Ready to Write More Ch-7

4

C HAPTE R

Causes and Effects Most people are curious. They want to know why something happened. They also want to know what happened as a result of some event or action. when you want to analyze the reasons (causes or factors) or the results (effects, disadvantages, benefits) of something, you,io"ia a cause "r. such as, or g.-fj-g"a type of essay. For example, when you answer a question "Why did physics?" you are and when you is, ,,Whai effecrs "rr"tyri.rg.auses, will'leariing English have on y lyzing effects.

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In academic writing, you will frequently need to examine causes and/or effects. For example, in a physiology class, you might need to discuss the ofphysical therapy on ou might be asked to analvze lution or the effects of the England. In an economics class, you

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or the effects or the high rate or cours., t?.,, might.need to explore th. r."ro.,, why many of nT:1,.:t!l1sr the worlcl's rne world's languages are disappearing di or the effects of their disappearance on indigenous populations.

CAUSESAND

EFFEoTS a (oa

The Lanquaqe of Causes and Effects: Useful Phrades and Sentence Patterns Ti.ansiuon Signals That Indicate a (>ause or Effect Relationship

It

and that is why

was raining, and

that is why we canceled the soccer

game. as a consequence

As a consequence of the rain, we canceled the soccer

of

game. as a result

As a result of the rain, we canceled the soccer

of

because

it

Because

because

was

game-

raining, we canceled the soccer game.

Because of the lain, we canceled the soccer game.

of

consequently

was raining. Consequendy, we canceled the soccer game.

due to

Due to the rain, we canceled the soccer game.

for this reason

It

since

Since

SO

It

was raining, so we canceled the soccer game.

It

was raining; therefore, we canceled the soccer game.

It

was raining;

It

was raining. game.

it

For this reason, we canceled the soccer

was raining, we canceled the soccer game.

thus, we canceled the soccer game.

The following sentence patterrrs are useful in writing topic sentences and thesis statements for cause or effect paragraphs and essays. causes

1.

There are several

reasons

effects

There are several

causes

of for

of

of jetlng.

three

2. There are

four

main reasons why

several

There are *weemain tecsotrs wlly I want tn get mJ ounl dpart:ment. several has had

many

important effects on

a few

My

1(O2.

parents' dic)arcehas hnn several importont effects on my kfe.

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write a sample thesis statement for each of the following essay topics. use a variety of the sentence patterns modeled on page 102.

1.

Topic: The effects of unemploymenr Thesis statement:

Z.

Topic: The causes of depletion of the ozone laver Thesis statement:

3.

Topic: The reasons you decided to leam English Thesis statement:

4.

Topic: The effects of forest fires Thesis statement:

5.

Topic: The effects of culture shock Thesis statement:

6.

Topic: The reasons for eating a balanced diet Thesis statement:

CAUSESAND EFFECTS

a(o3

DESCRIBING CAUSES AND EFFECTS Look at the news photographs below and on page 105 and write sentences about causes or effects. Use a variety of exprcssions.

Example

1.

a.

b. c.

A^4,

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z.

a.

b. c.

3.

a.

b.

c.

4.

CAUSESAND

EFFECTS AO€;

WRITTNG A PARAIGRAPH ABOUT CAUSES Read the following conversation between two friends.

Mnnx: Hi, Janie. How long have you been here? seems like hours, but I actually didn't get here until9:30. The lines are so long, and half the courses I wanted are already closed.

JaNrc: It

Menr:

I'11bet you wish you'd preregistered.

J.nNm: I sure do, but I was planning to change my major and I didn't know what courses I'd need this semester.

MeRr:

So, you've decided not to go

into anthropology after all? Vhat happened?

JeNrc: I realized the job prospects weren't too

good for an anthropologist

with only

a

B.A. degree.

Manx: What

about graduate school?

JeNIe I thought about that, but I really want to start working right after graduation. Maybe I'll go to grad school in a few years, but for now I want something more practical.

Mem:

I can relate to that. That's why I'm majoring in engineering. Anyway, what department are you switching to?

JaNrcr Believe it or not, I've decided to go into nursing. M.,qlx: That's gteat, but it'llbe a big change after anthro. always liked working with people and helping others. When was in high school, I did a lot of volunteer work at the local hospital.

