Example of Cause and Effect

To Build or Not to Build

Building permits, water and sewer taps, architectural drawings, delayed schedules, construction mishaps, and disreputable builders are a few horrors that race through a person's mind when thinking of building a house. Those who have never tried it would probably hesitate or at best think it over for several days. Some people who have dared to build their own homes swear that they would never do it again. So then, why is it that some still choose to enter into this uncelebrated, unfamiliar experience? The reasons vary, but the common ones are that building a home may be a necessity, may have a financial advantage, and can provide personal satisfaction in a unique design.

In some cases, one major cause, necessity, underlies the decision to build one's own home. Unless people have beautiful property and plenty of money, they purchase a preconstructed home when they are in the market for a house. However, when the housing market does not offer the house they want or need, then potential buyers may be forced to construct the house for themselves. For instance, if one is moving to a small town where land is reasonable and the housing market is poor, building is the only choice. Or if a family has a special need like four baths or a walk-out basement for a business, there is no alternative but to build. If a person wants to move into a certain area where the choice of homes is limited, then construction of a custom home becomes unavoidable.

Another important reason for building a home may be financial. Building a home keeps an owner from paying a large real-estate commission. Cur­rently, a real estate commission is 7 percent, so if someone buys a ready-made $70,000 home, the buyer will be paying close to $5,000 in real-estate fees. Also, a prospective home builder has some flexible control over the total cost of the construction. "Sweat equity" is a term that means that the home­owner and the home builder enter into a partnership in which the owner can do some of the labor to defray costs. Painting, tiling, landscaping, or any labor the owner chooses can be done on weekends to save dollars. In the same way, if the builders have plenty of time and flexible taste, they can find bargains for lumber, concrete, appliances, carpet, or any other major items. The buyers have no control over most of these items in an already-constructed house. More control over finances can be a significant underlying reason for deciding in favor of building a home instead of purchasing a preconstructed home.

Other important reasons for building a home are psychological. The chal­lenge of accomplishing a major project can bring a person satisfaction when Other important reasons for building a home are psychological. The chal­lenge of accomplishing a major project can bring a person satisfaction when the job is completed. Also, the prospective home builders feel as though they are the creators of the home and immediately take on the pride of ownership. Because they have a better idea of the struggle and time that went into the home, they have a deep sense of appreciation. Another emotion that might cause a person to build a home is obtaining a sense of individualism. Because the homeowner-builders have the opportunity to create and change the floor plan, they know that no other home exists that is exactly like their own. To those people who feel strongly about having a unique design, this motive may be a very strong incentive for building. Even though emotional causes may not be very obvious at first, they are usually very strong influencing forces.

A person's home is an extremely important place. It represents not only shelter but personal tastes and satisfactions, it is also the most valuable item a person ever owns. Deciding to build this valuable possession can be fright­ening and frustrating. Many people would never choose to take on such a major responsibility and task. However, some people are forced into the decision and find that there are advantages. Financial benefits, an opportu­nity to exhibit creativity, and a deep enjoyment and satisfaction in having a unique design can cause people to undertake this creative and satisfying project.

WRITING INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

An introductory paragraph is the first paragraph in writing. Its function is to lead the readers into the essay. Consequently, it should give the readers a preview of the essay. If it captures their attention, the readers will find it easier to follow the writer’s flow of expression. In order to attract the readers’ attention, ideally, the introductory paragraph should be interesting.

The introductory paragraph consists of two parts.

1.             The first part is general statement about the subject to attract readers’ attention

2.             The second part is a thesis statement, which specifies the topic or the plan of the paper. The function of thesis statement is to control the idea of the paper.

Good introductory paragraph has some characteristics. They are:

1.             The introductory paragraph should introduce the topic.

2.             The introductory paragraph should indicate generally how the topic is going to be developed, whether the essay is to discuss causes, effect, reasons, or examples. Whether the essay is going to describe, narrate, or explain something. Since this discussion is about expository, it should explain something.

