Lesson FIVE: Global Communication in Multicultural Settings

Specific Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
a. identify the differences and similarities of communication in multicultural settings;
b. explain the importance of the cultural diversity awareness

Pre- Tasks:
Read and Write!
 Read the text below about Communicating across Cultures. Before reading, look up the meanings of
the following words and phrases inside the box that are used in the selection.

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION ACROSS CULTURES
By Carol Kinsey Goman (2011)

(1) Communicating across cultures is challenging. Each culture has set rules that its members take for granted.
Few of us are aware of our own cultural biases because cultural imprinting is begun at a very early age. And
while some of a culture's knowledge, rules, beliefs, values, phobias, and anxieties are taught explicitly, most of
the information is absorbed subconsciously.

(2) The challenge for multinational communication has never been greater. Worldwide business organizations
have discovered that intercultural communication is a subject of importance—not just because of increased
globalization,

but also, because their domestic workforce is growing more and more diverse, ethnically and culturally.

High-Context vs. Low-Context

3. We are all individuals, and no two-people belonging to the same culture are guaranteed to respond in
exactly the same way. However, generalizations are valid to the extent that they provide clues on what you
will most likely encounter when dealing with members of a particular culture.

1 | P(4)aAll
g international
e communication is influenced by cultural differences. Even the choice of communication
medium can have cultural overtones. The determining factor may not be the degree of industrialization,
but rather whether the country falls into a high-context or low-context culture.
5. High-context cultures (Mediterranean, Slav, Central European, Latin American, African, Arab, Asian,
American-Indian) leave much of the message unspecified, to be understood through the context, non-verbal
cues, and between-the-lines interpretations of what is actually said. By contrast, low-context cultures (most
Germanic and English-speaking countries) expect messages to be explicit and specific.

Sequential vs. Synchronic

(6) Some cultures think of time sequentially, as a linear commodity to "spend," "save," or "waste." Other
cultures view time synchronically, as a constant flow to be experienced in the moment, and as a force that
cannot be contained or controlled.

(7) In sequential cultures (like North American, English, German, Swedish, and Dutch), businesspeople give
full attention to one agenda item after another

(8) In synchronic cultures (including South America, southern Europe and Asia) the flow of time is viewed as a
sort of circle, with the past, present, and future all interrelated. This viewpoint influences how organizations in
those cultures approach deadlines, strategic thinking, investments, developing talent from within, and the
concept of "long-term" planning.

(9) Orientation to the past, present, and future is another aspect of time in which cultures differ. Americans
believe that the individual can influence the future by personal effort, but since there are too many variables in
the distant future, we favor a short-term view. Synchronistic cultures’ context is to understand the present and
prepare for the future. Any important relationship is a durable bond that goes back and forward in time, and it is
often viewed grossly disloyal not to favor friends and relatives in business dealings.
(10) In international business practices, reason and emotion both play a role. Which of these dominates depends
upon whether we are affective (readily showing emotions) or emotionally neutral in our approach. Members of
neutral cultures do not telegraph their feelings, but keep them carefully controlled and subdued. In cultures with
high affect, people show their feelings plainly by laughing, smiling, grimacing, scowling, and sometimes crying,
shouting, or walking out of the room.

(11) This doesn't mean that people in neutral cultures are cold or unfeeling, but in the course of normal business
activities, neutral cultures are more careful to monitor the amount of emotion they display. Emotional reactions
were found to be least acceptable in Japan, Indonesia, the U.K., Norway, and the Netherlands and most accepted
in Italy, France, the U.S., and Singapore.

(12) It's easy for people from neutral cultures to sympathize with the Dutch manager and his frustration over
trying to reason with "that excitable Italian." After all, an idea either works or it doesn't work, and the way to
test the validity of an idea is through trial and observation. That just makes sense—doesn't it? Well, not
necessarily to the Italian who felt the issue was deeply personal and who viewed any "rational argument" as
totally irrelevant!

