Methods of Development
Enduring Understanding: Students will understand that writers guide understanding of a text’s lines of
reasoning and claims through that text’s organization and integration of evidence.
Focus Skill: Reading – Students will be able to recognize and explain the use of methods of
development to accomplish a purpose.
Focus Skill: Writing – Students will be able to use appropriate methods of development to
advance an argument
Key Terms:
Methods of Development: Common approaches writers frequently use to develop and organize the
reasoning of their arguments. A method of development provides an audience with the means to trace a
writer’s reasoning in an argument. Some typical methods of development are narration, cause-effect,
comparison-contrast, definition, and description.
Narration: writers offer details about real-life experiences and offer reflections and insights on
the significance of those experiences. Narration is storytelling; it tells what happened, usually in
chronological order.
Cause-Effect: writers present a cause, assert effects or consequences of that cause, or present a
series of causes and the subsequent effect(s).
Comparison-Contrast: writers present a category of comparison and then examine the similarities
and/or differences between the objects of the comparison. When analyzing similarities and/or
differences, like categories of comparison must be used.
Definition: writers relate the characteristics and traits that set something apart from others like it.
Description: writers relate the characteristics, features, or sensory details of an object or idea.
Process Analysis: writers create how-to writing; when you analyze a process, you break it into
steps so the reader can replicate (or understand) the process.
Exemplification: writers make abstract ideas more concrete and general statements more specific.
Classification: writers put items into categories based on shared characteristics.
Methods of development can overlap. A speaker might use only one method of development, or s/he
may weave together several methods of development.
Questions to Consider:
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Which method(s) of development does the writer select to develop their ideas?
How and why does the writer select and use a particular method of development to advance their
purpose?
What is the relationship between the method of develop a writer uses and their line of reasoning?
How does the writer organize ideas when using a particular method of development?
Notes from College Board & Back to the Lake by Thomas Cooley