3.             The introductory paragraph should contain thesis statement.

4.             The introductory paragraph should be inviting.

There are four basic types of introductory paragraph. They are:

1.             The first is turnabout type of introduction. In this type, the writer opens with a statement contrary to his or her actual thesis. Look at the following example:

We live in era where television is the national pastime. Since the invention of television set, people have been spending more of their free time watching television than doing anything else. Many of the television addicts feel that this particular pastime is not bad one; indeed, they argue that people can learn a great deal watching television. I am sure if you look long and hard enough; you can probably find some programs that are educationally motivating. But, for most part, I say that watching television is a waste of time (Smalley and Hank, 1986:228)

2.             The second type, the dramatic entrance, is a type of introduction in which the author opens with narrative, descriptive, or dramatic example. Look at the following example:

The rain pours down as if running from a faucet, lightning streaks across the dark restless sky, and thunder pounds the roof and walls of the house. All of a sudden the wind kicks up. Trees sway madly back and forth; loose objects are picked up and thrown all way round. The house streaks and moans with every gust of wind. Windows are broken by pieces of shingle from a neighbour’s roof or by loose objects picked by the wind. Power lines snap like thread. The unprepared house and its occupants are in grave prepared for hurricane approaches. Had they prepared for hurricane, they might not be in such danger. Indeed, careful preparation before a hurricane is essential to life and property (Smalley and Hank, 1986:260)

3.             The third type is relevant quotation.  In this way, the writer opens with the quotation relevant to the topic. Look at the following example:

“As an airplane or missile becomes more complicated,” warned James fallows in his 1981 book National Defence,” the probability that all its parts will be working at the same time goes down”. Indeed the reliability and power of modern U.S military hardware depend heavily on increasingly complex electronic circuits. This worrisome vulnerability prompted Pentagon officials more than two years ago to launch an extensive probe of microchip suppliers in order to spot any lax manufacturing practices. Last week the inquiry produced an indictment against a major electronic company (Smalley and Hank, 1986:299)

4.             The last type is, the Funnel. That is the type of introductory in which the progress of the idea is from general to specific one. See the following paragraph example:

Travelling to a foreign country is always interesting, especially if it is a country that is completely different from your own. You can delight in tasting new foods, seeing new sight, and learning about different customs, some of which may seem very curious. If you were to visit my country, for instance, you would probably think that my people have some very strange customs, as these three examples will illustrate (Smalley and Hank, 1986:143)

Another important thing in introductory paragraph is the existence of thesis statement, that is a single sentence that contains an arguable proposition and clearly states the author’s position on the issue. The thesis statement is said to be the good one as it qualifies the following:

1.             The thesis statement appears at the end or near the end of the introductory paragraph.

2.             It states the main point of the writer

3.             It indicates how the writer will limit and support the main point.

4.             It shows how the writer will organize the entire essay.

In addition to those all mentioned above, the thesis statement should follow the following criteria, they are:

1.             The thesis statement should be expressed in a complete sentence.

2.             The thesis statement expresses an opinion, attitude, or idea; it does not simply announce the topic of the essay will develop.

3.             The thesis statement should express an opinion; it should not express the fact.

4.             The thesis statement should express only one idea toward one topic.

Descriptive Text

What is descriptive text?

text which describe a particular thing/one

What is its' genre?

1. identification: who/what is he/it
2. descriptions: describe the physical and other descriptions

Language feature:

          Present tense

The first example:

My Cat Gregory

Gregory is my beautiful gray Persian cat. He walks with pride and grace, performing a dance of disdain as he slowly lifts and lowers each paw with the delicacy of a ballet dancer. His pride, however, does not extend to his appearance, for he spends most of his time indoors watching television and growing fat.

He enjoys TV commercials, especially those for Meow Mix and 9 Lives. His familiarity with cat food commercials has led him to reject generic brands of cat food in favor of only the most expensive brands.