(13) Reason and emotion are part of all human communication. When expressing ourselves, we look to others
for confirmation of our ideas and feelings. If our approach is highly emotional, we are seeking a direct
emotional response: “I feel the same way.” If our approach is highly neutral, we want an indirect response: I
agree with your thoughts on this.”

(14) When it comes to communication, what's proper and correct in one culture may be ineffective or even
offensive in another. In reality, no culture is right or wrong, better or worse—just different. In today's global
business community, there is no single best approach to communicating with one another. The key to cross-
cultural success is to develop an understanding of, and a deep respect for, the differences.

In any culture, there are certain sets of behavior that are expected and acceptable; there are also those that are
considered disrespectful, demeaning, and therefore deemed unacceptable based on cultural norms and practices.
These behaviors may have to do with how we communicate to family members, relatives, friends,
acquaintances, and strangers. For example, the physical gesture of mano po is a traditional Filipino
demonstration of respect for older people. This gesture requires that a younger member of the family reaches for
an elder’s hand so that it may be put on one’s bowed forehead as a sign of humility and acknowledgment of
one’s age and position in the family. Indeed, communicating an attitude of deference toward acquaintances
within the community or friends of the family is unique cultural characteristics. Customarily, young Filipinos
address older female members of the community as ate (older sister) or tita (aunt).
During-Tasks
 To check your comprehension from the text Communication Across the Cultures, there are given
questions below. Answer them briefly.
1. How do we deal with Intercultural Communication?

Dealing with intercultural communication involves including everyone in the

process. By focusing on observable behavior and not attitudes, employees maintain a
productive work environment. By choosing words carefully, not making assumptions
about intentions, and making adjustments so that everyone feels accepted, employees
learn to negotiate effectively with people from different backgrounds.

2. How does each of the items in the following contrasting pairs differ from the other?

A. High-Context vs. Low-Context

High-context cultures are related to People in low-context cultures

connotation. People within high- communicate in a more direct way,
context cultures tend to be more with explicitly speaking what they
aware and observant of facial want to communicate.
expressions, body language, changes
in tone, and other aspects of
communication that are not directly
spoken.
B. Sequential vs. Synchronic

A. Affective vs. Neutral

C. Affective Neutral

Vs.
 3. What does the author recommend that we do to be successful in cross-cultural communication? Write
your answer inside the oval.

Post-Task
Instructions: Compare and contrast the different forms of communication between two countries of your choice.
Be guided by the example below. Write your answer on the Venn Diagram.

Example:

Greeting
Filipino Japanese

Good People greet each other by bowing.

morning/afternoon/evening A bow ranges from a small nod of
the head to a deep bend of the waist
VENN DIAGRAM
Lesson SIX: Communication for Various Purposes

Specific Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
a. Identify parts of a speech; and
b. Plan for a written informative speech

Input
Informative speaking offers you an opportunity to practice your researching, writing, organizing, and
speaking skills. You will learn how to discover and present information clearly. If you take the time to
thoroughly research and understand your topic, to create a clearly organized speech, and to practice an
enthusiastic, dynamic style of delivery, you can be an effective "teacher" during your informative
speech. Finally, you will get a chance to practice a type of speaking you will undoubtedly use later in
your professional career.

The purpose of the informative speech is to provide interesting, useful, and unique information to your
audience. By dedicating yourself to the goals of providing information and appealing to your audience,
you can take a positive step toward succeeding in your efforts as an informative speaker.

Typically, informative speeches have three parts: Introduction, Body and Conclusion.

Pre-Tasks:
Be Observant!

Read the sample speech below and identify its main parts. Underline and label the introduction, main point,
supporting points and conclusion.
The pandemic has revealed that we need to modernise our data collection, be able to produce evidence
much faster and, very importantly, employ the new evidence to boost timely and proactive responses.

