition
that is combined with other paragraphs to make
a larger composition.
PATTERNS IN DEVELOPMENT

 Narration
 Description
 Definition
 Exemplification / classification
 Comparison and contrast
 Cause and effect
 Problem – solution
 Persuasion
NARRATION
 A narrative tells a story. It gives an account of an incident or reports a
series of events leading to a conclusion or ending. It states what
happened, where, and when. Examples of narrative texts include history
articles, character sketches, anecdotes, biographies, autobiographies,
travelogues, adventure stories, and short stories.

 The narration pattern focuses on events in time. If you read a novel,

narration carries you through the story. If a buddy tells you what he or
she did last night, narration is being used. If you tell somebody how to do
something, you are using narration. And if you try to figure what caused
your low grade on a test, you are using narration.
 Pasasalaysay,
pagkwekwento,

salaysay,
talambuhay
Read the set of events and
rewrite the following details
on your answer sheets to
create a coherent story.
1. Finally the old lady crossed the street
safely and Juan was able to reach school
on time
2. One morning, Juan is in hurry going to
school.
3. Then, he thought of helping the old
lady even though he will be late in school.
4. Suddenly, he saw an old lady, carrying a
1. In other words, mastering the art of drawing
doesn’t happen in a day.
2. Drawing is all about taking the time to master
each step.
3. Furthermore, it’s a skill that takes daily
practice as well as dedication to hone your craft.
4. It’s important not to burn yourself out, but you
need to stick with it.
1. The next day, he and I saw each other at school. At
last, we talked like old friends.
2. Not seeing where I was going, I fell into a puddle of
water.
3. Then a guy helped me stand up. When I looked up, I
recognized him.
4. Last night, I was walking home when it suddenly
rained. I forgot to bring my umbrella, so I ran to avoid
getting completely soaked in the rain.
5. Momentarily, I did not mind the rain and the cold.
He offered to walk me home, and I just nodded.
Following are some transition words used to
signal time or sequence:

First, second, third, after, next, then,

eventually, soon meanwhile, a short
time later during, at the same time,
simultaneously suddenly, instantly,
momentarily the next day, following,
 Transition Word / Phrase Purpose
and, also, again expands on the same general idea

but, or, however, in contrast counteracts what was just said

as a result, consequently, therefore indicates a conclusion or summary of

ideas
for example, to illustrate presents a concrete example of an idea
particularly important, note that emphasizes the importance of an
idea
in conclusion, hence signals an ending
DESCRIPTION

IT GIVES INFORMATION OF WHAT A PERSON, AN

OBJECT, A PLACE OR SITUATION IS LIKE.
 DESCRIPTION

A descriptive paragraph has

concrete and specific details,
which are carefully chosen by
writer to paint picture in the
mind of the reader. It appeals to
the reader’s senses.
 Signal words for Description

SIGHT SOUND SMELL TOUCH TASTE

Sparkling Yelp Musty Sticky Spicy

Glooming Shriek Rotten Grainy Sweet
Glossy Whisper Fragrant Smooth Sour
Bright Hiss Fresh Satiny Bitter
Dazzling Screech Pungent Pointy bland
Cloudy Chortle Fruity Clammy
blurred sneeze stinky furry
 Example of descriptive paragraph
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
Lake Harriet is a great place to swim and relax. In the summer,
the water is warm and clean, and the beaches attract people
seeking relief from a midsummer scorcher. In addition to
swimming, visitors to the lake can go canoeing, sailing,
windsurfing, or fishing. The blue water is a refreshing, tempting
sight. The sweet scent of sunblock wafts through the air from
sunbathers lying on the beach. Children laugh and splash in the
water, and nearby volleyball games stir passionate shouts in the
heat of competition. Meanwhile, lifeguards sit atop their towers
and make sure everyone is safe. In the distance, sailboats catch
the soft breezes that ripple Lake Harriet’s surface and canoeists
glide quietly past. This is what summer is all about!
DEFINITION

It explains a concept, term

or subject. Its main
purpose is to tell what
something is.
DEFINITION
Is the main constituent of any dictionary. In
developing paragraph by definition, you
should take account on these things:
The term to be defined
A class to which the term belongs
The characteristics that distinguish the
term from the other members of its class.
EXAMPLE

An owl is a bird with a large head, strong talons, and

has a nocturnal habits.
Owl- is the term to define
Bird- is the class where the owl belongs
With a large head, strong talons, and has a nocturnal
habits- are the characteristics that distinguish the
owl from the other birds
 Different types of Definition:
Formal Definition. The definition provided in the
dictionary.