Gregory is as finicky about visitors as he is about what he eats, befriending some and repelling others. He may snuggle up against your ankle, begging to be petted, or he may imitate a skunk and stain your favorite trousers. Gregory does not do this to establish his territory, as many cat experts think, but to humiliate me because he is jealous of my friends.

After my guests have fled, I look at the old fleabag snoozing and smiling to himself in front of the television set, and I have to forgive him for his obnoxious, but endearing, habits.

The second example:

Borobudur Temple

Borobudur is Hindu – Budhist temple. It was build in the nineth century under Sailendra dynasty of ancient Mataram kingdom. Borobudur is located in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia.

Borobudur is well-known all over the world. Its construction is influenced by the Gupta architecture of India. The temple is constructed on a hill 46 m high and consist of eight step like stone terrace. The first five terrace are square and surrounded by walls adorned with Budist sculpture in bas-relief. The upper three are circular.

Each of them is with a circle of bell shape-stupa. The entire adifice is crowned by a large stupa at the centre at the centre of the top circle. The way to the summit extends through some 4.8 km of passage and starways. The design of borobudur which symbolizes the structure of universe influences temples at Angkor, Cambodia.

Borobudur temple which is rededicated as an Indonesian monument in 1983 is a valuable treasure for Indonesian people.

READING TASK

King Grisly-Beard

A great king of a land far away in the East had a daughter who was very beautiful, but so proud and haughty and conceited, that none of the princes who came to ask for her hand in marriage was good enough for her. All she ever did was make fun of them.

     Once upon a time the king held a great feast and invited all her suitors. They all sat in a row, ranged according to their rank -- kings and princes and dukes and earls and counts and barons and knights. When the princess came in, as she passed by them, she had something spiteful to say to each one.

     The first was too fat: 'He's as round as a tub,' she said.

     The next was too tall: 'What a maypole!' she said.

     The next was too short: 'What a dumpling!' she said.

     The fourth was too pale, and she called him 'Wallface.'

     The fifth was too red, so she called him 'Coxcomb.'

     The sixth was not straight enough; so she said he was like a green stick that had been laid to dry over a baker's oven. She had some joke to crack about every one. But she laughed most of all at a good king who was there.

     'Look at him,' she said; 'his beard is like an old mop; he shall be called Grisly-beard.' So the king got the nickname of Grisly-beard.

     But the old king was very angry when he saw how his daughter behaved and how badly she treated all his guests. He vowed that, willing or unwilling, she would marry the first man that came to the door.

     Two days later a travelling fiddler came by the castle. He began to play under the window and begged for money and when the king heard him, he said, 'Let him come in.'

     So, they brought the dirty-looking fellow in and, when he had sung before the king and the princess, he begged for a gift.

     The king said, 'You have sung so well that I will give you my daughter to take as your wife.'

     The princess begged and prayed; but the king said, 'I have sworn to give you to the first man who came to the door, and I will keep my word.'

     Words and tears were to no avail; the parson was sent for, and she was married to the fiddler.

     When this was over, the king said, 'Now get ready to leave -- you must not stay here -- you must travel with your husband.'

     So the fiddler left the castle, and took the princess with him.

     Soon they came to a great wood.

     'Pray,' she said, 'whose is this wood?'

     'It belongs to King Grisly-beard,' he answered; 'hadst thou taken him, all would have been thine.'

     'Ah! unlucky wretch that I am!' she sighed; 'would that I had married King Grisly-beard!'

     Next they came to some fine meadows.

     'Whose are these beautiful green meadows?' she said.

     'They belong to King Grisly-beard, hadst thou taken him, they would all have been thine.'

     'Ah! unlucky wretch that I am!' she said; 'would that I had married King Grisly-beard!'

     Then they came to a great city. 'Whose is this noble city?' she said.

     'It belongs to King Grisly-beard; hadst thou taken him, it would all have been thine.'

     'Ah! wretch that I am!' she sighed; 'why did I not marry King Grisly-beard?'

