• Summarize the pattern of the sample paragraph • You may have noticed the difference in organization between Sample 1 and Sample 2. In Sample 2 the writer briefly presents the issue of terrorist attacks as a direct cause, and then dwells upon three major effects, from the matter-of-fact to something predicted. This is called the single-cause-and-multiple-effect pattern.
• 3. In what kind of order are the causes presented? • The three causes are presented from the most direct/ obvious to the most indirect/ obscure.
• Complete the outline according to the organization of Sample 1: • Causes • 1. Over a million cars are abandoned on the streets. • 2. More cars are consequently being produced. • 3. Both city governments or governmental agencies have financial headaches. • Effect • Lack of parking in cities
• Now, discuss in groups the organization of the paragraph and then fill in the outline below. • Cause: the terrorist strikes • Effects: • 1. The Americans feel very anxious and panicky. • 2. The government tends to make political errors. • 3. The public would wind up ignoring the one warning that really matters.
Organizational Structure
• Study the following two samples and analyze their different structures. • Sample 1 • Questions • 1. What is the topic of the paragraph? • This paragraph is developed around the problem of “the lack of parking” complained about by US city residents.
Linking Devices
• Sample • Questions • 1. What topic/topics do the paragraph mainly deal with? • Both paragraphs deal with the same topic: private tiger keeping. • 2. Which paragraph is easier to understand? • Paragraph B is easier to understand.
• 3. What makes this particular paragraph easier to understand? • The paragraph contains certain words and expressions, which help clarify the causes and effects in the paragraph. • 4. What pattern of organization can be identified? • This paragraph is structured on the pattern of multiple causes and multiple effects, or of chains of causes and effects.
• 2. Does this paragraph come straight to the point of cause and effect about the issue? • The paragraph addresses the cause rather than effects right at the beginning.
English Writing II
Unit 7 SOCIAL PROBLEMS
• Unit objective: • cause and effect
Part II Cause and Effect
• “Cause and Effect” is regarded as a logical pattern commonly used in explanation and argumentation. • Cause-effect relationships may be shown in various ways in addition to the single cause-effect type; it is more often than not presented in forms of single cause vs. multiple effects, multiple causes vs. single effect, multiple causes and effects, or chains of causes and effects.
• 2. What are the organizational characteristics of the paragraph? • The paragraph is organized on a pattern of single effect and multiple causes. After the problem is clearly presented at the beginning, the rest of the paragraph is devoted to the exploration of its causes. Altogether three major causes are discussed, from the obvious fact of the abandoned cars taking up parking spaces to the underlying financial headaches. In this way, the writing shows a logical cause-and-effect pattern, which might consequently attract more concern or efforts in the problem’s solution.
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The purpose of cause-and-effect writing is to provide a better picture of the situation under discussion, or to draw enough attention to the significance of some related origins and consequences, and even predicted developments.
• 3. Does it follow the same pattern as Sample 1? If not, what are the differences? • No. It follows a pattern of single cause and multiple effects. Unlike Sample 1 in which effect is addressed first and causes are traced backwards, sample 2 states briefly at the beginning the issue of terrorist attacks as a direct cause, and then dwells upon three major effects, some factual and some predicted.
• Sample 2 • Questions • 1. What problem is addressed in this paragraph? And in how many aspects is the cause or effect explored? • The problem addressed refers to the issue of terrorist attacks. This issue has brought about at least three major aspects of consequence or effect.
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In this pattern, you may state the issue, i.e. the effect, right at the beginning, and then guide the reader to track down some important evidence for the causes. The causes can be traced from the most superficial to the deepest, from the most direct to the most indirect, etc. In the end, it is advisable to suggest some solution to the problem, so that the whole writing has somee pattern of the paragraph • • The sample paragraph presents the problem of lack of parking in some of the US cities before it goes on to explore the causes of the issue. This pattern of organization is single effect vs. multiple causes.