A slogan repeats an idea. A cause-and-effect explanation shows how one thing leads to another. This lesson teaches you to replace the first with the second.
It is the third lesson in turning a vague essay plan into a relevant argument. The previous lesson covered choosing examples.
How can I spot a slogan?
A slogan sentence could be moved to any essay on the theme and still fit. It uses words such as mesti, harus and perlu, and it has no reason attached.
Read your paragraph and underline each sentence that tells the reader what to do or feel without saying why. Those are the slogans.
Worked example: rebuilding a paragraph
The task is original: Tulis rencana tentang kepentingan menjaga kebersihan sungai.
The slogan paragraph:
Kita mesti menjaga kebersihan sungai. Sungai yang bersih penting untuk kita semua. Oleh itu, marilah kita jaga sungai kita.
Three sentences, one idea. Now build a chain with the prompt lepas itu apa?
| Link | Sentence |
|---|---|
| Cause | Apabila sampah dibuang ke dalam sungai, air menjadi keruh. |
| Effect 1 | Air yang keruh mengurangkan oksigen sehingga ikan mati. |
| Effect 2 | Apabila ikan berkurangan, nelayan kampung kehilangan pendapatan. |
| Effect 3 | Penduduk juga berisiko mendapat penyakit jika menggunakan air itu. |
The rebuilt paragraph:
Apabila sampah dibuang ke dalam sungai, air menjadi keruh dan oksigen berkurangan sehingga ikan mati. Akibatnya, nelayan kampung kehilangan pendapatan, dan penduduk berisiko mendapat penyakit jika menggunakan air itu.
The paragraph now teaches the reader something, and the importance of clean rivers becomes visible.
Connectors that force an explanation
Use words that cannot be followed by a slogan:
- kerana, disebabkan, lantaran itu for cause
- akibatnya, maka, sehingga for effect
- apabila…, maka… for a chain
A sentence starting with akibatnya has to name a consequence. That is why the connector helps.
The mistake: a distant disaster
A weak chain jumps to a huge effect: Sungai kotor akan memusnahkan dunia. The claim is too large to believe and skips the steps.
The fix is to stay close to the reader’s life. Follow the chain one realistic step at a time: dirty water, dead fish, lost income. Each link should be something the reader could see in a village.
Check yourself
Rebuild this slogan as a chain of three or four links: Kita mesti mengamalkan cara hidup sihat.
Answer
A possible chain: Apabila seseorang bersenam setiap hari, jantungnya menjadi lebih kuat. Akibatnya, dia kurang berasa letih semasa belajar, maka tumpuannya di dalam kelas bertambah baik.
The chain runs from a cause (bersenam) to an effect (jantung kuat), then to kurang letih and finally to better tumpuan. Any realistic chain of three or four links is acceptable.
What to study next
Continue with checking whether a counterpoint strengthens or distracts from the task, then try the integrated practice.
The claim-evidence revision desk can test each paragraph of yours. For teacher help, see online one-to-one SPM Bahasa Melayu tuition.