It has also demonstrated that the continuity of care for drug-related services could not always be
guaranteed, which, in turn, has had negative consequences for health and social professionals and for
clients from those services.

While the restrictions are gradually being lifted, it is very likely that some of the new practices will persist,
as they may be more convenient for consumers and suppliers. An increase in the use of digital,
communication and cyber-based technologies by drug trafficking organisations can be expected. As one-
to-one encrypted communication services or social media apps are increasingly being used, monitoring
and interdiction will become much more challenging. A key question here is whether more people will
become used to a new form of purchasing their drugs and whether they will continue with it post COVID-
19 lockdown.

Although it is too early to assess what will remain of the changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic on
drug markets and drug use in the European Union, we can expect that the pandemic had, and will
continue to have, an impact on the main drivers of drug markets, which will require closer monitoring in
the years to come.
 The economic recession that we have in front of us is likely to be harmful in terms of mental and physical
health and could result in a significant increase of substance use in the general population. It can be
expected that it will amplify the negative consequences of the pandemic for people who are using drugs
and for vulnerable groups in general.

Our European agencies are working closely together to strengthen our respective operational and
strategic analysis capacity, and to build on our experience of quickly addressing new emerging needs
during the COVID-19 pandemic to further adapt our respective business models. More than ever, our
objective is to anticipate emerging threats even better and to inform policy, decision-making and
operational responses. There is now a critical need to identify areas where rapid adaptations to
operational responses and future policies are required.

Learning the lessons from COVID-19 to strengthen the EU’s preparedness in the perspective of a possible
new outbreak of the epidemic, the Directors of the EMCDDA, ECDC and Europol invite the EU
institutions and the Member States:

 to strengthen rapid data collection, information exchange and intelligence, and analysis to
inform immediate cross-border public health and security policy and operational responses;
 to integrate drug-related services into the essential health services at national level, and to
provide adequate equipment and tools for frontline workers;
 to build on the positive results of changes and innovations that have been brought by
the practitioners of drugs services in close cooperation with their clients;
 to maintain the funding and functioning of drug-related services in the post COVID-19 period;
 to support the development of new tools and methods that are needed to address the new
operational and strategic challenges caused by changes in the drug market from production
and trafficking to distribution and use;
 to strengthen cooperation and coordination between institutions and official authorities, both at
European and at national level.

The way in which the different services and authorities have been working together in the European
Union in the times of this pandemic has shown that the ‘balanced approach’ of the EU drugs policy has
contributed to care and to protect, rather than to punish.

During Tasks:
Prepping Time

It’s your turn!

Plan your own speech by first making a plan. Follow the instructions below:

Introduction (The speaker sells the idea to the audience so they’ll want to listen. The first few minutes of a speech
are very important.) 10%

A. Get Audience’s Attention

• Share a brief story or example that directly relates to the speech.
• Mention a startling statement, statistic or fact.
• Start with a question, quotation, or familiar saying that has to do with the
topic of the speech.

B. State The Topic

C. Relate To Audience
• People pay attention to things that concern them.
• You might refer to a common experience, fear, or situation with which
everyone is familiar.
• Challenge the audience with a question, invitation or quiz.
D. Preview Main Points
• Simply list the points in the order they will be presented.

Body of Presentation (The body includes the main points of your message.) 80%
• Select three main points you want to emphasize.
• A point can be expressed in many different ways.
• Repeat an important point before moving on to discuss another point.
• Use transitions to connect parts of the presentation. Transitions are words or
phrases that allow you to move smoothly from one point to another.
• Use stories, personal experiences or humour to add interest and reinforce each point.
• Picture words help individuals visualize what you say and keep the listener
interested.

Main Point:

Main Point:

Main Point:
Conclusion (The speaker wraps up by summarizing the main points the audience needs to keep in mind. Just as
first impressions are important, the same is true of final ones!) 10%
A. Signal the close of the speech by using a simple transition sentence that lets the audience know the
speech is nearly finished.

