3.3: Cause and Effect Model Essay 2

Read the essay and answer the questions that follow.

First Name Last Name

Professor Name

Course Name and Number

Day Month Year

Reasons for Joining a Gym

(1) Every day the media provides more news about the benefits of exercise, and many people are responding by starting an exercise program. Some people choose to exercise at home by watching an exercise video or using resistance bands and light weights. Others prefer to go outdoors where they can walk, jog, or bike their way to health. Still others choose to join a gym. This last group has been growing over the last twenty years. Though there are many reasons for joining a gym, most people join because the gym makes exercise convenient, helps keep up motivation, and provides opportunities for social interaction.

(2) People often join gyms because a gym makes exercise convenient. First, gyms are quite popular, so there are locations just about everywhere in any city or town. They are located in shopping centers, schools, and even in many workplaces. Consequently, it is easy for people to get to a gym without going out of their way. Also, gyms have equipment such as exercise bikes, step machines, free weights, and other equipment all in one place. It is a logical choice for people who do not want to spend a lot of money on such equipment or who simply do not want to clutter their homes with it. Finally, in many gyms on-site professional trainers are available who can help members on their journey to a better body. It is clear that gyms offer many conveniences.

(3) Not only is a gym convenient, it can also motivate a person to work out. Everyone at the gym is there for the same purpose: exercise. Unlike the home environment, with its disruptions and distractions, a gym helps keep a person focused on their goal. Additionally, seeing other people make progress in their muscle gain or weight loss can be very inspiring. Finally, the price of the membership alone, especially at an expensive boutique gym, is often enough to cause someone to keep showing up for exercise. It would be a waste of money not to use the membership to its fullest. All of these things keep a person on track to their fitness goals.

(4) Finally, a number of people sign up for a gym membership because they believe it can help improve their social life. The gym can provide opportunities to meet other health-conscious people. These are different from one’s family or coworkers, especially those who do not share the interest in exercise. Oftentimes gym acquaintances can develop into friendships or even romances outside the gym. In addition, most gyms have classes on training techniques, nutrition, and mental health that provide additional social interaction between gym members. Finally, gyms often provide opportunities for friendly competition between their members by organizing weight-lifting tournaments, swim meets, and basketball games.

(5) The rise of gym memberships is not surprising considering how it can be a great support to people who want to work out regularly. Not only do people find it convenient to have so many services available under one roof, they are attracted to the social interaction that the gym provides. For people who have not been successful in sticking to an exercise program on their own, the gym seems like a perfect solution.

1. Does the essay focus on causes, effects, or both?
2. Highlight the thesis and the concluding sentences.
3. Highlight transitions and signal words that show cause & effect. NOTE: there are various sentence structures featured in this essay.
4. Underline the topic sentences—those are the sentences that introduce each new subtopic.
5. In what ways can a gym be motivating? Find some examples in the essay. Did the author use signal words to introduce examples?

Exercise 2

Refer back to the essay for “Reasons for Joining a Gym” and complete the following outline with the missing information.

I. Introduction: Thesis: _____________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

II. Supporting Topic Sentence 1: People often join gyms because a gym makes exercise convenient.

A. Lots of locations________

Shopping centers

______________

B._______________________

__bikes________

______________

III. Supporting Topic Sentence 2:________________________________________

A. __fewer distractions than at home

B. __inspiration from other people

C. ________________________

IV. Supporting Topic Sentence 3:________________________________________

A. meet people with same goals

B. _______________________

C. _______________________

V. Conclusion: _____________________________________________________

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