Informal Definition. The three common informal

definitions are operational definitions, synonyms and
connotation.
SIGNAL WORDS FOR DEFINITIONS
Is defined as means

To define as defined

Refers to to illustrate
Exemplification/Classification
Exemplification may be used to show or illustrate the
characteristics of the rest or the whole of something. On
the other hand, classification is the process of explaining
something by dividing or grouping it into categories. This
separates people, places, or things into groups based on a
criterion or several criteria. These patterns of paragraph
development are often used together with another
pattern of development since they provide the details
necessary to develop a paragraph further.
 EXEMPLIFICATION
Exemplification is a common and effective way to
show or explain an idea or point (e.g., observation,
opinion, belief). In this pattern of development, the
writer explains the main idea by giving an extended
example or a series of detailed examples. In
developing a paragraph using exemplification or
illustration, the writer develops a general statement,
the topic sentence, with one or more examples.
Illustrations through clear and specific
examples help explain abstract ideas and
clarify meaning in texts. This may be long
or short. Many writing assignments in
various disciplines require the use of
exemplification. Argumentative essays,
feature articles, reviews, reports, and
case studies often use examples to prove
a point.
EXAMPLE
The diversity of dances from the peoples of the Philippines, which are
manifested in different dynamics and forms, grew out of the various
contexts and experiences of the people. Many of the dances of the
people from the mountains recall the sculptured heights and the brave
birds of the air. Such are the festival, courtship, and war dances of the
Cordillera groups. The dances of the people who live by the sea undulate
like the waters and fishes, seemingly unbound by time and space. An
example is the pangalay of the Sama, which is danced languidly on the
ground, or precariously on bamboo poles. The dances from the lowlands
spring directly from solid ground and are often gamesome and indulge in
much embellishment or ornamentation—with hand movements in the
kumintang, with lighted glasses in the pandanggo sa ilaw, and with
bamboo castanets in many a regional variety of the jota.
Classification
Classification Another pattern that provides details is
classification. Classification refers to the sorting or
arrangement of subjects (e.g., persons, places,
things, ideas) into groups or categories according to
their common or shared characteristics. The subjects
can be grouped in many different ways depending on
the writer’s purpose. With a purpose in mind, you can
determine how to group the subjects in your list. The
group or category should have a single basis of
This pattern can be applied in various
disciplines. Classifying current events by
date, popular TV shows by genre, viruses
by mode of transmission, food products
based on the manufacturer, and animals
based on diet are some examples of
topics in different disciplines.
EXAMPLE
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are composed of the
Philippine Army, the Philippine Air Force, the Philippine Navy, and
the Philippine Marine Corps. The Philippine Army, the main and
largest branch, is responsible for ground warfare. It was established
on December 21, 1935, and has 86,000 active personnel. The
Philippine Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch. It has
15,000 active personnel and a total of 126 aircraft. It has been
active since July 1, 1947. The Philippine Navy is the naval service
branch. It was founded on May 20, 1898 and has a total of 101 ships
and 24,000 active personnel. The Philippine Marine Corps conducts
amphibious and expeditionary warfare as well as special operation
missions. It was established on November 2, 1950, and it has 8,300
active personnel.
You can use both exemplification and classification in developing your ideas in writing. Begin by classifying the ideas and then explain each
one by giving examples. Below is an example of this combination .

