Explanation Writing – Cause and Effect
So we have started our Explanation Writing unit. For those of you who are unaware, our board has a writing framework in place that we all follow.
I am really enjoying this form of writing. Since explanations usually answer the ‘why’, we are exploring cause and effect relationships and how far we can extend them as intermediate student.
For example:
Cause: Throwing Snow at School
Effect: (Obviously!) – Getting into trouble
This was how our unit started with our cold pieces. However, now my students are using their thinking caps and extending those effects. Now we write:
Cause: Throwing Snow at School
Effect 1: Accidentally Breaking a Window
Extension: Having to pay for the window, get suspended and grounded.
Effect 2: Accidentally hitting a passing car.
Extension: Blinding / scaring the driver who may get into an accident.
Extension: Having to explain to the police why you were throwing snow.
As you can see, we are being imaginative. The struggle now lies between narrative storytelling and real plausible cause and effect relationships. I expect three effects and a good solid five paragraph explanation with and introduction and a conclusion.
Recently we wrote about playing inappropriate video games at school.
Cause: Playing inappropriate video games at school.
Effect: Embarrass your teacher by breaking rules.
Extension: Label our entire division in the eyes of younger grades.
Extension: Younger student sees, mimics behaviour, plays the same game
Extension: Younger students’ parents phone school. Principal calls you to the office.
You get the idea. We have also played cause and effect games to get us out of our seats. Each student gets a cause or effect and has to find a matching partner.
Or, give students the effects, and have them develop causes.
Our next writing topic will be “Explain why it is not a good idea to text while driving” since this law is now in place here in Ontario.
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