Patterns of Paragraph Development Flashcards
(36 cards)
Narration
A paragraph pattern where the writer discusses real-time sequencing of a particular event, past or present.
Forms of Narration
a. news reports
b. book reports (the first half of it, at least)
c. recipes
Format of Narration
a. a short introduction of the event you are about to narrate;
b. sequencing of events that comprise the whole narration; and
c. a potential conclusion, or commentary about the event that you just narrated.
Description
focus on the superficial attribution, the division and breaking down of parts, and the analysis of a particular topic.
Superficial Attribution
physical attributes, innate values (such as personalities, abilities, and skills), and additional descriptions given by other people, aside from your own personal observations.
Division
Especially when the concept, or idea you are about to describe is a large entity to describe on its own, you may opt to divide it into smaller parts and then describe them separately.
Analysis
You write such texts when you want to give an in-depth commentary about a particular object, event, or even a person. Just be sure to practice being objective in your descriptions, though.
Format for Description
I. a short introduction on the person/object/event to be given a detailed description of,
II. a detailed list of the actual descriptions
A. if describing a person, you may want to start with the physical aspects of the person, then go deeper to the innate attributes.
B. if describing an object, you may want to
describe the external features (top to bottom, or front to back), and then get into the internal specifications.
C. if describing an event, you may want to start with the conception and planning of the event, the activities slated for that event, and the actual event itself as it unfolds (you may merge some elements of the Narrative Pattern here)
D. if the topic being described is too large, then it’s time to use division; if you will be giving your own commentary after this part, then use analysis.
III. a closing statement for that person, object, or event
A. if you wrote the previous paragraph as an
analysis, you may want to leave your personal
observations here.
Definition
The thorough explanation of a term with regard to its being, origin, purpose, and function.
Anatomy of Definition
Term, Genus, Differentia
Term
This is the word that you are about to define.
Genus
This is the group that the term belongs to.
Differentia
-From the Latin term that means “different”,
-defining factor that separates the term from the other members of the genus it is classified to.
-what makes the term unique on its own right.
Types of Extended Definitions
-Listing and Description of Parts
-Negation
-Exemplification
-Historical References
-Etymology
-Function
-Outcome/Effect
Listing and Description of Parts
-Listing down the various components that makes it whole.
EX: The conventional smartphone is composed of an LED screen, an audio jack, a built-in speaker system, a built-in camera, an internal battery pack, and a SIM card slot.
Etymology
-You can discuss the origin of a particular word to get its original meaning and to know how it came to have its present meaning.
EX: The word tourniquet comes from the French verb “tourner”, which means “[to] turn.” (a tourniquet is a medical device used to constrict blood flow from a limb of a person; it is usually used by turning the device to tighten the arm/leg, hence the word’s origin)
Exemplification
-You can define terms by giving specific examples to give the readers an idea of what you may be meaning with the term you are introducing to them.
EX: Various systems of government that are being practiced around the world are presidential democracy, communism, parliamentary democracy, monarchy, federalism, theocracy, dictatorship, and military junta. (just by the mention of the words “democracy” and “communism”, most of you must already know that you are being given examples of how people [or a group of people] can rule a country, hence, understanding what a government technically is)
Negation
-You can also define terms by telling readers what it’s not, what it can’t do, or what it’s not to be.
EX: The M1 Helmet is not supposed to be used as a wash basin, a cooking pot, a head rest, or a shovel. (observe how different NON-functions of a helmet is listed? Can you list other “odd” functions of a helmet?
Function
-You can define something (particularly a technical term) by simply describing how it works, and what it is initially for.
EX: The earliest types of sewing machine work by operating a foot pedal to constitute a stitch cycle on the fabric while moving the fabric at the same time. The faster you pedal, the longer, and farther, the stitch will be. (hate to break this to you but, this is how your grandmother’s Singer is supposed to work; it’s still nice to ride underneath it and pretend to be the ship captain, though)
Outcome/Effect
-Abstract ideas can be defined by how they
directly (or indirectly) affect the people or
any other object or creature involved.
-Research has proven that gasoline inhalation can deal long-term consequences to the body of pump attendants and motorists alike, such as migraines, confusion, and cancers.
Historical References
-You may also give the previous definitions of a term to show how it has progressed through history, especially since some words change meaning over time, depending on the context of usage and the people who use it.
-During the Great Depression, to have a “rocky road” is to lose a job and become penniless. But also during that same time, Willian Dreyer and
Joseph Edy found a way to make “rocky road” one of the most iconic ice cream flavors in the world to put smiles on faces. (now, you are now an
ice cream expert with this tidbit of history! For that, you deserve a good scoop of Rocky Road.
Exemplification
We give specific examples or instances of a particular topic, regardless if one example is higher than the other.
Classification
We give subordinated examples/instances that belong to a hierarchy.
Contrast
Differences