Pollution of air, land, and water affects people’s health. Toxic gases,
particulate matter (e.g., smoke, soot, dust), and other hazardous air
pollutants can contaminate the air. If breathed, the air causes or
exacerbates serious respiratory problems, such as asthma, bronchitis,
emphysema, and lung disease. Toxic wastes like chemicals, garbage,
pesticides, and heavy metals make the land toxic. If people are
exposed to such land, they can develop skin problems, deformities,
and certain types of cancer. Chemicals, sewage, fertilizers, and other
harmful substances can contaminate primary water sources like the
oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, and streams. Water from affected sources
can cause stomach illness, liver damage, certain types of cancer, and
neurological problems in people.
Comparison
Comparing people, things, places, events,
situations, or even ideas is done to illustrate
how they are similar to each other. There is a
need to identify the points of comparison and
make a list of similar characteristics or qualities
for each point of comparison. Some words that
signal similarities are also, like, both, as . . .
as, similarly, in the same way, equally
important, and likewise
 Mouse treated with Mouse treated with
MAC MAC-II
YES YES
Weight loss
Hair growth NONE NONE

LOW LOW
Energy level
The old formulation of the drug (MAC) and the new formulation (MAC-II)
have similar effects on the test mice. Within 7 days, both mice lost
weight. Mouse A, which is treated with MAC, lost 2.2 grams (g), while
mouse B, which is treated with MAC-II, lost 2.4 g. Also, there was no
increase in hair growth on both subjects. Lastly, the mice similarly
exhibited low energy levels. Mouse A started to become lethargic on
day 4, while mouse B became lethargic on day 5
Contrast
Contrast Contrasting people, things, places,
events, situations, or ideas, on the other hand,
is done to illustrate their differences from each
other. To do this, you need to make a list of the
characteristics or qualities of the subjects and
then identify the differences between them.
Some words that signal contrast are but,
however, though, on the other hand, and in
 Unicorn Bust
Funding More than $1B Less than goal

Market interest High Low

Product Novel Mediocre

In the venture capital industry, a start-up company can

either be a “unicorn” or a “bust.” Unicorns have a
valuation of over $1 billion, a high market interest, and
a novel product. On the other hand, busts fail to reach
their minimum funding goal, have a low market
interest, and have a mediocre product.
Comparison and Contrast A
paragraph that shows comparison
and contrast has a unifying idea
or purpose. There must be a
balance in such a way that there
is an equal amount of information
for each subject to avoid bias.
 Da Vinci Michelangelo
Talented artist Yes Yes

Interested in anatomy Yes Yes

Style feminine, light masculine, dark

Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo are regarded as two of the greatest

