Patterns of Written Texts

Writing pattern or pattern of paragraph

development refers to a specific strategy or
method that a writer uses to develop ideas
in a paragraph.
It suggests a type of support to an idea
that one can use in a type of paragraph.
It also helps a writer how to make sense
of the different pieces of information.
• narration
• description
• definition
• exemplification / classification
• cause and effect
• comparison and contrast
• problem - solution
• persuasion
1. Narration
The focus of this pattern is basically to
narrate or tell a story.
It emphasizes the what, when, and where
something happened.
Its purpose comes along with effective
sequencing order of events in a
chronological order.
Moreover, action words and transitional
words characterized a narrative paragraph.
Yesterday, Thea and her two brothers, Michael and
Edward had the most wonderful time together. They
strolled in the mall. They went inside the
department store and bought bucket hats and
matching shirts.
Next, for lunch, they ate at their favorite
restaurant, ordered the usual chicken and rice
combo and shared many funny moments.
After that, they watched a comedy movie and
laughed their hearts out. After a long day, they went
home tired but fulfilled. They definitely shared good
moments together and bonded more as siblings.
2. Description
This pattern of development gives characteristics or
details on what an object, a person or a place looks
like.
When using this pattern, use powerful and
appropriate adjectives and use effectively the five
senses (sight, smell, taste, hear, touch) to create a
clear image on a reader’s mind.
Objective description is used in scientific writing to
describe factual and scientific characteristics.
Subjective description is used in fiction wherein a
writer uses his own perspective to describe a person,
an event or a thing.
Every summer, my brothers and I spend our
vacation in my Lola’s house. It always feels like
my first home. It is already an old house. You
could already say it’s old because of the worn-out
fences.
Still, I love spending my summer there. When
you go inside, that musty smell welcomes you or
the smell of rice cakes from the kitchen. Lola
really loves to make rice cakes and my favorite is
‘suman’. Every day is a fun day.
My brothers and I would either play in Lola’s
backyard with her dog, Bantay or we go to the
river nearby. In the next morning, she would then
cook delicious meals and they’re all tasty. Lola’s
home is always a happy home.
3. Definition
The focus of this pattern is to explain or give a
comprehensive understanding of a concept, a
term or an idea. To define a term, a writer
provides a general definition, then gives clear
details to support.
You may define a term or a concept by its
characteristic, function, example, origin or
effect.
There are two types of definition -
scientific and subjective.
Scientific definition defines concepts in
the most factual way.
Subjective definition defines complex terms
in a personal way.
I was once asked by my college professor
before, “What is passion?” This is a typical
question for a painter and an artist like me.
As they say, you will never excel as an artist if
you don’t have passion within you. What is
‘passion’? My teacher once told me that
passion comes from a Latin root ‘pati-‘,
meaning ‘suffering, or enduring’.
From then on, my teacher taught me that
passion is not just something you earn in a
night or after studying arts. It’s something
you have to learn over the course of life.
I then learned that passion is something I
need to learn to feel by enduring not just the
highs of life but also the downtimes. It also
goes with loving what I do.
4. Exemplification and
Classification
Exemplification is a pattern of development
wherein a writer uses examples to illustrate and
further explain an idea. By this pattern, examples
used clarify more the general idea in the
paragraph.
Classification divides and organizes ideas or
concepts in classes, groups or categories based on
criteria and relationships between the items. This
pattern helps the reader understands even the
complex and vast idea as it will be classified.
You can be awesome on your ‘first day high’ in
college by being friendly, responsive and easy-
going. In that case, you can immediately have
friends and be at ease in your journey to college.
First, be friendly. For example, always be the first
one to say “Hi!” and introduce yourself. For you
not to look awkward, always wear a smile.
Next, be responsive. A first day is always a
getting-to-know stage. Whenever a person asks
you a question, answer accordingly.