B. Reinforce the main points by reminding the audience about the most important things they have just
heard.

C. End strongly
• Use a brief story, example, or quotation.
• Or, encourage the audience to do something to follow up on what they have just heard.
• Sometimes it is helpful to mention where additional information can be obtained.
Post-Tasks:
This is it!

Instructions: Assess your plan using the checklist below

Lesson SEVEN: Communication for Work Purposes

Specific Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the lesson the students are expected to:
a. identify the appropriate use of different channels of written communication;
b. write various types of communication for work purposes.

Pre-Tasks:
Matrix Completion: KWL Matrix
 Complete the KWL chart below by writing what you know about the various types of
communication for work purposes in the second column and what you want to know about it
in the third column. The Learned column will be filled out after the input.

Types of Know Want to know Learned

Communication
for Work
Purposes

a. Professional
work
correspondence

b. Eportfolio

c. emails

d. Linkedin

During Tasks:
Write and review!

 Write one of the four types of work communication that you will likely use when you apply
for a job.
 Check the
- Organization
- Content
- Appearance
- Language Use
 Be guided also by the letter formats below:

 The Types of Communication for work purposes

Communication type Kinds of letters What is it and/or what are its advantage(s)?

A. Professional Work 1.Cover Letter It is the first introduction to an employer; it describes why an
Correspondence employee is interested in the company and in the particular
position.

2.Reference letter You may need to submit a reference page or enter this
information into an online application when asked to provide
references for a job or professional school.

A reference letter, also called a recommendation letter, is

usually written to testify to a person's skills, character,
experience, and/or achievements. When a candidate applies for
a job, he or she will submit reference letters to support his or
her application
3.Thank you letter This is an opportunity to stand out from another candidate that
may neglect this generous act of courtesy. A thank you letter is
appropriate for everyone that has taken the time to meet
with you, not just the interviewers

4.Networking emails These emails can be used to reach out to professionals in your
(like referrals, desired field to make a connection from a mutual contact,
introductions, etc) request an informational interview or inquire about a
learning opportunity. It is recommended not to attach resume;
the purpose is not to inquire about job prospects

Eportfolio An e-portfolio or electronic portfolio, is a visual representation

of your skills and achievements presented through a collection
of your work experiences

Email An email job application letter is a cover letter: This means that
the intent of the email is to let the recipient know why you are
writing, which job you are applying for, what your
qualifications are for the job, and how you will follow up or
how the recipient can get in touch with you.

Linkedin LinkedIn is a social networking site designed for the business

community. The goal of the site is to allow registered members
to establish and networks of people they know and trust
professionally. It is used as one of a search method when
finding job. One will be able to research which companies are
hiring, who works there, what the culture is like and other
factors that influence where you want to work.

Sources:
 http://www.uiw.edu/career/documents/professionalcorrespondence.pdf
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/sample-email-job-application-letter-2061608
https://www.wincorpsolutions.com/2018/01/12/take-advantage-of-linkedin-when-looking-for-a-job/

 Formatting the Letters

a. Formatting the cover letter

Cover Letter

a.) Briefly introduce yourself with a strong positive statement. Name the person who referred
you and why you are writing.

b) Indicate that you are exploring employment opportunities in your area of interest. State
you are interested in obtaining advice, information and suggestions. Be specific with your
reasons for wanting to meet with the employer. (You can enclose your resume or take one to
the meeting.)

c.). State that you will call on a certain day to arrange a meeting at the employer’s
convenience.

d) Thank the employer for considering you, and mention you are looking forward to your
meeting.

b. Formatting Reference letter

Reference Letter (when you are writing the recommendation)

Provide the following information:

a. Contact Information
When you are writing a hard copy letter to be mailed, uploaded or sent as an attachment, include your contact
information and the recipients at the top of the letter. If you are sending an email reference, include
your contact information in your signature.

b. Subject
If you're sending an email reference, list the name of the person you're writing a reference for in the subject
line:

c. Salutation
Include a salutation (Dear Dr. Krashen, Dear Mr. Ellis, etc)

Paragraph 1
The first paragraph of the reference letter explains your connection to the person you are recommending,
including how you know them, how long you have known them, and why you are qualified to write a
reference letter to recommend some for employment or graduate school.