artists of the Renaissance. Both were geniuses; they mastered techniques
that made them superior to their contemporaries. They were also similarly
interested in anatomy, which helped them produce highly realistic works.
However, they each had a distinct style. Da Vinci developed a style that
was feminine and full of light. On the other hand, Michelangelo preferred
his works to be masculine and dark.
CAUSE AND EFFECT
A cause states why something happens while an effect is what happens. If they
are
combined together, they can be used as a writing development pattern. With the
cause-and-effect pattern, the writer can better explain how an event or action
leads to
another. The following words can be used as signal words for cause and effect:
1. as a result
2. accordingly
3. because of (this)
4. due to (this)
5. consequently
6. hence/therefore/thus
Patterns of Cause-and-Effect Writing
There are three different ways to utilize the cause-and-effect
writing pattern: cause to
effect, effect to cause, and consecutive cause and effect.
1. Cause to Effect – In this pattern, the
cause, which is either an event or action, is
stated right at the beginning of a
paragraph, followed by statements on its
effects. This type of organization is best for
explaining a single cause with multiple
effects.
EXAMPLE
Salmonellosis is a type of food poisoning caused by Salmonella
enterica
bacterium. People who are infected with such illness experience
abdominal
cramps, fever, and diarrhea. Consequently, they suffer from severe
dehydration, vomiting, headaches, and body aches. Furthermore,
salmonellosis can lead to complications, such as Reiter’s syndrome
(reactive arthritis) and focal infection.
2. Effect to cause – In this pattern, the
effect is
stated at the beginning of the text,
followed by
sentences and paragraphs that explain
further
the causes. This type of organization is best
for presenting a single effect with different
causes.
Global warming, the increase of Earth’s average surface
temperature, is
happening. One of its major causes is the buildup of
greenhouse gases in
the atmosphere. Those gases trap heat in the atmosphere,
which keeps
the Earth warm. However, burning fossil fuels like coal, oil,
and natural gas
produces more carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, in the
atmosphere. Thus,
more heat is trapped in the atmosphere, and the Earth gets
warmer than
usual.
Another major cause of global warming
is deforestation. When forests are
burned, large amounts of carbon are
released into the atmosphere.
Likewise, when trees are cut down,
much carbon dioxide from living
things, some of which is absorbed by the
trees, goes to the atmosphere.
Nitrogen-based fertilizers are contributing
to global warming, too. They
are used in farming to stimulate microbes in
the soil. At a very fast rate,
the microbes convert nitrogen to nitrous
oxide, a greenhouse gas that can
trap more heat than carbon dioxide can.
Also, it destroys the ozone,
Earth’s defense from ultraviolet light
3. Consecutive cause and effect – In this type
of
organization, each cause has its corresponding
effect, and they are tackled one by one in a
few
sentences or paragraphs. The writer explains
each cause and effect completely before
moving on to the next pair of cause and
effect.
PROBLEM-SOLUTION
A problem is defined as an unsatisfactory situation that
causes troubles or difficulties that
need to be solved. Thus, it necessitates a solution, a
way to deal with the situation so that
the troubles or difficulties are removed. In writing across
disciplines, the problem-solution
pattern of development is used to deal with topics that
logically pose problems and present
solutions.
Patterns of Problem-Solution Writing
The following variations of the problem-solution
pattern are the problem-solution,
problem-cause-solution, and problem-process-
solution.
1. Problem-Solution – This is a pattern
that has a straightforward approach.
The problem is stated simply, and a
possible solution is given.
EXAMPLE
The fast-food chain Charlie’s Chicken wants to attract younger
customers,
ages 13 to 17, to dine in their restaurants. The management is
thinking of
launching a new mascot called Clucky, a cool and trendy
anthropomorphic
chicken. This brand overhaul would be very expensive, though.
So, they
are also exploring digital marketing options. Through the Web
and social
media, the company can promote the brand at a lower cost.
2. Problem-cause-solution – In this
pattern, the cause of the problem is
identified and analyzed before a
possible
solution is presented.
Women in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) are significantly
underrepresented. The small number of women
working in these fields can be attributed to the
prevailing attitudes of people in general about the
ideal career aspirations of women. Educating
people then is a way to change how they think and
feel about women. Furthermore, the government
and public organizations should support programs
that increase women’s interest in the STEM fields.
3. Problem-process-solution –
This pattern discusses the
process or procedure
extensively. The discussion
addresses the problem while
the readers are led to the
solutions.
A study is set out to determine the effects of
ultraviolet light on live cells. In an
experiment, a microbial sample will be
subjected to UV light from a 24-watt light
bulb. After six hours, the sample will be
analyzed. The experiment aims to prove that
the UV light causes irreparable DNA damage
that causes cell death. The results can be used
to develop more effective ways to protect
human skin from the UV light from the sun.
Persuasion

It intends to convince readers

to do or believe in something.
 PERSUATION
A Persuasive paragraph tries to convince
the reader that a particular point of view
is worthy of consideration. It wants you
to consider both sides of an issue, but it
reveals a bias in favor of one side over
another.
 SIGNAL WORDS FOR PERSUATION

GIVE REASONS ANSWER THE DRAW A CONCLUSION

OPPOSITION
First (second, Of course Therefore
third, etc.) Some may say Thus
Another, Next Nevertheless Hence
Last, Finally On the other hand Consequently
Because, since, for Accordingly
Although To sum up