Modes of development for college essays

1. Methods of Development And Organization

2. Remember that unless you are writing a very short essay, it’s unlikely that you will write an entire academic paper as “comparison/contrast,” “process,” “definition” or whatever. However, portions of your essay could be written in any one of these, and, as you will see, brainstorming how your essay could be developed in a variety of methods can help you organize and develop your paper.

3. Example and Analysis The basic building block of the academic paper, using logical organization. This is the TEA paragraph, the “dna” of critical analysis, that you have been using so far all term. Get into the habit, as you read, of summarizing and analyzing your reading and keep records in your notes. You can then use these directly in your paper (remembering to cite, of course).

4. Descriptive/Narrative Focus on sense details Spatial or Chronological organization Personal essay, memoir

5. Process How to Organization is step by step Need for clarity and detail Not often used in academic writing, but consider it for effect.

6. Comparison/Contrast Analysis through comparison Must have some reason for comparison – have basic similarities Must be fair Needs careful organization

7. Definition demonstrates full understanding and insight. Needs narrow focus Avoid “dictionary” definition, however May overlap with Classification

8. Classification Examines “types” of things May be similar to “Definition” Both need Logical organization

9. Examples (for an essay on “Student Life”) Description: “My Campus Cafeteria” Process: “How to Fail a Course” Comparison/Contrast: “College vs University” Definition: “The Good Teacher” Classification: “Student ‘types’ on Campus”