Upload
marlene-douglas
View
213
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Cause/Effect Essays
Purpose of this Rhetorical PatternTo understand a situationTo solve a problemTo predict an outcomeTo entertainTo persuade
Brainstorming Technique
SPOKE DIAGRAM
Unity in Cause/Effect Focus must be only on one topic and
its causes/effectsUnity is achieved in a paragraph by
deciding on an organizational pattern.Is there a link between the causes or
effects? Use that link as the controlling idea (ex. negative effects, positive outcomes, happy reasons.)
Create a thesis statement demonstrating the topic, the chosen pattern and the controlling idea.
Organization PatternsCause Focus - writing only about
causes◦Introduction paragraph (discuss
effects as hook)◦Body Paragraph One: Cause One◦Body Paragraph Two: Cause Two◦Body Paragraph Three: Cause Three◦Conclusion
Organization PatternsEffect Focus – writing only about
effects◦Introduction paragraph (discuss
causes as hook)◦Body Paragraph One: Effect One◦Body Paragraph Two: Effect Two◦Body Paragraph Three: Effect Three◦Conclusion
Organization PatternsCauses and Effects focus: pay
attention to transitions between body paragraphs◦Introduction◦Paragraph(s) about causes◦(transition)◦Paragraph(s) about effects◦Conclusion
Organization PatternsChain Reaction - used for
closely linked causes/effects.◦Introduction◦Cause/Effect Body Paragraphs (one
link or many links in each paragraph)◦Conclusion
Coherence through Signal WordsSee handout on Signal Words
◦Note the difference with phrases ending in a preposition As a result of his achievements, he won
the prize. He had a lot of achievements. As a
result, he won the prize. As a consequence of the long hours at
work, she was tired. She worked long hours. As a
consequence, she was tired.
Practice with Signal WordsDetermine the signal word. Identify the cause. Identify
theeffect. Understand the grammatical structure that
follows. President Obama claims that jobs have been saved as a
result of the stimulus package. The Supreme Court denied the petitioner’s case, for the
Justices believed the petitioner did not meet his burden of proof.
The reason for the company’s success has been its continued expansion of its research and development division.
Her father had two jobs; as a consequence, she did not see him very often.
Halloween now rivals Christmas as the most popular American holiday, thereby dramatically increasing the sales of candy and costumes in the past ten years.
Practice with Signal WordsDecide which one if the cause and the
effect. Then create a sentence.____Coral reefs are dying____Scientists are trying to figure out ways to
protect them.(because)________________________________________
_____________________________________There was a lot of rain this fall.____The pumpkin crop was not good.(as a consequence of)
______________________________________________________________________________
Hook Paragraph Dramatic Narrative or Statement
◦ ExampleThe Collision
Darkness surrounds the car, except for two beams of light straining against the gloom. The rain pounds the car, tapping out a frantic beat. The undertone of the steady thumping of the windshield wipers combines with the rain to create a hypnotic rhythm; inside the car, the air is warm and enveloping. The windows, slightly fogged, sparkle from the lights of passing cars, and traffic lights. Now, the twinkling of the blinker light up the dashboard. The car eases into the next lane and WHAM! The rhythm is destroyed. Now, the sounds are the crunching, cracking and popping of metal on metal. The car has collided with another and careens to a stop. Although the car no longer moves, the effects of the car accident have now been set in motion.