Organizing Ideas

Finding an Angle

Topic	Possible Angles
What factors have led to the degradation of the environment?	· Need for palm oil causing deforestation · Pesticide use · Slash and burn farming
What can people do to alleviate the impact of human behavior on the environment?	· Alternative energy sources · Recycle, Reuse, Reduce · Education (example Coastal Resource Management)
How does environmental degradation impact the lives of the economically disadvantaged?	· Oil spills effect on those who rely on tourism and fish for their livelihood · Environmental refugees that have to move to cities to find food and money · Logging infringing on indigenous tribes
How do environmental problems affect people’s health?	· Water scarcity in a specific region · Yellow dust in Korea · Pesticides

Cause and Effect as a Rhetorical Mode

Cause and Effect Essay Patterns

There are three basic organizational patterns for a cause and effect essay. The first is a causal chain pattern in which an effect in turn causes another situation. Basically, one event influences another event, which influences another event and so on to create a domino effect. (A causes B; B causes C; C causes D…). The second pattern is to primarily focus on effects. The third is to primarily focus on causes. In spite of the pattern, in most cause and effect essays the writer should explain the events in chronological order to facilitate the reader’s understanding.

Causal Chain

Acid Rain

Air pollution

Focus on Effects

Fossil fuel burning in power plants

Focus on Causes

Thesis Statements for Cause and Effect Essays

· Siltation, pollution, poor coastal planning and inappropriate fishing techniques are some of the ways that humans threaten marine estuaries and ecosystems. (This focuses on causes. This model is similar to the “essay map” example in Module 1.)

· Although some natural phenomena such as earthquakes, typhoons, climate changes, coral eating predators and plagues may cause threats to marine ecosystems, human activity accounts for the majority of degradation to coral reefs. (Causes)

· Through raising awareness of coastal resource management issues and encouraging behavioral change, environmental education can be part of a solution to the problems that plague many small island communities in the Philippines. (Effect of a Solution)

· The consequences of the tsunami ranged from short-term destruction of buildings to long-term economical disruption and environmental devastation.

· As a result of the insect infestation, farmers had to expand their use of pesticides to protect their crops.

· Many educators of deaf children believe that Alexander Graham Bell's philosophy of oralism prevented deaf children from having easy access to learning.

· There are perhaps two main causes for the increase in fast-food consumption, particularly over the past thirty years; changes in commercial practice, and changes in lifestyle.

· Disco dancing has become the most popular form of entertainment because it . . . (CAUSES)

· The effects of the current craze for disco dancing are . . . (EFFECTS)

Topic:
Causes	Effects	Solutions
1) 2) 3) 4)	1) 2) 3) 4)	1) 2) 3) 4)

Make an Outline

Before writing your essay fill out the following out line template:

Topic:________________________________________________________________

Angle:________________________________________________________________

Pattern:____________________

Thesis statement:__________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

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Body

Paragraph 1 Topic Sentence: :__________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Support:

1)

2)
3)

4)

Paragraph 2 Topic Sentence:________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Support:

1)

2)
3)

4)

Paragraph 3 Topic Sentence: _______________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Support:

1)

2)
3)

4)

Writing

Topics for Essay #3

BEFORE YOU WRITE YOUR ESSAY…

…DID YOU MAKE AN OUTLINE????

…DID YOU READ THE FOLLOWING INTRUCTIONS????

Write a 500 – 750 word cause and effect essay on one of the aforementioned topics.

Requirements:

l Turn in your outline with your essay.

l Use paragraphs with an introduction, body and conclusion.

l Use a famous quote, shocking statistic or anecdote for an opening hook.

l Have a specific thesis statement that clearly expresses an opinion.

l Restate the thesis in the first sentence of the conclusion.

l Use at least one metaphor or simile.

l Use at least one noun clause.

l Use at least one sentence with an adverb clause that denotes similarity

l Use at least one sentence with an adverb clause that indicates difference

l Use an “If” clause to signify cause and effect

l Use at least 2 adverb clauses that signify cause and effect

l Use at least one phrase that explains the degree of effect (so/such)

l Use vocabulary from the book

l Do not use 1^st or 2^nd person.

l Give your essay a title (The title should be 3-5 words)

l Read English articles on the Internet to find information on your topic. Turn those articles in with your drafts.

l Do not copy from the Internet—Use your own words.

l Do not write use a translator—Write in English from the start.