1. Chapter 13: Causal Arguments
ENG 101: Writing I
from Practical Argument

2. 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

3. 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?

4. Visual Arguments

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Causal Chains Continued
When 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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