JaNrc: I know, but I've

Mam:

Well, good luck with your ne\il career. I classes this semester.

guess we

won't be in any of the same

Using information from the conversation, write a paragraph that describes the reasons Janie is changing her majorl Be sure to include a topic sentence and transitions. Write your paragraph on a separate piece of paper.

ANALYZING AN ESSAY ABOUT CAUSES The essay below discusses possible causes of the extinction of dinosaurs. Read

the essay.

The Extinction of the Dinosaurs For almost 140 million years, dinosaurs and other large reptiles ruled the land, sky, and sea. Dinosaurs came in sizes and shapes suited to every comer of the world. Then, approximately 65 million years ago, these huge reptiles died out and mammals took over the Earth. Few mysteries have ever excited the imaginations of scientists as much as this great extinction that killed off all

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OGi

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I

some scientists believe that the number of dinosaurs declined and in the Earth's climate. During the cal. Research indicates that at the end re dropped and the climate became he plants that the plant-eating rnts would cause many of the ptrrrtnosaurs died off so did the meat-eaters who fed on them. The colder climate may have caused problems for the dinosaurs in other ways, too. Because of their size, many dinosaurs were too big to hibemate in dens. They also lacked fur or feathers for protection against ihe cold. As a result, the dinosaurs were unable to adapt to the new cold conditions.

Xt^Tl,^.^:ltli.","

)cJ. .I5 fne ".* ifi"*"J.;;. ifi;;r;;;;;;d to appear on

and infected one-another with more and -o.. r""i

,.;.f::f'*:.^,:."1y,.1r:o *... aryi.,g up and di"-.r;;;;;;r:"Ji.T;'iio *:^1"* P:.:n:,:T across the land bridges, ::."": they began ro,p.."a new diseases.

A third

for the extinction of dinosaurs is the asteroid theory. According to this theory the extinction was much more sudden cause

and

ts discovered evidence for the abrupt Alvarcz, and his colleagues arrived at a

tely explains why dinosaurs died out. that were taking od. perhaps it was a Age of Dinosaurs.

Work with a Pattner Answer the following questions with a partner.

1. 'lyhat three main Z.

3.

causes does

the author suggest to explain the extinction

of the dinosaurs? What techniques are used in the introduction and conclusion? W'hat.".rr. oi effect rransitions did the author use to connect the ideas in the essav? Underline them.

ESSAY PLAN: CAUSE OR EFFECT The guidelines below will help you remember what you need to do in each part of a cause or effect essay-

lntroduction 1. Provide background information about the situation you are analyzing' 2. Describe the situation. 3. State whether you plan to discuss its causes or its effects' 4. Identifu the main causes or effects. 5. Write a thesis statement that states the focus of your essay' Supporting Paragraphs 1. State the first (second, third)

cause or effect

in the first (second, third)

paragraph.

Z. Srrpport the first (second, third) cause or effect with facts, examples, statistics, or quotatrons.

Conclusion 1. Summarize the main causes or effects. Z. Draw a conclusion or make a prediction.

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A

(OA

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When you write an essay you must think about how you are going to order the supporting paragraphs. Which paragraph should come first, second, and third? one common way is to organize the paragraphs according to order of importance. For example, in an essay about causes' you can begin with the most important cause and end with the least important cause'

Writing Essays about Gauses

A'

You are a reporter for a health magazine. Your assignment is to write an article on the topic of the causes of heart disease.

Prewriting Read the assignment and discuss it with a paftner.

You have just conducted an interview with a cardiologist, Dr. Harvey Snyder, and have

written the following introduction:

Heart disease affects so many people that it has become a serious concem for medical science. The heart is a complex organ that is vulnerable to hereditary as well as environmental risks. c"rd"iologiri, ii-[.r these risk factors as either major or minor causes of heart dise"ase.

Dr' Snyder has identified a number of risk factors associated with heart disease. He has grouped these risk factors into major and minor ca'ses. Here are your notes from the interview:

A/\AJOR CAUSEJ 0F HEART DISEATE:

larutls

or

q

radprab l4nn h^qj, it.

z. Hh h, b ln o d, prus we I,

-

can

ra &t,

h^eart

a

un rb to o h^ail,

anl can

ripran/,t**totto*T

arfu

IIINOK CAUIE

OF HEAKT DISEAIE:

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