Organization for Cause/Effect Order

Weeks 8^th and 9^th

Organization for Cause/Effect Order

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There are two main ways in cause/effect essay; ‘block’ organization and ‘chain’ organization

In block organization, a short paragraph often separates one major section from another major section. This paragraph is called a transition paragraph. Its purpose is to conclude one section and introduce another section. For example, an essay about global warming might include several paragraphs about the cause and several paragraphs about the effects, with a transition paragraph between the two block

In short, a block-style cause/effect essay could have many different patterns. Some possibilities are shown below

Block Organization

                          A                                                      B

Introduction	Introduction
1st cause	1st cause
2nd cause	Transition paragraph
3rd cause	2nd cause
Transition Paragraph	3rd cause
1st effect	4th cause
2nd effect	Effects
Conclusion	Conclusion

                          C                                                      D

Introduction	Introduction
Effects	1st effect
Transition	2nd effect
1st cause	3rd effect
2nd cause	4th effect
3rd cause	Conclusion
Conclusion

Cause/Effect Signal Words and Phrases

Just  as certain transition signals show time order and logical division, certain words and phrases signal cause/effect relationship.

Coordinator
For	Bison were indispensable to the native American tribes, for this one animal provided them with nearly everything they needed for survival: meat, clothing, shelter, tools, and weapons, Note: when used in this way, for has the same meaning as because. However, you MUST use a comma in front of for, and you MUST NOT use a comma in front of because
Subordinator
Because since as	Bison were indispensable to the Native American tribes because/since/as this one animal provided them with nearly everything they needed for survival: meat, clothing, shelter, tools and weapons
Others
To result from To be the result of Due to  because of The effect of The consequence of As a result of As a consequence	The Bison’s near extinction resulted from/was the result of loss of habitat and overhunting Bison nearly became extinct due to/because of loss of habitat and overhunting One effect of/consequence of westward expansion was the destruction of habitat for the bison The areas in which bison could roam freely shrank as a result of/as a consequence of the westward expansion of the 1800s

There are important points you should have learned from this chapter:

1.       Cause/effect organization is a common pattern in academic writing to write about causes (or reason) and effects (or result)

2.       There are two common cause/effect pattern of organization

·         In block organization, the causes (or reasons) are grouped together in one block, and the effect (or result) are grouped together in another block.

There may be a transition paragraph between blocks

·         In chain organization, the causes and effects, which is the closely linked to be separted. One cause leads to an effect, is the cause of the next effect

3.       Use a variety of cause/effect signal words to help your reader follow your ideas.