Writing Development Patterns: Description & Definition

• Patterns of development in writing refer to the strategies writers employ to develop ideas, often used to express themselves.

Description

• Description is a representation using words.
• In description a type of writing creates a clear picture of a scene, object, person, or place.
• Description can be either objective or subjective.
• Example: "The stew had a strong, spicy scent and it was hot on her tongue, and even the small amount she had taken was enough to warm her throat as it slid down."

Definition

• In a definition paragraph a writer helps the reader understand new terms or concepts, or gain a new understanding of familiar terms.
• Definition is very important in the sciences where the terminology is extensive and discipline-specific.
• When defining scientific terms, a writer seeks objectivity, and when impressions are essential, a writer uses analogies that the reader can identify with.
• To write a definition paragraph, the writer must identify the term, provide a general definition, and then provide clear detail to support that definition.

Tips in Writing Definition

• By characteristics or features: Scientific definitions typically rely on this type of definition. Physical features as well as behaviors (as in animal or cell behavior) may be a part of this type of definition.
• By function: how something works, or what it does can be an important part of definition.
• By what it is not: Ironically, we can get a pretty good sense of what something is like, by learning what it is not, or what it is lacking.
• By what it is similar to: Comparison and analogy help understand things that are unfamiliar.
• By example: Giving examples illustrating what the term means can be highly effective.
• By its origins: Providing a history of what a term has meant can help us understand its current meaning.
• By its effect: Discussing what effects the subject produces is important with certain subjects or in certain contexts.

Example

• Bacterial endocarditis occurs when bacteria in the bloodstream lodge on abnormal heart valves or other damaged heart tissue.
• Certain bacteria normally live on parts of the body, such as the mouth and upper respiratory system, the intestinal and urinary tracts, and the skin.
• Some surgical and dental procedures cause bacteremia.
• Bacteremia is common after many invasive procedures, but only certain bacteria commonly cause endocarditis.

Comparison and Contrast

• Common in academic disciplines such as humanities, sciences, and business.
• Comparison and contrast paragraphs can be found in character analyses, essays, political science, sociology, historical papers, lab reports, progress reports, book and film reviews, and marketing campaigns.
• A paragraph developed by comparison and contrast needs a unifying idea or purpose, and must be balanced to avoid bias.

Comparison

• Comparison involves showing how persons, things, places, events, situations, or ideas are alike.
• Identify points of comparison and make a list of similar characteristics or qualities for each comparison point.
• Similarity signals "also," "like," "both," "as... as," "similarly," "in the same way," "equally," "important," and "likewise."

Contrast

• Contrast persons, things, places, events, situations, or ideas to show how they are different
• Make a list of the characteristics or qualities and identify which are different.
• Contrast is signaled by "but," "however," "though," "on the other hand," and "in contrast."

Exemplification

• Exemplification is an effective way to show or explain an idea or point using an extended example or a series of detailed examples.
• Many writing assignments require exemplification.
• Argumentative and exemplification essays, feature articles, reviews, reports, and case studies often use examples to prove a point.

Cause & Effect

• A cause is "why something happens," and an effect is “what happens".
• With the cause-and-effect pattern, a writer explains how an event or action leads to another.
• Signals of cause and effect include "as a result," "accordingly," "because of," "due to," "consequently," "hence/therefore/thus."
• Three ways to use cause-and-effect: cause to effect, effect to cause, and consecutive cause and effect.

Cause to Effect

• The cause can be stated at the beginning of a paragraph, followed by the effects.
• This is best for explaining a single cause with different effects.

Effect to Cause

• Effect is stated at the beginning, followed by its causes.
• This is best for presenting a single effect with different causes.

Consecutive Cause and Effect

• Causes, each with its corresponding effect, are addressed one by one briefly.
• The writer fully explains each cause and effect before moving on.
• A cause explains why something happens, and an effect describes what happens.

Problem-Solution

• A problem is an unsatisfactory situation causing troubles or difficulties, so it needs a solution which is a way to deal with the situation to remove those troubles.
• In writing across disciplines, the problem-solution pattern deals with topics that pose problems and present solutions logically.
• Problem-solution, problem-cause-solution and problem-process-solution fall under this category

Problem-Solution Pattern

• The problem is expressed in a simple statement, followed by a possible solution

Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern

• The cause of the problem is identified and analyzed before the possible solution is presented.

Problem-Process-Solution Pattern

• Process or procedure is discussed extensively.
• In the discussion, the problem is addressed and the readers are led to the solution.

Narration

• Narration is a story and can be effective because people love to hear stories.
• Even in essays that inform, analyze, or argue, a narrative paragraph can draw the reader in and establish the writer's voice.
• Example: A writer discussing excessive instant messaging may tell a story of limited socialization options in the 1970s to show changes in socializing.

Tips in Writing a Narrative Paragraph

• Consists of a story, people doing things, action and sequence.
• Common transitional narrative expressions are meanwhile, eventually, soon, later, first, second, then, finally, also, besides, furthermore, moreover, in addition, too, however, similarly, and in conclusion.