Cause and Effect Analysis English4

Writing Genres Rhetorical Analysis – Explain how the rhetor used ethos, logos, pathos to convince you of something. Autobiographical Writing – Tell a story about what happened in your life and explain its significance. Cause and Effect Writing – Explain what you think caused something, or what you think something will cause

Cause and Effect Writing What caused something? What were the effects of something? What might the effects of something be?

Examples Journalist might write about some possible reasons that Trump is leading polls. What the effects of the Paris attacks have been on voting. What might be the effects if Trump becomes president?

Examples Sportswriter – possible reasons why soccer team lost game they were supposed to win, why Pacific Ten almost always defeats Big Ten in Rose Bowl. What have been the effects of moving the three-point line back several inches? What would happen if the Knicks get Lebron?

Examples Politics – secretary of state might ask for causes of Isis’s growing power. CIA - What have been the effects of a new intelligence strategy or technology? What might happen if we wipe out ISIS?

Examples Business – CEO might ask sales manager for report on why the new iPhone or chicken sandwich isn’t selling as well as expected What were the effects of the new billboards we put up on 1-9? What might happen if MacDonald’s started selling pizza?

Examples Principal might ask Vice Principal for a statement explaining possible causes for low English SAT scores. Teacher might ask himself, what have been the effects of giving a class work grade for each week? Vice Principal might ask teacher what they think might happen if we use NoRedInk.com for all English classes?

Examples History – What were the causes of the Civil War? Of America’s wealth? Of ancient Greek’s superior culture? What were the effects of the Civil War on the culture in the South? Of Greek art, literature, and science? What might happen if we repeat the same mistakes we made in Iraq?

Examples Psychologist – Why do some people experience depression more than others? What are the effects of depression on a person’s relationships? How does exercise help people with depression?

Importance Understanding, reading, and writing about causes and effects can help you be healthier save time have better relationships create better art make more money be more successful be happier Etc.

Causal Arguments Cause and effect writing is a kind of argument. Look for problems in logos/logic. Less women are interested in science and math means women are naturally bad at science and math. When the windmill is moving faster, there is more wind. Therefore, windmills cause more wind.

Confusing Correlation with Causation Questionable Cause Logical Fallacy When two events correlate, they go together or happen at the same time. This is different than one event causing the other. It is possible that something else caused both of the other things. Sleeping with one's shoes on is strongly correlated with waking up with a headache. Therefore, sleeping with one's shoes on causes headache.

Confusing Correlation with Causation As ice cream sales increase, the rate of drowning deaths increases sharply. Therefore, ice cream consumption causes drowning. What might have caused both?

Questions Discuss the following with a partner or consider on your own: How is causal analysis important in studying medicine? How is causal analysis involved in theology and religion? What kinds of cause and effect relationships do you find most interesting?

Next few days Today: Why Are So Few Women in Science? Tomorrow/Thursday: Documentary (Rubble Kings: How did hip hop influence gang culture in 70s NYC culture?)