1PMEng 102 MONWritingArgument Chapter12 Causal Semicolons Colons

7/28/2019 1PMEng 102 MONWritingArgument Chapter12 Causal Semicolons Colons

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Ramage Chapter 12 Causal Arguments


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Causes and consequences

Try to show how one event brings about another

Examples: Why are white teenage girls seven times as likely

to smoke as African American teenage girls?

What might be the consequences of legalizing

heroin and other hard drugs?


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Speculations about possible causes

What caused the Columbine high school shootings?

Arguments for an unexpected or surprisingcause

Violent video games contributed to the Columbinemassacre.

Predictions of consequences

Judge actions on whether their benefits outweigh

their costs; usually proposals such as what wouldbe the consequences of eliminating several damson the Snake River to save salmon runs.


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1. Identify type of causal relationship

A onetime phenomenon

- Must rely on immediate evidence which canquickly disappear

a recurring phenomenon, or a puzzling trend- Can study multiple cases over time

- Interview people, make repeated observations


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1. Explain the causal mechanism directly

- Identifies every link in the causal chain

- Shows how an initiating cause leads step by stepto observed effect

-

A causes B, which causes C, which causes D- When your assumptions about how one step

leads to the next may seem questionable to youraudience, you have to argue for the causal

connection


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1. Look for a common element that can explain

recurrences of the same phenomenon2. Look for a single difference that may explain the

appearance of the new phenomenon

3. Look for correlations or phenomena that tend tooccur together but doesnt imply that one causesthe other


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Post hoc fallacy

Just because event A regularly precedes event Bdoesnt mean that event A causes event B

Hasty generalization Based on too few cases or too little

consideration of alternative explanations


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Make a list of unusual likes and dislikes

Think about unusual things that people like ordislike.

What are some explanations that people give for anunusual pleasure or aversion?

What causes these unusual pleasures or aversions?


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I. Introduce issue and state claim

A. engage readers interest & show why itscontroversial or problematic

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2.B. Show whats at stake & state claim

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2.


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II. Propose reasons or consequences

A. describe first possible cause or effect andexplain reasoning

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2.B. Respond to objections

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2.


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A. describe second possible cause or effectand explain reasoning

1.


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2.


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A. describe third possible cause or effect andexplain reasoning

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2.


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III. Conclude

A. Summarize argument & somethingmemorable

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2.


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Hacker Chapter 34

Semicolons

Hacker Chapter 35

The Colon


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Read each writing prompts

Write a sentence following the prompt

Use designated punctuation correctly

EXAMPLE: Name your favorite movies. Use a coloncorrectly.

I like the following movies: Fear and Loathing in

Las Vegas, House of a 1000 Corpses, DirtyDancing, and The Sound of Music.


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Use a semicolon between closely relatedcomplete sentences not joined with a

coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)

In 1800, a traveler needed six weeks to get fromNew York City to Chicago; in 1860, the trip by

railroad took only two days.


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Use a semicolon between independent clauseslinked with a transitional expression

Many corals grow very gradually; in fact, thecreation of a coral reef can take centuries.

Use a semicolon between items in a seriescontaining internal punctuation

Classic science fiction sagas are Star Trek, withMr. Spock; Battlestar Galactica, with its Cylons;Star Wars, with Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, andDarth Vader.

Classic science fiction sagas are Star Trek, withMr. Spock, Battlestar Galactica, with its Cylons,and Star Wars, with Han Solo, Luke Skywalker,and Darth Vader.


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Do not use a semicolon between an appositiveand the word it refers to

WRONG - The scientists were fascinated by thespeciesArgyroneta aquatica; a spider that livesunderwater.

Do not use a semicolon to introduce a list

WRONG - Some of my favorite foods include;pizza, fries, and lobster.

Do not use a semicolon between sentencesjoined by FANBOYS

WRONG - Five of the applicants had worked withspreadsheets; but only one was familiar withdatabase management.


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Use a colon after an independent clause to directattention to a list, an appositive, a quotation, or asummary/explanation

The daily routine should included at least thefollowing: twenty knee bends, fifty sit-ups, and fiveminutes of running in place.

My roommate is guilty of two of the seven deadly

sins: gluttony and sloth.

What do these two sentences have in common? Thisis the rule of thumb for colon usage.


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Use a colon according to convention

Dear Sir or Madam:

5:30 p.m.

In proportions 2:1

Title and Subtitle The Glory of Hera: GreekMythology and the Greek Family


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Avoid using a colon between a verb and itsobject/complement

WRONG - Some important vitamins found invegetables are: vitamin A, thiamine, niacin, andvitamin C.

Avoid using a colon between a preposition and its

objectWRONG The hearts two pumps each consist of: anupper chamber, or atrium, and a lower chamber, or

ventricle.

Avoid using a colon after such as, including, or for

exampleWRONG The NCAA regulates college athletic teams,including: basketball, baseball, softball, and football.


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Find or create either single panel cartoons or amultiple panel cartoon illustrating eachsemicolon rule

What is the rule of thumb for using a colon?Give an example of when not to use it. Give anexample of how to use a colon correctly.


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Read Chapter 13 & answer to following

questions:1. What is an ethical argument?

2. What is the guiding question in an ethical

argument?3. What is the purpose of an ethical argument?

4. What are the two frames of ethicalarguments?

Causal outline rough draft

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1PMEng 102 MONWritingArgument Chapter12 Causal Semicolons Colons