Patterns of Development

Feel free to use this set in order to memorize the eight patterns of development and their definitions.

narration

tells a story/recounts events in support of a central thesis; usually uses time/chronology as a framework

description

a story that targets the senses with a high level of detail, typically in order to aid understanding/relatability

process analysis

summarizing and analyzing steps of action in order to demonstrate how something came to be (a historical event, a movement, political/social systems, the inner workings of machines, etc.)

exemplification/illustration

making/clarifying a point through the use of a series of examples (or an extended example); painting a picture of a specific instance; making the abstract more real

comparison and contrast

juxtaposing (putting two things close together w/ the intended effect of making their similarities AND differences more distinct)

classification and division

breaking a topic into groups/categories in order to clarify/explain what goes together and why they go together (traits, characteristics, etc.)

definition

defining something (a word, a concept, a trend, etc.) in order to clarify meaning and/or establish the foundation for an argument

cause and effect

linking situations/actions/events together in order to explain, clarify, or predict how/why something happens