A Clear, Logical Organization: Forecasting Causes

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 Analyze 
Use the basic features.

Because essays speculating about causes often discuss multiple causes, writers need to help readers follow the argument for each cause. Important strategies for keeping readers oriented include forecasting the causes early in the essay, using key terms as labels for the causes, and repeating the same key terms or synonyms for the key terms as each cause is discussed in the essay.

ANALYZE & WRITE

Write a couple of paragraphs analyzing and evaluating how Goode uses these strategies to help readers navigate her argument:

  1. Find in the first two paragraphs the forecasting statement in which Goode lists the causes—what she calls “environmental factors”—that she will go on to analyze. Highlight the key terms she uses to label each cause.
  2. Skim the essay to locate where these key terms (or related ones) appear later in the essay.
  3. Reflect on how these cueing strategies help readers follow the argument.

    Question