Writing UNIT 6: CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAYS CAUSE-EFFECT ESSAYS: Purpose • To explain the causes of an event/situation (why it happens), or the effects of an event/situation (the results) • Longer essays: causes and effects • Your essay: only causes CAUSE-EFFECT ESSAYS: Format paragraph • Introduction paragraphs • Body paragraph • Conclusion INTRODUCTION: Structure INTRODUCTION engages reader’s interest = personalizing topic /showing why it is important for reader to know about topic gives details about event/situation resulting from causes to be discussed , in order to help reader understand relationship between presents causes leading to event/situation causes and effects HOOK BACKGROUND INFORMATION THESIS STATEMENT INTRODUCTION: Example (Savage & Mayer, 2006) At this moment, somewhere in the world a young boy is dreaming about becoming a famous soccer player He has posters of famous soccer stars in his room, and every day he goes out to practice with his friends He even cuts his hair in the same style as his favorite player (Hook: personalization – writing about a certain person in the society) Thousands of young people feel the same as this boy However, only a few children actually become professional athletes (Background information: presenting the outcome of the causes to be written about) The factors that determine if an individual can have a successful career in professional sports include physical ability and mental clarity (Thesis statement: stating two causes) BODY: Structure • Paragraph 1: topic sentence (= 1st cause) + examples; explanations; reasons; facts • Paragraph 2: topic sentence (= 2nd cause) + examples; explanations; reasons; facts BODY: Example (Savage & Mayer, 2006) Body paragraph – Cause In order to become a professional athlete, a person must be athletically gifted (Topic sentence: stating cause 1) This means the athlete must be stronger than others (explanation 1) A soccer star should be able to run faster and farther than most other athletes A basketball player has to be able to fake, block, and shoot while other powerful players are trying to stop him (examples) Finally, in order to make a career out of sports, the player must be able to prevent injuries (explanation 2) Many young athletes have to quit because they have sports injuries It is very difficult to play a sport year after year and not get seriously hurt So a powerful, agile, and resilient body is essential (further explanation for explanation 2) Body: Example (Savage & Mayer, 2006) Body paragraph – Cause The other factor that contributes to a successful career in sports is a strong mind (Topic sentence: stating cause 2) An athlete must be able to manage stress and to focus on the game (explanation 1) A tennis player might feel a lot of stress, which could interfere with her ability to concentrate She might hit the ball out of bounds A crowd of people yelling at a baseball pitcher might make him throw balls instead of strikes (example 1) To succeed, an athlete must be able to play under this kind of pressure In addition, an athlete must be able to make quick strategic decisions (explanation 2) Making the right decision to pass or shoot, for example, is extremely important, especially in team sports (example 2) Finally, an athlete must be able to cooperate with his team members (explanation 3) For example, even though he might want to keep the ball and make all the shots, he must focus on passing the ball to the player who has the best chance of scoring He cannot think only about himself if he wants his team to win (example 3) CONCLUSION: Structure • Repetition of thesis statement (in different words) + summary of main causes + comment to round off essay CONCLUSION: Example (Savage & Mayer, 2006) In conclusion, the two contributing factors to a successful career in athletics (thesis restatement: repeating the thesis statement in different words) are physical ability and a strong mind and character (summary of main causes: summarizing the two causes presented in the two body paragraphs) Therefore, children who want to become famous athletes should take care of their bodies and practice every day In addition, they should develop their minds so that they can be cooperative players in whatever game they eventually play (comment: a piece of advice for the reader) CAUSE-EFFECT ESSAYS: Writing task Write a four-paragraph cause essay analyzing the reasons people prefer being young to being old STEP 1: Brainstorming ideas Causes Effect - People prefer being young to being old STEP 2: Outlining Introduction Body Conclusion Hook: Body paragraph Summary: _ Topic sentence: _ _ _ _ Background information: _ Comment: _ Supporting detail: _ _ _ _ Thesis statement: _ _ Supporting detail: _ _ _ Supporting detail: _ _ Body paragraph Topic sentence: _ _ Supporting detail: _ _ Supporting detail: _ _ Supporting detail: _ _ STEP 4: Editing your writing Editor’s Checklist Put a check () in the box as appropriate  Does your essay have four paragraphs?  Does your introduction include a hook and background information that explains the effect of the causes?  Does your introduction include a thesis statement that mentions two causes leading to the event/situation?  Does each of your body paragraph have a topic sentence that states one cause presented in the thesis statement?  Does each of your body paragraph have supporting details that explain the cause presented in the topic sentence?  Did you use connectors for signalling causes?  Did you follow the rules for using will correctly?  Did you use if clauses to show causes? STEP 4: Editing your writing Peer Editor’s Checklist Put a check () in the box as appropriate  Does the essay have four paragraphs?  Does the introduction include a hook and background information that explains the effect of the causes?  Does the introduction include a thesis statement that mentions two causes leading to the event/situation?  Does the body paragraph have a topic sentence that states one cause presented in the thesis statement?  Does the body paragraph have supporting details that explain the cause presented in the topic sentence?  Did the writer use connectors for signalling causes?  Did the writer follow the rules for using will correctly?  Did the writer use if clauses to show causes? Reference Savage, A., & Mayer, P (2006) Effective academic writing 2: The short essay New York, NY: Oxford University Press THE END ... signalling causes?  Did the writer follow the rules for using will correctly?  Did the writer use if clauses to show causes? Reference Savage, A., & Mayer, P (20 06) Effective academic writing 2: The.. .CAUSE- EFFECT ESSAYS: Purpose • To explain the causes of an event/situation (why it happens), or the effects of an event/situation (the results) • Longer essays: causes and effects •... the reader) CAUSE- EFFECT ESSAYS: Writing task Write a four-paragraph cause essay analyzing the reasons people prefer being young to being old STEP 1: Brainstorming ideas Causes Effect - People