Paragraph 2
The second paragraph of the reference letter contains specific information on the person you are writing
about, including why they are qualified, what they can contribute, and why you are providing a reference
letter. Be sure to use specific examples to speak to their qualifications. If necessary, use more than one
paragraph to provide details.
Summary
This section of the reference letter (typically right before the conclusion) contains a brief summary of why are
you are recommending the person. State that you "highly recommend" the person or you "recommend without
reservation" or something similar.

Conclusion
The concluding paragraph of the reference letter contains an offer to provide more information. Include a
phone number within the paragraph. Also include your phone number and email address in the return address
section of your letter or in your signature (if it is an email, include your contact information underneath your
name in the signature).

C. Formatting Thank-you letter

Letter of Thanks for an Interview

a) Express gratitude for the interviewer’s time, information related, and any other aspects surrounding
your interview (tour, lunch, etc.). If more than one interviewer was seen, ask that your thanks be related
to the others.

b) Relate your desire to pursue the next step in the hiring process and to receive an employment offer.
Recap your strongest qualifications for the position.

c) If the situation warrants, answer questions left unanswered during the interview. Ask questions not
asked during the interview. Mention you’re enclosing items the employer requested.

d) Express a strong positive affirmation of your interest in the position, and state you will call the
employer if no word has been received by a specific date (allow a reasonable time).

d. Formatting Networking Email

Networking Email (Referral Letter)

a.) Immediately and clearly express your intention in writing to the recipient, whether asking for career
advice, introducing an industry colleague, asking for a referral, or expressing your thanks for assistance
he or she has provided you.

b.) The initial paragraph needs to come directly to the point (explaining who you are if you have never
personally met the recipient) and your reason for reaching out to them. If you can establish a point of
connection like a shared contact, this will help to engage the reader’s interest. Your statement should be
simple and straightforward, as in the following example:

c.) In your second paragraph, provide some persuasive context to explain exactly why you are asking for
the favor of their time and attention.

d.) Your closing paragraph should thank the recipient for their consideration of your request and let them
know how they can reach you.

Sources:
https://www.msjc.edu/CareerCenter/Documents/Employment%20Correspondence.pdf
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/reference-letter-format-2062929
 https://roojet.com/networking-emails-guide/

Post-Tasks:
Completing the KWL Chart
 Go back to the KWL chart and complete the third column of the matrix. Write what you have learned
from the topic on the third column.
Lesson EIGHT: Communication for Academic Purposes

Specific Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the lesson the students are expected to:
a. compare and contrast different essays; and
b. write one essay.

INPUT

An essay is a short academic composition. The word “essay” is derived from a French word “essai” or
“essayer,” which mean “trail.” In composition, however, an essay is a piece of non-fiction writing that talks or
discusses a specific topic. Presently, essay is part of every degree program.

Pre-Tasks:
Read and Think

 Read the two essays below and identify their similarities and differences using the table that follows.

Essay 1
Happiness (Descriptive)

Humankind can’t continue their lives without desires. If one wants to be happy, surely, he has to discover his
best desires that provide him a happy life. Some of these desires that help to continue our lives can be
acceptance in our relationships, a good family life and strong social relations. Trying to satisfy these desires has
a great meaning to achieve happiness for me.

To start with, however embarrassed I am about this desire of mine, I have an obsession to expect people to
accept my thoughts and manners in every situation. Yes, this is not a good characteristic and sometimes makes
me an antipathic person but trying to be accepted by someone can give you happiness, too. Besides, if you can
manage to make someone love you knowing and accepting all about you, I think that is the absolute happiness.

