Writers
use a variety of details to develop a topic. Below are some
types of details that are commonly used by writers.
TYPES
OF DETAILS
FUNCTION
OR PURPOSE
Facts
To provide
objective information about a subject
Personal
experience
To tell
the writer's experience or that of someone else
Anecdotal
evidence
To record
what others say about the subject
Examples
To illustrate
a point
Explanation
To analyze
or explain an event, circumstance, idea, or opinion
Description
To describe
physical and/or mental characteristics of a subject
Definition
To define
key terms if necessary
Causes
or reasons
To explain
why something happened
Effects
or consequences
To demonstrate
outcomes or results
LISTING:
If you were writing about misunderstandings
between parents and teenaged children, a common experience within
all cultures, you would begin by listing some possible problems
that arise within the parent-teen relationship. Note the guidelines
for listing below and take several minutes to focus on this
topic and jot down some problems or arguments that occur between
parents and teens.
Guidelines for Listing
Write down any idea
that comes to mind.
Write quickly.
Write words and groups
of words instead of full sentences.
Do not judge the
ideas as good or bad.
Do not worry about
spelling and grammar at this stage.
CATEGORIZE YOUR IDEAS: Now
look over the list you have written and think about how you
might categorize the problems. For example, do you see anything
that relates to problems with school? with friends? with personal
lifestyle? with risky behavior? Note that these are general
categories or kinds of problemsthat
items in your own list might relate to. The next step is to
make an outline or chart to link your specific ideas with
more general categories. Making a chart like the one below
is one way to organize your thoughts before you write the
paragraph. You will save yourself a lot of time and discover
more positive results if you take the time to think through
the ideas you wish to communicate before you draft your paragraph.
Which items in your own list would support at least two two
of the general areas of misunderstanding listed below?
PROBLEMS
BETWEEN PARENTS AND TEENS
Areas
of Misunderstanding
Specific Examples/Details
1. Problems with school or study habits
(your details)
2. Peer pressure (influence of friends)
(your details)
3. Misunderstandings over lifestyle choices
(your details)
4. Risky (dangerous, self-destructive)
behavior
(your details)
Once you have completed the
chart or drafted a different type of outline of your preference,
practice writing the paragraph.
