ReadWrite - Lesson 1: Patterns of Communication

Patterns of Communication

• are logical arrangement of ideas that help readers to follow ideas easily and understand the text better.

• These patterns are structures in which ideas are communicated in various ways such as when telling a sequence (chronology), when conceptualizing ideas (description, definition), when analyzing thoughts (comparison-contrast, exemplification, cause-effect), and when making reasons (problem-solution and persuasion).

Definition Pattern

• develops an idea that helps to clarify and explain concepts by answering the question “what does it mean?”.

• It explains information using illustrations, by giving examples, and by providing descriptions which may include one or more different patterns.  A spider mapping is helpful is making a definition.

Exemplification Pattern

• presents the main idea in a general statement and then provides specific and concrete examples to expound it. Spider mapping is also helpful in identifying examples to discuss the specific statements.

Description Pattern

provides details on the idea by using either a sensory or spatial pattern.

sensory pattern

 ideas are arranged based on one or all of the five senses.

spatial pattern

 arranges ideas by location or physical space.

Chronology/Procedure Pattern

• organizes ideas or events according to time which can be in a form of narration or process.

• The most essential parts of this pattern are the main idea, major dates and events such as the final outcome, major stages/steps, and the order of presentation.

Narration

 sequences events in the order in which they occurred in time

Process

organizes details based on stages or steps.

Listing Pattern

organizes ideas using enumeration. Unlike a chronological pattern, listing does not have the element of time. It presents a series of items (facts, examples, features, reasons, and tips) that support a main idea.

Comparison and Contrast Pattern

• organizes ideas based on how events, places, people, things, and concepts are similar to or different from one another. There are two ways on how ideas can be arranged

• Venn diagram or compare/contrast matrix are helpful in this pattern.

separately

involves describing one item first followed by the second item

side-by-side

means discussing both items based on each point of comparison

Classification Pattern

• organizes ideas into categories or divisions based on criteria and standards. This pattern can be used when classifying people, objects, events, things, and places.

• In this pattern, it is important to note the superordinate ideas (larger group), the subordinate ideas (subcategories of the larger group), and the relationship between them. A network tree is useful in writing classification.

Cause and Effect Pattern

organizes details based on the cause, the reason, and the result or consequence of a certain phenomenon. This pattern may discuss causes only, effects only, or both. Using fishbone map can better present a cause-and-effect relationship of events.

Problem-Solution Pattern

organizes ideas into problems and proposed solutions. The problem section includes the discussion of the W’s and H questions. The solution section presents the major effects of the problem, the possible solution to address it, and the steps in implementing the solutions.

Persuasion Pattern

organizes ideas to show how a set of evidence leads to a logical conclusion or argument. Specifically, this pattern presents the issue, the position, the reason, and the supporting evidence that supports the position.