Furthermore, it seems to me that family is the basic source of happiness. Certainly, I can’t always be a good guy
and sometimes I make them upset but I can’t stand seeing them upset. Therefore, I try to do whatever necessary
to make them happy. Consequently, when I see happy family faces, I feel deeply happy.

Thirdly, to have friends is one of the most meaningful aspects of life. I believe that one should have three very
warm friends at least. For example, I can’t bear loneliness and if I couldn’t share all my heart with these warm
friends, I believe that I could never be happy. As a consequence, if you feel like me, it will be worth
improving your close relationships in order to be happy.

To recap, humankind has a short life but he is given a lot of desires to be happy. Moreover, if one wants to
discover the meaning of his short life, he should look for it in desires. Whether he finds it or not, he will taste
happiness just by looking for it.

Essay 2
Parents (Compare & Contrast)

“Parents”. I consider mine as my flat mates these days because we do not spend much time together. We are
four people living in a house together but we even eat our dinners separately because everybody comes home at
different times and we are busy all the time. What I remember from the old days is my two grown up flat mates
are two different characters so I have no idea why they still live together.

They are pretty much the same in physical appearance. They both have fair complexions which is typical of
Caucasians. They should be thin if we consider this “type” but they are not. Actually they were but I can’t
remember those days.
They have different personalities. My father is moody and pretty much aggressive just like me. He has
obsessions, like everything should be perfect. On the other hand, my mother never cares about what she is doing
and she has what we will call the patience of a saint. Whenever my father gets angry and starts shouting, my
mother goes “Ergun, why are you shouting?” with a very calm voice.

What they really can’t get along about is their tastes in life. My mother loves spending money. She can spend
her whole day going around the stores shopping while my father is sitting at home reading newspapers and
books or watching documentaries on TV.

Although my parents are very different from each other, they came to an agreement and that is not being a
parent for me anymore. They never worry about me when I am late and they never interfere in my choices. I
think from now on they will work on my brother, my poor little brother.

SIMILARITY DIFFERENCE
Essay 1 Essay 1

Introduction: Introduction:

Body: Body:

Conclusion: Conclusion:

Essay 2

Introduction: Introduction:

Body: Body:

Conclusion: Conclusion:
During Task
Draft it!

 Evaluate the content of the essay following the principles of academic writing.
 Use the guide provided.

Title

Does the title capture the essence of the essay?

Introduction

Does it have striking words to grab the attention of the reader?

Is there enough background information provided?
Is the thesis statement clear? Does it make an argument or present a central idea?
Body Paragraph

Does each paragraph have a clear topic sentence?

Do topic sentences relate back to the thesis?
Are all ideas relevant and connected to the main idea of each paragraph?
Have you allocated sufficient evidence to minor and major supporting
points?
Are sentences consistent in length and easy to read?(not too long, short, or wordy)
Conclusion

Does it summarize the thesis and key points?

Does it discuss the overall significance or meaning of topic?
Is it convincing and powerful?
Does it make the reader think more deeply about the topic?
Does the conclusion agree with thesis?
Content & Audience
Does the essay answer the question(s) of the assignment?
Does it address a central issue or problem?
Do any ideas need further development?
Does it consider the readers’ background knowledge or attitude toward the topic?
Is the point of view appropriate for your purpose? (1st, 2ndperson etc.)
Have you checked for redundancy and eliminated unnecessary words or details?
Are your sources correctly cited in the text and do you have the right bibliographic entries (Works Cited,
References, Bibliography) according to the citation style assigned by your instructor?
Coherence & Unity
Do ideas follow a logical progression?
Is there a central idea that guides your writing?
Do examples illustrate, clarify, explain or support your main idea?
Does the essay maintain a consistent tone, writing style, and point of view?
Have you used appropriate transition words to connect one idea to the next?

