READING & WRITING WRITING PATTERN # 3: DEFINITION

NOTES # 2
WRITING PATTERN # 2: DESCRIPTION ● A definition paragraph or essay explains what
something is in comparison to other members of
● Description is one pattern of paragraph its class, along with any limitations.
development that paints pictures with words and
brings the action or scenes to the reader. ● A definition explains a concept, a term, or a
subject. Its main purpose is to tell what something
● It appeals to the senses - smell, taste, hear, sight,
and touch through the imagination of the is. A definition clarifies the meaning of a word or
readers. an idea in a simple and understandable
language. It consists of three parts:
● It builds mental images for the reader; it makes (1) the term, concept, or subject to be
present what is absent. defined;
● The writer becomes a painter who colors his or (2) the general class where it belongs,
her subject with words, particularly with and
adjectives, adverbs, and other concrete details. (3) the characteristics that differentiate it
● To write a good description you should learn to from the other members of its class.
observe keenly and accurately.
There are three types of definitions: the synonym, the
● Your eyes gather visual images; your ears intensive definition, and the extensive definition.
gain auditory images, and your mouth forms
taste images. 1. Synonym - This is a word that is similar or almost
similar in meaning to the word or idea being
● Behind the sense organs is the mind which
selects important details and allows unimportant defined.
details to go unheeded. Example:
pretty - beautiful
● When you need to give a vivid picture of the adept – skilful
nature of people, places, events, and things, you
need to use the descriptive pattern of paragraph 2. Intensive definition - This includes the term to
development. In this pattern, you provide the be defined, the class to which the term belongs,
details of how your subject looks, sounds, feels, and the characteristic(s) that make it different
smells, or even tastes like. from the other members in the same class or
TYPES species. This is also known as a one-sentence
definition.
The two types of description, according to purpose, are
objective and subjective. Example:
Emotional intelligence (term) refers to the abilities
● An objective description aims to inform or to (class) involving emotional discipline and control
identify; hence, it is factual. It is sometimes called (characteristics differentiating EI from other
informative, scientific, or technical. It focuses on abilities).
the physical aspect, and it appeals to the intellect.
There are several ways to express an intensive
● On the other hand, subjective description aims to definition.
elicit special feelings or reactions because it is
suggestive and evocative. ● Use the relative pronoun to introduce the
Aside from adjectives, descriptive paragraphs also make distinguishing characteristic.
use of signal words that denote location or direction: to A microphone is an instrument that is used for
the left, to the right, from near to far, from top to magnifying and transmitting sounds.
bottom, and so on.
● Use a participle to introduce the distinguishing
Below is an example of a descriptive paragraph.
characteristic.
The tarsier has soft, grayish fur. It has bat-like ears and a A thermometer is an instrument used for
long, rat-like tail. It only stands about 100 millimeters. It measuring temperature.
feeds on insects like crickets, beetles, and termites; and
on small animals, too, like lizards, frogs, and small birds. ● Use an infinitive to express the distinguishing
Also, it is capable of turning its head 180 degrees and characteristics.
jumping backward with accuracy. Sulfa drugs are a group of coal-tar chemicals to
cure bacterial diseases.
 3. Extensive definition - This is an expansion of ground and are often gamesome and indulge in much
the intensive definition into a paragraph; the embellishment or ornamentation—with hand movements
intensive definition is amplified into a paragraph in the kumintang, with lighted glasses in the pandanggo
through the use of one or more methods of sa ilaw, and with bamboo castanets in many a regional
paragraph development, such as exemplification, variety of the jota.
classification, analogy, description, comparison,
contrast, and cause and effect. The paragraph above expounds on the main idea, which
is stated in the first sentence, through specific examples.
Example: The examples, which are the different folk dances in the
Philippines, support the main idea.
The greenhouse effect is a natural process. As
the sun shines, Earth absorbs some of its energy. Guidelines in Writing an Exemplification Paragraph
Then the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
like water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, 1. State first the topic sentence. To further explain
nitrous oxide, and the ozone absorb and emit that the extent of dengue, the author included what
energy. This energy warms the atmosphere as causes dengue and what happens to the person
well as the Earth’s surface. As a result, the affected by it.
process keeps the Earth warm. Example:
The term “greenhouse effect” is defined in the paragraph. ● It has been over a hundred years since the
It is clearly explained through the details on how the Philippines was freed from colonization by other
process occurs. countries, but Filipinos still suffer from colonial
mentality. It is something which many can’t get rid
WRITING PATTERN # 4: EXEMPLIFICATION of, and it is and has been destroying lives since
AND CLASSIFICATIONS then.

