After Reading >> Writing Practice

I. Introduction

The general-to-specific pattern is probably one of the common patterns in college writing. It may be used in any of these familiar places:

l Introduction to a paper

l Background in a research paper

l Opening paragraphs for a discussion or an analysis

As the name suggests, this pattern is characterized by a movement in your thinking from a generalization to specific details. Your opening paragraph would begin with a general statement and then add details that explain it. The details may continue to become increasingly specific.

II. A Sample

Writing is a complex sociocognitive process involving the construction of recorded messages on paper or on some other material, and, more recently, on a computer screen. The first skill area involves acquiring a writing system, which may be alphabetic (as in European languages) or nonalphabetic (as in many Asian languages). The second skill area requires selecting the appropriate grammar and vocabulary to form acceptable sentences and then arranging them in paragraphs. Third, writing involves thinking about the purpose of the text to be composed and about its possible effects on the intended readership.

In this example, the first sentence presents the general statement about the writing process. The succeeding statements consist of details and examples, introduced by the transitions first, second, and third.

This paragraph could have introduced a longer paper in which the writer discusses the kinds of training needed to learn to write, analyzes the results of a study about learning to write, or even introduces a topical literature review about teaching writing.

You can see that the general-to-specific pattern is one you will use frequently because of its versatility as well as its obvious ability to quickly and effectively introduce your ideas to your readers.

IV. Homework

Write a paragraph about your impressions of the story “The Last Leaf”, using the general-to-specific pattern.

The Spirit of Kindness

The most touching thing about the story “The Last Leaf” is the way in which it captures the very best in humanity, the spirit of kindness. This it does through what seems at first sight an unlucky hero. The old artist appears to be a no-nonsense character, one without any time for sentimentality and softness. Yet we soon see his kindly nature peeping through his rough manner. Only at the end of the story, however, do we discover how kind and considerate he was, the old man risking death to save the girl.