Three Paragraph Essay Outline

First Paragraph: Introduction (5-8 sentences)
Hook or Grabber:

Introduce the book, author, and general background of the essay topic:

Thesis Statement:

Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence:

Concrete Detail:

Commentary (2 sentences):

Concrete Detail:

Commentary (2 sentences):

Concluding Sentence:

Conclusion (5-8 sentences)

Restate Thesis:

Complete the idea or anecdote you started in the hook:

Reinforce points made in the body of the paper:

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ESSAYS

DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY
A descriptive essay, as the name implies, is a form of essay that describes something. In this genre,
students are assigned the task of describing objects, things, places, experiences, persons, and situations. The
students use sensory information to enable readers to use their five senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing, and
sight to understand the topic of the essay.

Qualities of a Descriptive Essay

 Clear and Concise
 Use of Images
 Use of Five Senses

Function of Descriptive Essay

A descriptive essay presents a person, place, or thing, in a way that readers feel as if it is in front of
their eyes, or that they are tasting it, or that they can hear it, or that they can smell it. Writers use sensory
information to describe object. The object of the writer is to present a picture of something as honestly as he
can.
Example:
"Billy Ray's Pawn Shop and Lawn Mower Repair looked like a burial ground for country auction
rejects. The blazing, red, diesel fuel tanks beamed in front of the station, looking like cheap lipstick against the
pallid, wrinkled texture of the parking lot sand. The yard, not much larger than the end zone at General G. Patton
High School on the north end of town, was framed with a rusted metallic hedge of lawn mowers, banana seat
bicycles, and corroded oil drums. It wasn't a calico frame of rusted parts, but rather an orchestra of unwanted
machinery that Billy Ray had arranged into sections. The yellow-tanked mowers rested silently at the right of
the diesel fuel. Once red, now faded orange, mowers stood at attention to the left. The oil barrels, jaded and
pierced with holes, bellared like chimes when the wind was right. The bikes rested sporadically throughout the
lot. In the middle of it all was the office, a faded, steel roof supported by cheap two-by-fours and zebra paneling.
Billy Ray was at home, usually, five blocks east of town on Kennel Road."
sample excerpt from a student at St. Cloud State spruces up something as everyday as a local pawn
shop.
CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY
Human beings often try to find root causes of things, happenings and phenomena. This research leads
to the discovery of effects, too. It is because human beings always desire to understand reasons for things, and
why they happen. A composition written to find out reasons and results is called a cause and effect essay. It
makes discovery of the causes of something and resultantly finds out effects.

Signal Words for Cause and Effect Essays

Cause and effect uses special words for causes, effects, and predictions, such as led to, because, cause,
reason, explanation, so etc. However, for effects, the words most commonly used are therefore, as a result,
consequently, thus, then, and thanks to. For predictions, the most commonly used words are if, when, after, as
soon as, may, might, or possible.

Function of Cause and Effect Essay

 A cause and effect essay explains the real situation to readers. Readers understand what lies behind a
happening, and how it effects, or how it will impact, human beings. Mostly, such essays are used for scientific
topics. It is because these essays explore the nature of things, and their likely effects on us, or the things around
us.

Example:

“My first victim was a woman—white, well dressed, probably in her early twenties. I came upon her
late one evening on a deserted street in Hyde Park, a relatively affluent neighborhood in an otherwise mean,
impoverished section of Chicago. As I swung onto the avenue behind her, there seemed to be a discreet,
uninflammatory distance between us. Not so. She cast back a worried glance. To her, the youngish black man—
a broad six feet two inches with a beard and billowing hair, both hands shoved into the pockets of a bulky
military jacket—seemed menacingly close. After a few more quick glimpses, she picked up her pace and was
soon running in earnest. Within seconds she disappeared into a cross street.”