Exemplification is a common and effective way to show In this example, the main idea is about colonial mentality
or explain an idea or point (e.g., observation, opinion, being a cause for the destruction of the Filipino people.
belief). In this pattern of development, the writer explains 2. Support the topic sentence with examples.
the main idea by giving an extended example or a series
of detailed examples. Example:

● For instance, colonial mentality makes the

● In developing a paragraph using exemplification or
Filipino people sick physically, emotionally, and
illustration, the writer develops a general
psychologically. For one, because of the
statement, the topic sentence, with one or more
obsession to have fair skin, many want to
examples. Illustrations through clear and specific
undergo skin bleaching, which can become life-
examples help explain abstract ideas and clarify
threatening if not done properly. In fact, many
meaning in texts. This may be long or short.
have been reported to have experienced skin
● Many writing assignments in various disciplines burns because of bleaching.
require the use of exemplification. Argumentative
essays, feature articles, reviews, reports, and case In this example, one example of how the colonial mentality
studies often use examples to prove a point. destroys lives was provided. Specifically, the effect being
talked about is the physical consequence of colonial
Below is an example of a paragraph using mentality.
exemplification. The text is adapted from “Philippine
Dance.” 3. Put a conclusion.

The diversity of dances from the peoples of the Example:

Philippines, which are manifested in different dynamics ● You see, the colonial mentality is one practice
and forms, grew out of the various contexts and that Filipino people should let go of. It will be a
experiences of the people. Many of the dances of the long and tedious process, but surely, it will be
people from the mountains recall the sculptured heights worth the effort.
and the brave birds of the air. Such are the festival,
courtship, and war dances of the Cordillera groups. The
dances of the people who live by the sea undulate like the In this example, the author not only reiterated the topic
waters and fishes, seemingly unbound by time and space. sentence but also added a challenge to fix the issue.
An example is the pangalay of the Sama which is danced
languidly on the ground, or precariously on bamboo poles.
The dances from the lowlands spring directly from solid
4. Use transition words. Kinds of Friends

Examples: All of us have different kinds of friends. Each friend has

his or her unique personalities, which distinguish that one
● For instance, colonial mentality makes the friend from another.
Filipino people sick physically, emotionally, and
psychologically. First, we all have that friend who acts like a Love Guru.
● Another consequence of colonial mentality is This kind of friend would give you love advice as if he or
bullying. she has experienced everything about love. The funny
● Lastly, the colonial mentality kills the Filipino thing about this kind of friend is that most often than not,
people’s patriotism. he or she, in fact, has never been in a relationship before.
Everything he or she tells you about love is actually from
Transition words should depend on how you organize the movies he or she watched.
your thoughts. Below are some of the transition words for
exemplifying. The second kind of friend we all have is the K-POP
maniac. This kind of friend knows every single K-POP
chiefly especially for instance group there is. If you visit his or her room, you’ll see it
in particular markedly namely covered with posters of different K-POP groups. Most of
all, this kind of friend will speak with you, not in English or
particularly including specifically Filipino, but Korean. That is how much this kind of friend
loves K-POP.
such as another lastly
The third kind of friend we all have is the Geek. This kind
to begin with accordingly furthermore
of friend can talk about science and technology the whole
5. Use an outline or graphic organizer. day until your eardrums and nostrils bleed. He or she
always gets perfect scores on exams and quizzes. Isn’t
Title Colonial Mentality that cool? If you are lucky, that geeky friend of yours will
give free tutorials. You don’t just have a friend, but also a
Topic Colonial mentality is destroying the tutor.
Sentence lives of the Filipino
people. Lastly, we all have that friend who is silent. This kind of
friend will make you question your life because of how
Supporting Many are harmed because of skin quiet he or she is. But having a silent friend is not bad at
Detail No. 1 bleaching. all. This kind of friend will remind you that sometimes it is
better to be quiet. The less you talk, the less of you getting
Supporting Many are bullied because of the the chance to make trouble.
Detail No. 2 obsession with fair skin.
There are still different kinds of friends that exist, but no
Supporting Colonial mentality kills patriotism. matter how different they are, we are connected to them
Detail No. 3 in one way or another.

Conclusion Colonial mentality destroys lives, PERFORMANCE TASKS # 4: Editor-in-Chief for a Day
therefore Filipinos should learn how
to let it go. You are the editor-in-chief of the campus paper. Just like
any other editorial, this editorial should tackle an issue
concerning the patrons or readers of your paper.
In this example, one example of how the colonial mentality Furthermore, as the editorial of the campus paper, this
destroys lives was provided. Specifically, the effect being should also represent the voice of the students and raise
talked about is the physical consequence of colonial some awareness in the critical minds of its readers.
mentality. Product
Classification refers to the sorting or arrangement of Write a good editorial on the message that your chosen
subjects (e.g., persons, places, things, ideas) into groups cartoon tries to convey.
or categories according to their common or shared 1. Write a good essay with at least 500 words.
characteristics. 2. Use a combination of at least two patterns of
Below is an example of a classification essay. development in writing your essay.

3. Match the message of your editorial with your chosen

cartoon. Attach the cartoon to your essay upon
submission.