cause_and_effect 英语说明文写作中的因果关系

Presenter: Shell Date: 1st, April

Questions with why are often asked and answered.

Why?

Definition

Words and phrases

Organize paragraph

relationship

Cause & EffectCauseTell readers why something happened

EffectTell readers the results of something

Transitional Words and Phrases

effectsTherefore so

causes

due to

because of

as a result,consequently

owing to as a result of

on account ofon the ground of

for

accordinglybecause of this

Thus. hencefor this reason

Through Because since as

result in

on the ground that

therefore, consequently, as a result, and for this reason 通常后面接逗号 The weather was cold; therefore, Sally closed the window. The weather was cold. Therefore, Sally put on her coat. The weather was cold. Consequently, Sally put on her scarf. A blizzard hit the town. As a result, the schools were closed. Since, because 置于表示原因的句子前，句后用逗号. Because the weather outside was cold, Sally closed the window. so 前面的句子后加逗号 The weather was warm, so Jim turned on the air conditioner.

There are two ways of organizing paragraphs developed by cause and effectTo state an effect and devote the rest of the paragraph to examining the causesExample: what are the reasons for the increasing rate of car accidents? To state a cause and then mention or predict the effects

Example: what are the results of American population getting older?

The topic sentence indicates that the paragraph focuses on the causes. According to official statistics, more than

10,000 people in the country were killed in car accidents last year. The increasing rate of car accidents can be attributed to three general causes. Mechanical problems of cars, such as faulty brakes, bald tires, and flat tires, contribute to the high rate of car accidents. Environmental problems, such as blind corners, narrow streets, heavy fog, slippery roads cause a significant number of disasters. Such errors of human problems as excessive speed and drunken driving are considered the major factor of the fatal accidents. If drivers had been careful, many needless slaughters in car accidents could have been avoided.

A recent census reported that the American population is Effect 1: taking care of the old costing more money rapidly getting older. The aging of the nation will bring about serious effects. The most obvious effect is perhaps an economic one: how will the country bear the cost of caring for too many old people? The old are considerably more expensive to maintain. They now live mainly at home and Effect 2:medical the social costs security system losing money need more services, and at present are almost twice the bill for people under 65. To support the old, the social-security system already pays more than it receives, and within a matter of four years, it will not be able to help Effect 3: working Americans working harder but getting less pay the retired. Then, to keep t

he system going, working Americans will simply have to work harder and receive less pay.

Four patterns of cause-effect relationship

Single-cause-single-effect pattern Single-cause-many-effects pattern Many-causes-single-effect pattern Causal chain pattern

cause2

cause1

cause3

effect

cause

effect1

effect3

effect2

What is the cause of air pollution?

What’s the effects of smoking?

Exhaust gas from cars

Uncontrolled factory gasses

Air pollution

Burning of low quality coal

Do harm to people’s health

Smoking Often cause fires

Waste money

Casual Chain

Jim’s father has a bad temper, and he often beats Jim’s mother and the kids. (family violence)

Jim’s mother leaves Jim’s father, taking the children with her.

With only Jim’s mother’s income, the family has less money, so the family experiences financial problems. Jim’s mother moves in with her boyfriend to help the family finances.

Jim feels unwanted in his new home and runs away.

a homeless child

cause

the most immediate effect (cause) effecteffect (cause) effect (cause) effect