Focus on Writing: Chapter 7

Using Cause and Effect

Cause and Effect Tells why something happened or is happening OR Shows how one thing affects something else.

VOCABULARY

Source: yourDictionary.com

Affect 1. To have an influence on or effect a change in: Inflation affects the buying power of the dollar.

2. To act on the emotions of; touch or move.3. To attack or infect, as a disease: Rheumatic fever can affect the heart.

Effect 1. Something brought about by a cause or agent; a result.2. The power to produce an outcome or achieve a result; influence: The drug had

an immediate effect on the pain. The government's action had no effect on the trade imbalance.

3. Advantage; avail: used her words to great effect in influencing the jury.4. The condition of being in full force or execution: a new regulation that goes

into effect tomorrow.5. Something that produces a specific impression or supports a general design or

intention: The lighting effects emphasized the harsh atmosphere of the drama.6. A particular impression: large windows that gave an effect of spaciousness.7. Production of a desired impression: spent lavishly on dinner just for effect.8. The basic or general meaning; import: He said he was greatly worried, or

words to that effect.

Exemplification paragraph • Begins with a topic sentence that states

whether the paragraph will focus on causes or effects

• Points need to be placed in a logical order: Least to most important

Place the most important detail last to strengthen your paragraph

Chronological

Developing Paragraph• Begin with a topic sentence• Causes or effects supporting the general

statement made in the topic sentence Choose only causes or effects Avoid Chains: Be sure each relates to the topic sentence, not only to another effect.

Logical order – i.e. emphatic, chronological, spatial, etc.

• Summary statement that sums up its main idea

• Be sure to use transitional words and phrases. (See page 97)

Writing the Paragraph Decide on topic Brainstorm to find ideas Write topic sentence Create outline Write first draft Apply TEST strategy Revise Revise Revise