段落結構

第七課：寫段落的方法 (三)

　　
(6) 因果關係法（Cause and Effect）：

    這方法是以因與果構成一段落，顧名思義，文句必須分析事件或陳述句的因果關係，而邏輯性的理據佔最重要，但要說清楚卻不容易，原因是一個"因"可以引來很多後果，而一個"果"也可能來自很多原因，所以在撰寫時，必先考慮那些因或果最有說明力。

   I) 由因到果（From Causes to Effect）：

    Example 1:

     A lack of exercise is one of the major factors contributing to obesity（過度肥胖）. When we eat, we consume energy (measured as calories). When we exercise, we expend energy or burn up calories. For example, when we run for an hour, we burn up approximately 450 calories, depending on our body size. When the number of calories we consume exceeds the number we burn up, the excess energy is stored in the body in the form of fat. If a person is inactive, it is more likely that he will not burn up all the calories consumed, so obesity can result.

   
    本段思路清晰，說明引致過度肥胖的其中一個原因是缺少運動，並以跑步為例，指出運動可以燃燒熱量（卡路里），若果一個人缺少運動，便無法把進食所吸收的熱量去除。當然，如果這是一篇文章，作者還可寫出其他引致肥胖的原因，如：過度進食（Overeating），遺傳影響（Hereditary influences），以及新陳代謝緩慢（Slow metabolic rate）等。

    Example 2:

     
    Cigarette smoke contains nicotine（尼古丁）, several cancer producing or irritating substances, and carbon monoxide gas（一氧化碳氣）. Damage to the lining of the bronchial tubes（支氣管） is much more common among cigarette smokers than non-smokers, even when there is no obvious disease. Some of these changes are considered to be pre-cancerous. Lung function is generally reduced among cigarette smokers. Cigarette smoking is a greater danger than other factors － such as community air pollution － in the causation of lung cancer and chronic bronchitis（慢性支氣管炎）.

   本段說明吸煙帶來許多後果，同上一段近似，用吸煙與不吸煙者作出比較，更加強主題的說服力。



    II) 由果及因（From Effect back to Cause）：

    We all know the story "Dong Shi blindly imitated Xi Shi"(東施效顰). Dong Shi, an ugly woman, heard that Xi Shi was as beautiful as a fairy. One day she went to see for herself. however, Xi Shi happened to be sick that day with stomachache. She knitted her eyebrows and wore a painful expression, yet she was still surprisingly beautiful. Dong Shi mistakenly thought that her beauty derived form the painful expression on her face. Therefore Dong She knitted her eyebrows in imitation of Xi Shi. of course, she looked even uglier. The story shows us that in the pursuit of beauty we must bear in mind that truth, only truth, is beautiful. Anything artificial or false is ugly.

     本段從表面看，是由故事的鋪寫到寓意，而實質上，寓意是因，而故事則是果。

  寫作技巧：

   在撰寫因果關係的段落或文章時，可從以下幾種方向思考：

  1) Multiple Causes --> Effect 

    就以上述過度肥胖症為例：

     形成過度肥胖症的原因有很多種，有些人因為缺少運動，有些人因為遺傳，有些更可能是社會或環境因素，所以，當你要寫此題目時，必須對每種成因作出解釋，才能有說服力，你可以用facts, examples, data, case study等來支持自己的論點。


Example:  你可以用本欄 Part A 所提及 Brainstorm, Free-writing等創作法去撰寫文章的大綱:

Outline for an essay:

   2) Cause --> Multiple Effects

    某些題目是說明陳述句的影響，即一個"因"可引致很多"果"，我們要從多角度去看題目，才能全面兼顧，而且要清楚說明因果兩者的關係，例子如下：

Cause:		Effects:
Excessive  Consumption of Sugar		Blood Sugar Imbalances
		Tooth Decay
		Hyperactivity in Children
		Weight Gain

   3) The Causal Chain 連鎖因果關係

   連鎖關係意指一個果引來一個因及另一個果，如是者，因果相連。例如：一個超重的吸煙者有呼吸問題，如何改善此情況呢？

Shortness of breath	Cause
Quit smoking	effect
	cause
Breathe more easily	effect
	cause
Felt better	effect
	cause
Started exercise program	effect
	cause
Lost weight	effect

Exercise:

Below is a set of effects that are given in no particular order. Decide which of the effects are immediate and which are remote. Then organize them into an outline for an essay. Choose one of effects to develop a paragraph.

The Effects of Watching Television:
1. People get fat.
2. There are more divorces.
3. More people get eyestrain.
4. There is more violent crime in our cities.
5. People are lonely.
6. People are more afraid of each other.
7. People do not like reading anymore.

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