Patterns of Development in Writing: Narration, Description, and More

Narration

Telling a story; recounting series of events. Based on personal experience or knowledge of experience. Chronology of events is important. Includes concrete detail. Written from a particular Point of View. Often features Dialogue between characters/people. Often stories are crafted to support a thesis. May be used as a way to enter/introduce the main topic.

Description

Emphasizes the senses by painting a picture. Establishes mood or atmosphere. Clear and vivid details to persuade; build empathy and connection. Works with narration.

Process

Explains how something works, how to do something, how something was done. Clarity: Explain clearly and logically. Transitions are a must! Clear verbs.

Exemplification

Providing a series of examples to turn a general idea into a concrete one. Examples: facts, cases, instances. Extended example or series of related examples helps to illustrate a point. Induction: logical proof. Examples lead to conclusion.

Comparison & Contrast

Juxtaposing two things to highlight similarities and differences. Used to analyze information carefully.

Subject by Subject Organization

All elements of one subject discussed first, then the other subject is discussed.

Point by Point Organization

Discusses an aspect of both subjects, and then another aspect and so on.

Classification & Division

Sorting material or ideas into major categories. A writer asks: 'What goes together and why?' The writer makes connections between seemingly unrelated things. The writer sorts ideas or material into pre-made categories. A writer creates new categories to break down larger concepts into parts. Use examples and analysis.

Definition

Defining key terms is an important way to lay the foundation for a text; writers define key terms to establish common ground for their main argument/claim. Definition is the first step in a debate or disagreement.

Cause & Effect

Writers may analyze the causes that led to a certain effect. Writers may analyze the effects that resulted from a cause. Causal analysis depends on clear logic, tracing a chain of cause and effect. It's easy to run into logical fallacies (errors in reasoning).