Reading and Writing Skills

Module 1:
Patterns of Written Text

What I Need To Know

Have you seen a building construction downtown or

a house construction in your neighborhood? Try to observe
it. It’s a complex process, right? That’s the reason why the
engineers and construction workers see to it that a building
or a house has a strong foundation for support. This careful
process of building is also similar to the process of writing.
Words make up phrases. Phrases make up
sentences. Sentences make a paragraph. Hence, these
sentences need to be organized to explain a topic. However,
supporting one’s topic might not be easy. That’s why, there are patterns that suggest a
type of support for a topic that you can use in a type of paragraph.
These patterns of written text will be of great of help for you to be able to effectively
communicate when you write. All of these will be discussed in this module.

Let’s get started!

Most Essential Learning Competency (MELC) Week 1:

The learner:
1. Compare and contrast patterns of written texts across disciplines

This module of Patterns of Written text is divided into four topics namely:
Topic 1 – Narration and Description
Topic 2 – Definition and Exemplification & Classification
Topic 3 – Cause & Effect and Comparison & Contrast
Topic 4 – Problem-Solution and Persuasion

After going through this module, you are expected to:

A. Identify patterns of written texts across disciplines
B. Distinguish the patterns of written text
C. Examine statements using patterns of written text
D. Analyze writing patterns used in written texts
E. Use patterns of written text to support a topic
 Lesson

1 Patterns of Written Text

What’s In

In your English Grade 10, you had already learned how to write argumentative
and informative essays and even speeches for public speaking. Let’s go back to the
foundation of an essay which is a paragraph.

LET’S RECALL:

PARAGRAPH
A paragraph is a group of sentences that convey an idea. Each sentence
works together as part of a unit to create an overall thought or impression. It
has three parts: topic sentence, supporting sentences and clincher.

The topic sentence clearly states the subject or the main

point of the whole paragraph.

The supporting sentences show details and examples to

prove your point.

A clincher wraps up the point of the paragraph

What’s New

Welcome to your journey in learning Patterns of Written Text! You’re going to

learn and discover how to support and develop your ideas and strengthen their
connections in a paragraph.

In writing, so as to gain more knowledge about our topic, we read, we interview, we

search online and the like. However, sometimes we tend to be overwhelmed to the
information we have. Our tendency is to put them all together and sometimes, the result
is not good.

Let’s take for example the situation of Elmer. He has a friend in Malaysia. His friend,
Ahmad, wants to know more about his school. He will be transferring soon here in
General Santos City. He then asks Elmer the steps and process of enrolment.
Elmer then starts to enumerate the process before he can finally be able to reply to
Ahmad.
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Read the following sentences of:
1. Submit documents in the Registrar.
2. Take an exam.
3. Talk to the principal and the guidance counselor.

How did it feel to read the sentences above? Would this be enough for Ahmad to
understand the process of enrolment in Elmer’s school? It’s a bit confusing, right? It’s
because the steps don’t include enough details for Ahmad to know exactly what he
should do. However, it’s not always simple to organize or develop ideas, and sometimes
there’s more than one way. That is why, learning the methods and ways in supporting
ideas is very important.

What Is It

When you write a paragraph about your favorite tourist destination, your
opinions on a certain issue, or your thoughts in the advantages and disadvantages of
social media, you are unconsciously using these writing patterns. However, when you
become conscious of the patterns and use them effectively, you can be able to develop
your ideas well.

WHAT IS A PATTERN OF A WRITTEN TEXT?

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.

Let’s get to know more of these patterns. Are you ready? Let’s start!

Topic
Narration and Description
1

Let’s learn the first two patterns of written text, Narration and Description.

Narration

→ The focus of this pattern is basically to narrate

or tell a story. It emphasizes the what, when, TAKE NOTE:
and where something happened. Its purpose Transitional words show the
comes along with effective sequencing order of change of actions of the
events in a chronological order. Moreover, character(s) and connect events in
the story. For example,
action words and transitional words
afterwards, meanwhile, at
characterized a narrative paragraph. night, after, at present, next,
then, earlier, suddenly, before,
at last, meanwhile, eventually,

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 Example

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.

Explanation

In this narrative paragraph, for the most part, logical sequence of actions supplies
the narrative sequence: "They strolled in the mall. . . They went inside the department
store. They ate at their favorite restaurant." Because of the linear arrangement of these
sentences on the paragraph, the reader assumes the actions take place in sequence.
However, here and there, transitions such as yesterday, next, after that, after a long day,
were needed to emphasize important time relationships.

Key Points

Here are some key points for you to remember about Narration:

emphasizes the
what, when,
and where
something
happened action words
and
narrate or tell a transitional
story words
characterized a
paragraph

Narration

You may go back to some parts of the topic that you find difficult to understand. If
you’re done, let’s proceed to the next pattern.

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.
→ There are two types of description paragraph—objective and subjective. Objective
description is used in scientific writing to describe factual and scientific

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 characteristics. Subjective description is used in fiction wherein a writer uses his
own perspective to describe a person, an event or a thing.

Example

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.

Explanation

In this type of description, the author is describing an impression of what is

observed in his Lola’s house. This is an example of a subjective description. Since the
writer used clear images and sensory imagery, the reader is now able to experience
Lola’s house as to how it appeared and felt for the writer.

Key Points

Here are some key points for you to remember about Description:
use powerful
and
appropriate
adjectives and
use effectively
the five senses
objective
gives
description
characteristics and subjective
or details
description

Description

That’s excellent! You did a very good job in this topic. You may go back to some
parts that you find difficult to understand. Hope you learned so much about Narration
and Description and how to use them in writing paragraphs.

