PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT

Narration

A sequential telling of a story or recounting of a series of events.

Examples of Narration

Includes news reports, recipes, and book reviews.

Description

Focusing on superficial attribution, division of parts, and analysis of a particular topic.

Parts of a Description

Includes superficial attribution, division of topic into smaller parts, and in-depth analysis.

Definition

A thorough explanation of a term regarding its being, origin, purpose, and function.

Anatomy of Definition

Includes term, genus, and differentia.

Term (in definitions)

The word that you are about to define.

Genus (in definitions)

The classification or association made when the word is heard.

Differentia (in definitions)

The defining factor that separates the term from other members of its genus.

Exemplification

The act of providing specific examples or instances related to a particular topic.

Classification

The act of giving subordinated examples/instances that belong to a hierarchy.

Comparison and Contrast

Analyzing two subjects by comparing them, contrasting them, or both.

Cause and Effect

A cause is a reason why something happened; an effect is the result of the cause.

Problem-Solution

A common type of academic writing that identifies a specific issue and proposes ways to address it.