     'That is no business of mine,' said the fiddler, 'why should you wish for another husband? Am I not good enough for you?'

     At last they came to a small cottage. 'What a paltry place!' she said; 'to whom does that little dirty hole belong?'

     The fiddler said, 'That is your and my house, where we are to live.'

     'Where are your servants?' she cried.

     'What do we want with servants?' he said; 'you must do for yourself whatever is to be done. Now make the fire, and put on water and cook my supper, for I am very tired.'

     But the princess knew nothing of making fires and cooking, and the fiddler was forced to help her.

     When they had eaten a very scanty meal they went to bed; but the fiddler called her up very early in the morning to clean the house.

     They lived like that for two days and when they had eaten up all there was in the cottage, the man said, 'Wife, we can't go on thus, spending money and earning nothing. You must learn to weave baskets.'

     Then the fiddler went out and cut willows, and brought them home, and she began to weave; but it made her fingers very sore.

     'I see this work won't do,' he said, 'try and spin; perhaps you will do that better.'

     So she sat down and tried to spin; but the threads cut her tender fingers until the blood ran.

     'See now,' said the fiddler, 'you are good for nothing; you can do no work. What a bargain I have got! However, I'll try and set up a trade in pots and pans, and you shall stand in the market and sell them.'

     'Alas!' she sighed, 'if any of my father's court should pass by and see me standing in the market, how they will laugh at me!'

     But her husband did not care about that, and said she would have to work if she did not want to die of hunger.

     At first the trade went well because many people, seeing such a beautiful woman, went to buy her wares and paid their money without even thinking of taking away the goods. They lived on this as long as it lasted and then her husband bought a fresh lot of pots and pans, and she sat herself down with it in the corner of the market.

     However, soon a drunken soldier soon came by and rode his horse against her stall and broke all her goods into a thousand pieces.

     She began to cry, and did not know what to do. 'Ah! what will become of me?' she said; 'what will my husband say?' So she ran home and told him everything.

     'Who would have thought you would have been so silly,' he said, 'as to put an earthenware stall in the corner of the market, where everybody passes? But let us have no more crying; I see you are not fit for this sort of work, so I have been to the king's palace, and asked if they did not want a kitchen-maid; and they say they will take you, and there you will have plenty to eat.'

     So the princess became a kitchen-maid and helped the cook to do all the dirtiest work. She was allowed to carry home some of the meat that was left over, and they lived on that.

     She had not been there long before she heard that the king's eldest son was passing by, on his way to get married. She went to one of the windows and looked out. Everything was ready and all the pomp and brightness of the court was there. Seeing it, she grieved bitterly for the pride and folly that had brought her so low. The servants gave her some of the rich meats and she put them into her basket to take home.

     All of a sudden, as she was leaving, in came the king's son in his golden clothes. When he saw such a beautiful woman at the door, he took her by the hand and said she should be his partner in the dance. She trembled with fear because she saw that it was King Grisly-beard, who was making fun of her. However, he kept hold of her, and led her into the hall. As she entered, the cover of the basket came off, and the meats in it fell out. Everybody laughed and jeered at her and she was so ashamed that she wished she were a thousand feet deep in the earth. She sprang over to the door so that she could run away but on the steps King Grisly-beard overtook her, brought her back and said:

     'Fear me not! I am the fiddler who has lived with you in the hut. I brought you there because I truly loved you. I am also the soldier that overset your stall. I have done all this only to cure you of your silly pride, and to show you the folly of your ill-treatment of me. Now it is all over: you have learnt wisdom, and it is time to hold our marriage feast.'

     Then the chamberlains came and brought her the most beautiful robes. Her father and his whole court were already there, and they welcomed her home. Joy was in every face and every heart. The feast was grand; they danced and sang; everyone was merry; and I only wish that you and I had been there.

Task

After reading the story above:

1.   Make summary using 50-100 words

2.   Make questions based on the story minimally 10 questions