NTUT Academic Writing: Logical Orders

(II)

Comparison & Contrast;

Cause & Effect

Comparison Structure Words

Examples 1. Human workers can detect malfunctions in machinery; likewise/similarly, a robot can be programmed to detect equipment malfunctions. 2. Robots and human workers are alike

(similar) because they can both detect malfunctions in machinery. 3. Robots, like/just like/similar to human works, can detect malfunctions in machinery. 4. Robots are similar to/are the same as human workers because they can both

detect malfunctions in machinery.

Test Yourselves: Writing Comparison Sentences

1. The United States operates under a two party system. Great Britain operates under a two-party system.

2. The British Parliament has two separate houses, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The United States Congress has two separate houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

3. (the same) The method of choosing cabinet members in the United States. The method of choosing cabinet members in Great Britain.

4. (just as) The members of the U.S. House of Representatives are elected be district. The members of the British House of Commons are elected by district.

5. The British monarch has the right to veto any law passed by Parliament. The U.S. president has the right to veto any law passed by the Congress.

Contrast Structure Words-- Concession (unexpected result)

Examples 1. It began to rain;

however/nevertheless/nontheless/still, we

continued our hike.

2. We continued our hike although/even

though/though it began to rain.

3. It began to rain, but/yet we continued our hike.

4. Despite/In spite of the rain, we continued our

hike.

Contrast Structure Words-- Direct Opposition

Examples

1. The term rock music commonly refers to music styles after 1959 that were influenced primarily by white musicians; however/in contrast/in comparison/on the other hand, rhythm-and-blues music styles were influenced primarily by black musicians.

2. Early rock music differs from later styles in that later styles make use of electronics to produce new sounds.

3. Compared to/Compared with earlier rock styles, later styles have a harder sound.

4. The punk, rap, grunge, and techno styles of the ’90s are very different from/dissimilar to/unlike the rock music played by Elvis Presley in the ’50s, but they have the same roots.

Test Yourselves: Writing Contrast Sentences

1. The government of the United States/ the government of Great Britain/dissimilar in several aspects.

2. The chief executive in Great Britain is called the prime minister. The chief executive in the United States is called the president.

3. In the United States, the president fulfills the functions of both political leader and head of state. These two functions are separate in Great Britain.

4. The United States has a written constitution. Great Britain has no written constitution.

5. The members of the U.S. Senate are elected. The members of the British House of Lords are appointed or inherit their positions.

Organization for Comparison & Contrast Order

A. Block Organization:

Discussion of similarities and

differences in respective paragraphs.

(read the following article) B. Point-by-point Organization:

A sentence-by-sentence comparison

of features in any order; order of

importance might be employed.

Block Organization

Point-by-Point Organization

Before We Read the 1st Long Article

1. Where are paragraphs devoted to the discussion of similarities and differences, respectively?

2. What is the function of the 4th paragraph?

3. Does this article follow point-by-point or block organization?

Comparison & Contrast Essay

Cause Structure Words

Examples

1. In the 80s and 90s, the U.S. government passed new immigration laws, for many people were concerned about illegal immigration.

2. Because/Since/As most illegal immigrants enter the U.S. seeking employment, a 1986 law tried to counteract this by fining employers hiring illegal immigrants.

3. Not only illegal but also legal immigrants felt the effects of/consequences of the 1996 law.

4. As a result of/As a consequence of this law, legal immigrants who had not become U.S. citizens were no longer eligible for certain benefits.

Effect Structure Words

Examples

1. The 1996 law eliminated many benefits for legal immigrants who had not become citizens; thus/consequence/hence, most of them applied for citizenship.

2. The new law also had an effect on/affected students and businesspeople wih visas who overstayed their visa time limit.

3. Overstaying a visa became a cause of/a reason for being barred from the United States fro three or more years.

Identify Causes & Effects and Combine the Sentences

1. Heat energy is carried by electrons. Metals have many free-moving electrons. Metals are good conductors of heat.

2. Some businesses have flexible working hours. Productivity has increased. Absenteeism has declined.

3. Weather around the world changes. During an El Niño, the jet stream blows in a different pattern.

4. The saltiest water is found at the bottom of the ocean. Salt water, being denser than fresh water, sinks.

Organization for Cause & Effect Order

A. Block organization: Discusses all the causes and effects in respective blocks. Usually (though not always necessary) contains a transition paragraph between cause paragraphs and effect paragraphs.

B. Chain Organization: Discusses the paired causes and effects in the order of importance and relatedness.

Before we proceed to the sample paragraph, take note of

the following questions.

1. What causes the days to grow shorter?

2. What is the effect of shorter days?

3. What other change results from a decrease in the amount of daylight?

4. What is the final result?

Chain organization

Examine the following questions (block org)

1. What is the function of the paragraph that begins on line 29?

2. Does the thesis statement list both causes and effects, or just causes?

3. Does the conclusion review both causes and effects, or just effects?

Sample Essay in Accordance with block Organization