CHAPTER 13: CAUSAL ARGUMENTSENG 101: Writing Ifrom Practical Argument

WHAT IS A CAUSAL ARGUMENT?

Causal arguments attempt to find causes or identify possible effects Identifies the causes of an event or situation

and takes a stand on what actually caused it Focuses on effects, taking a position on what a

likely outcome is, has been, or will be In an essay you:

Search for the causes of an event or situation Examine a number of different possible causes

before concluding that a particular cause was the most likely one

Consider the possible outcomes or results of a given event or situation Conclude that one possible effect would most

likely occur

EXAMPLES Are designated bicycle lanes really

safer cyclists? Is autism caused by childhood

vaccines? Is fast food making Americans fat? Do charter schools improve students’

academic performance? Does profiling decrease the likelihood

of a terrorist attack?

VISUAL ARGUMENTS

UNDERSTANDING CAUSE-AND-EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS

Cause and effect relationships can be very complex A single event or situation can have

many possible results Not all results are equally significant

An event or situation may have more than one cause Identifying cause(s) may be difficult

MAIN AND CONTRIBUTORY CAUSES

In a causal argument, you focus on: Identifying what you believe is the

most important cause Presenting arguments that convince

readers why it is the most important cause

Showing why other causes are not as important

Identifying factors, if necessary, that are not causes and explaining why

MAIN AND CONTRIBUTORY CAUSES

CONTINUED The most important cause is the main

cause May be difficult to identify May not be the most obvious cause

The less important causes are the contributory causes

Identifying the main cause is important because you will use it to structure and support your argument

IMMEDIATE AND REMOTE CAUSES

The immediate cause is the most obvious cause because it occurs right before an event May not be the main cause

Remote causes are factors that occurred further in the past but May have had a greater impact

CAUSAL CHAINS A causal chain is a sequence of

events in which one event causes the next, which in turn causes the next, and so on

CAUSAL CHAINS CONTINUEDWhen you write a causal argument, you can organize your essay as a causal chain

Example: Childhood Obesity Epidemic Thesis: US Elementary Schools are at fault for causing American

children to fail to see the importance of a healthy lifestyle Elementary schools do not stress the importance of exercise and

nutrition in gym and health classes As a result, children do not understand the importance of regular

physical activity and eating right With little incentive to learn the essentials of a healthy lifestyle,

children establish bad habits such as playing video games and snacking on junk food

As a result, American children are more likely to be overweight or obese

Concluding Statement: Because the habits of a healthy lifestyle are established early, US elementary schools should to take responsibility for encouraging children to eat right and exercise

KEY WORDS FOR A CAUSAL ARGUMENT

When you write causal arguments, choose verbs that indicate causal connections Bring about Create Lead to Encourage Influence Contribute to Originate in Cause

Use transitional words to help readers follow your argument Consequently As a result

Repeat key words to help identify individual causes and effects Cause Effect Outcome Result

POST HOC REASONING Post Hoc Reasoning is the incorrect

assumption that because an event precedes another event, it has caused the event

As you develop your causal argument, be careful not to assume that every event that somehow precedes another event has somehow caused it

STRUCTURING A CAUSAL ARGUMENT Introduction

Establishes a context for the argument by explaining the need to examine causes or consider effects

States the essay’s thesis Evidence (first point in support of the thesis)

Discusses less important causes or effects Evidence (second point in support of the thesis)

Discuss more important causes or effects Evidence (third point in support of the thesis)

Discusses major causes or effects Refutation of opposing arguments

Considers and rejects other possible causes or effects

Conclusion Reinforces the argument’s main point (thesis) Includes a strong concluding statement