Black Men and Public Space (by Brent Staples)

EXPOSITORY ESSAY
Expose means to uncover or lay something bare, or to discover something in a way that others know
what it is. Expository is derived from exposition, which is a noun of ‘expose.’ An expository essay is a genre of
writing which tends to explain, illustrate, clarify, or explicate something in a way that it becomes clear for
readers. Therefore, it could be an investigation, evaluation, or even argumentation about an idea for
clarification.

Functions of an Expository Essay

The function of an expository essay is to clarify and expose things, ideas, persons, and places through
description, process, comparison/contrast, or through problem solution. The objective of this type of essay is to
make readers aware of things given in the essay. It proves full and detailed information in a way that readers
become knowledgeable about the topic.

Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay is a type of essay that presents arguments about both sides of an issue. It could
be that both sides are presented equally balanced, or it could be that one side is presented more forcefully than
the other. It all depends on the writer, and what side he supports the most. The general structure of an
argumentative essay follows this format:

Introduction: Attention Grabber / hook, Background Information, Thesis Statement

Body: Three body paragraphs (three major arguments)
Counterargument: An argument to refute earlier arguments and give weight to the actual position
Conclusion: Rephrasing the thesis statement, major points, call to attention, or concluding remarks.

Models for Argumentative Essays

There are two major models besides this structure given above, which is called a classical model. Two
other models are the Toulmin and Rogerian models.

Toulmin model is comprised of an introduction with a claim or thesis, followed by presentation of data to
support the claim. Warrants are then listed for the reasons to support the claim with backing and rebuttals.
However, the Rogerian model asks to weigh two options, lists strengths and weaknesses of both options, and
gives a recommendation after an analysis.

Function of Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay presents both sides of an issue. However, it presents one side more positively
or meticulously than the other one, so that readers could be swayed to the one the author intends. The major
function of this type of essays is to present a case before the readers in a convincing manner, showing them the
complete picture.
Example:

“When we consider the ubiquity of cellphones, iPods, personal computers and the Internet, it’s easy to see how
science (and the technology to which it leads) is woven into the fabric of our day-to-day activities. When we
benefit from CT scanners, M.R.I. devices, pacemakers and arterial stents, we can immediately appreciate how
science affects the quality of our lives. When we assess the state of the world, and identify looming challenges
like climate change, global pandemics, security threats and diminishing resources, we don’t hesitate in turning to
science to gauge the problems and find solutions.

And when we look at the wealth of opportunities hovering on the horizon—stem cells, genomic sequencing,
personalized medicine, longevity research, nanoscience, brain-machine interface, quantum computers, space
technology—we realize how crucial it is to cultivate a general public that can engage with scientific issues;
there’s simply no other way that as a society we will be prepared to make informed decisions on a range of
issues that will shape the future.”

Put a Little Science in Your Life (by Brian Greene)

Post Task:
Be a Writer
 Draft an essay of your choice and follow the prompt given.
 Make sure to follow the three-paragraph essay format.
 Begin with a rough draft then the final draft

A. ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY:
Making a Formal Argument – “The Most Important Word”
Directions: Answer the question below using a formal argument. In a formal argument, you must:
1) State your position.
2) Provide point(s) that support your position.
3) Support each point with specific reasons/examples.

Question: What is the most important word in the English language?

Example Answer: The most important word in the English language is “friend”. This word is important because
it is used to describe the connection between two people when they share respect or affection. Respect and
affection must be shared between people in order for us to survive and live in harmony. Also, respect and
affection is a great feeling to have, so it must be important to share.

B. CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY:

 The following example is an outline for cause-effect essay about the effects of the computer on life.
Thesis statement: The two main areas in which computers have brought about a
profound change in our lives are in the economic field and in the field of communications.

1st body: economic effects

1. computers in business
2. computers and national economies

2nd body: effects on communication

1. e-mail
2. globalization

C. DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY

Instruction: Write a descriptive essay on “what is facebook” following the elements of an essay.