Topic
Definition, Exemplification and Classification
2

Hello there! Welcome to our second topic. You will learn the next patterns of written
text: Definition, Exemplification and Classification. Are you ready? Let’s start!

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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. On the other hand, Subjective definition
defines complex terms in a personal way.

Example

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.

Explanation

This paragraph is an example of a subjective definition of the term ‘passion’.

The writer gave examples of how it felt based on his personal experience with it. The
writer even started with an origin of the word. Then, he concluded it by saying that
passion goes with loving what the he does.

Key Points

Here are some key points for you to remember about Definition:

defines a term or a
concept by its
characteristic,
function, example,
explains a origin or effect.
comprehensive Subjective
understanding Definition and
of a concept, a Scientific
term or an Definition
idea

Definition

You may go back to some parts of the topic that you find difficult to understand. If
you’re done, let’s proceed to the next patterns.

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 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.
→ On the other hand, 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.

Example

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. Lastly,
be easy going. Keep your chill and just go with the flow. 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.

Explanation

In this paragraph, the writer began with a main idea about how to be awesome
on a first day in college then discussed the subcategories of that topic. Being
awesome on a first day high was being categorized into these secondary ideas, ‘being
friendly’, ‘responsive’ and ‘easy-going’. As you observed, there were transition words
used such as in that case, first, for example, as long as, and basically, as each
category is being explained through sample situations. That’s where exemplification
pattern comes in.

Key Points

Here are some key points for you to remember about Exemplification and
Classification:

Classification
organizes ideas or
concepts in
classes, groups or
categories based
Exemplification on criteria. These patterns
uses examples further explain
to illustrate and the general
further explain idea in the
an idea. paragraph.

Exemplification
& Classification

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 Outstanding! You did a very good job in this topic. You may go back to some
parts that you find difficult to understand.
Hope you learned so much about Definition, Exemplification and Classification and
how to use them in writing paragraphs.

Topic
Cause & Effect and Comparison & Contrast
3

Hello there! You’re almost done with the topics in this module. Welcome to our third
topic. You will learn the next patterns of written text: Cause & Effect and Comparison
& Contrast. Are you ready? Let’s start!

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.

Example

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.

Explanation

This paragraph is an example of emphasizing the causes. As you observed, the

effect, which is the frequent use of different social media platforms by teenagers, was
stated in the topic sentence. Then the causes of it was then discussed one by one.
Transition words such as first, second, lastly, and however are also used to show the
relationship of causes pertaining to the effect.

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 Key Points

Here are some key points for you to remember about Cause and Effect:
a paragraph that
emphasizes the
causes begins with
an effect. It
discusses how
discusses why that effect came a paragraph that
something to be. emphasizes the
happens and effects begins
what results a with a cause,
particular then explores
occurrence. the results

Cause
and
Effect

You may go back to some parts of the topic that you find difficult to understand.
If you’re done, let’s proceed to the next pattern.

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.

Example

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.

Explanation

As you observed, this comparison-contrast paragraph uses the approach, side-

by-side, comparing Anton and Abu in every point, such as in attitude, way of talking

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 and hobbies. To also show the relationship of ideas, transition words such as
although, however, and in contrast and are used.

Key Points

Here are some key points for you to remember about Comparison and Contrast:
Seprately approach
describes the first
element then
followed by the
second element. Side-by-side
discusses ideas approach
based on how discusses both
ideas are similar items based on
or different to each point of
one another. comparison and
contrast.
Comparison
and
Contrast

Fantastic! You did a very good job in this topic. You may go back to some parts
that you find difficult to understand. Hope you learned so much about Cause and Effect
and Comparison and Contrast and on how to use them in writing paragraphs.

Topic
Problem-Solution and Persuasion
4

Hey there! You finally made it here. Welcome to our last topic. You will learn the next
patterns of written text: Problem-Solution and Persuasion. Are you ready? Let’s start!

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.

Example

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

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 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.

Explanation

In this paragraph, the writer presented the problem about obesity among adults.
It is already presented in the topic sentence. The body sentences then explained the
problem, stated even the causes of the problem. The phrase, ‘one solution’ signals
the discussion of the writer of resolving the problem followed by a call of action in
the ending sentence to provoke an immediate response from the Filipino adults who
experience obesity.

Key Points

Here are some key points for you to remember about Problem-Solution:
states a
concerning issue
or a problem then
the solution or
what should be
done to solve the
issue. has three main
presents a
parts: topic
problem that
sentence, body
needs to be
sentences and
resolved.
ending sentence

Problem-
Solution

You may go back to some parts of the topic that you find difficult to understand.
If you’re done, let’s proceed to the next pattern.

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.

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 Example

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.

Explanation

In this persuasive paragraph, the writer stated his stand on education as a

right and not a privilege clearly on his topic sentence. The body sentences
supported the topic sentence with statements such as “…one of the rights of a
child is the right to education.” And on his closing sentences, he reiterated and
intensified his stand saying, “Therefore, let education be given to everyone. Hence,
education is and should be a right.” that clearly supported the topic sentence.

Key Points

Here are some key points for you to remember about Persuasion:
writer’s primary
goal is to convince
the readers to
agree with the
argument or claim
being raised a persuasive
describes an paragraph has
issue and states topic sentences,
his position in body sentences
the issue. and concluding
sentence.

Persuasion

Excellent! You did a very good job in this topic. You may go back to some parts
that you find difficult to understand. Hope you learned so much about Problem-
Solution and Persuasion and how to use them in writing paragraphs.