As long as it doesn’t hurt or offend you, just
go for it. Basically, these are the “must be-
attitudes” if you’re a freshman.
5. Cause and Effect
This pattern of development discusses why
something happens and what results a
particular occurrence or event. They can be
discussed together.
However, in a particular paragraph, one or the
other will be emphasized. It may be a
paragraph emphasizing a cause or a paragraph
emphasizing an effect.
A paragraph that emphasizes the causes
begins with an effect; the purpose of the
paragraph is to discuss how that effect came
to be and to show what caused it.
On the other hand, in a paragraph that
emphasizes the effects begins with a
particular cause, then explores the
consequences.
Several factors contribute to the frequent use
of different social media platforms by
teenagers. First, it is their way of connecting to
friends and widening their network of friends.
Since everyone is in Social Media, they feel a
need to be there and join group conversations.
It is their way of relating to others.
Second, teenagers tend to feel like they might
miss out if they aren't always up to date with
social media. They can even stay online in a
day and they would never feel tired in just
scrolling.
Lastly, because of boredom, they choose to be
occupied in their social media profiles and
continue connecting to other people.
However, being too much absorbed in social
media may result to a bad turn-out. That’s
why, parents should guide their children and
be updated on the things their children
explore
6. Comparison and
Contrast
Comparing means looking on the similarities.
Contrasting means looking on the differences.
Thus, Comparison and Contrast, as a pattern,
discusses and organizes ideas based on how
people, events, places and things are similar or
different to one another
There are two approaches that a writer can do to
discuss the similarities and difference.
The first one is separately. The writer describes
the first element then followed by the second
element.
The second is side-by-side. The writer
discusses both items based on each point of
comparison and contrast.
Mikko certainly loves his two best friends,
Anton and Abu. However, they have
completely diverse personalities. Although
Anton and Abu both have strict parents, their
attitudes are very different.
Anton is very conservative and always careful
with his words. In contrast, Abu is very out-
going and is always careless when he talks.
When it comes to hobbies, they are also
different.
Anton loves reading books while Abu loves
fishing in the river. However, even though
they are totally different, they all agree on one
thing, and that is playing basketball. That’s
how they always bond and keep their
friendship.
7. Problem-Solution
In this pattern of development, the writer
presents a problem that needs to be resolved.
The paragraph states a concerning issue or a
problem then next is the solution or what should
be done to solve the issue.
A paragraph that uses problem-solution has
three main parts: topic sentence introduces the
solution to a problem, body sentences explain
the problem and solution and ending sentence
which calls readers to action.
Obesity among adults showed a gradually
increasing trend as it has become one of the
major problems in the Philippines nowadays.
This problem is made worse by bad habits
such as lack of physical activity, excessive
smoking and unhealthy diets. Aside from
healthier eating habits, one solution to this
would be to exercise on a daily basis.
There are even easy and convenient ways to
exercise at home or even at work. That’s
why, before it’s too late, obese adults should
take this into consideration before it
aggravates and might lead to more
complicated illnesses.
8. Persuasion
In this pattern, the writer describes an issue
and states his position in the issue. The
writer’s primary goal is to convince the
readers to agree with the argument or claim
being raised, based from a particular topic.
A persuasive paragraph starts with a topic
sentence. It states position or stand about
something. The body sentences explain the
reasons supporting the position or stand, and
the closing sentence reiterates or intensifies the
thesis statement.
Education is a right and not just a privilege.
First of all, one of the rights of a child is the
right to education. He has the right to learn, to
know, to explore and to discover.
Thus, education must be available for all
without discrimination. Not one’s status in the
society should dictate if one deserves quality
education or not. As observed, illiteracy of
some affects everyone.
Meanwhile, this problem of illiteracy happens
to someone who can’t afford school and is
usually in the marginalized sectors. Basically,
education heals ignorance.
Therefore, let education be given to everyone.
Hence, education is and should be a right.
Government should strengthen and empower
education for all.