A Discourse Approach in Reading Week 10

  13   March   2016 

 Cause and Effect 

We studied new lesson that was Cause and Effect. Teacher gave us to write on the whiteboard about causes and effects of global warming.

Next, we read text example that she showed on the screen about people get sick because
of they are exposed to germ and do not dress properly for the weather. She explained what causes and effects are.

Cause/Effect is used to show how the facts or concepts result due to other facts, events or concepts. Words that signal this type of text structure are because, since, therefore, if,...then, as a result of, thus, and hence. A graphic organizer may be used to represent the relationship between the causes and effects.

After that, we read the text about students are not allowed to chew gum in class. We completed the diagram, highlighted discourse markers ,and underlined the causes.

                                              Effect

Students are not allowed to chew gum in my class. While some students think that I am just being mean, there are many good reasons for this rule. First, some irresponsible students make messes with their gum. They may leave it on the bottoms of desks, drop it on the floor, or put it on other people's property. Another reason why I don't allow students to chew gum is because it is a distraction. When they are allowed to chew gum, students are more worried about having it, popping it, chewing it, and snapping it then they are in listening, writing, reading, and learning. This is why I do not allow students to chew gum in my class.

Source: http://www.ereadingworks heets.com/test-structure/patterns-of-organization/cause- and-effect/ 

* green and underline is an effect 
   Yellow is discourse markers
   Underline is a cause   

Then, we see a list of Cause and Effect markers in page 44. So, she assigned us to find the meaning and how to use them in the sentence.
We did Skill Practice 1, in following sentences, circle the Cause and Effect Markers. Highlight each cause and mark it with a C. Underline each effect and mark it with an E. 

               E                                                                C
1. A great deal pollution is caused by power plants that produce electricity by burning coal.

           E                                                                                 C

6. A lack of rain is creating problems for farmers. Their crops are not growing well.

                   E                                                                                C
9. Some human diseases have been associated with chemicals in the environment.

* Blue  is a cause
   Yellow is discourse markers
   Underline is an effect

Next, we did Skill Practice 2 as we read the following texts, highlight the discourse markers and look for the specific causes and effects. Then complete the cause and effect diagram.

In text2 is about the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank.

A. Because of the crew's lack of experience, many lifeboats were only half full when they left the Titanic.

B. The Titanic hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sank, with the loss of over 1,500 lives.

C. The ship's officers paid no attention to warnings about icebergs near the Titanic.

D. The ship's owners decided to save money by equipping the Titanic with sixteen lifeboats instead of forty-eight the designer had planed.

E. The crew had little time to get to know the ship and its emergency equipment.

F. As a result of this decision, the Titanic did not have enough lifeboats for all the passengers and crew.

Effect

The Titanic hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sank, with the loss of over 1,500 lives.

Causes

- The ship's owners decided to save money by equipping the Titanic with sixteen lifeboats instead of forty-eight the designer had planed. As a result of this decision, the Titanic did not have enough lifeboats for all the passengers and crew.

- The ship's officers paid no attention to warnings about icebergs near the Titanic.

- The crew had little time to get to know the ship and its emergency equipment. Because of the crew's lack of experience, many lifeboats were only half full when they left the Titanic.

What did you find easy?
The vocabularies in the text were easy for me.

What did you find difficult?
In my opinion, causes and effects was hard. Some discourse marker, I've never known, I confused what is cause or effect.  
Whe
What did you solve the problem?
I translated it and guessed from meaning.

What are your attitudes towards the lesson?This lesson is important in reading. Cause/Effect is used to show how the facts or concepts result due to other facts, events or concepts.