LESSON 3.7 Identify the Why Ideas

LESSON 3.7
Identify the Why

Grades 7 – Adult

Why Statements show why the What Statement is true or important.

There should be 1-4 whys. More than that makes the paper complicated, since you must cover each Y thoroughly.

Review

Your Ys cannot describe, define, or otherwise duplicate any part of the What Statement. If they do, you will have a tautology, also known as circular reasoning.

WHAT STATEMENT			WHY STATEMENT
LH	VP	RH	Because	Y
NEW	Verb Phrase	OLD	because
Wilma Rudolph, the first great female American sprinter,	had to overcome	childhood polio.	Her achievement are especially important because	she overcame a life-threatening illness as a child.

Same thing

Correct:

WHAT STATEMENT			WHY STATEMENT
LH	VP	RH	Because	Y
NEW	Verb Phrase	OLD	because
Wilma Rudolph, the first great female American sprinter,	had to overcome	polio.	Her achievement are especially important because	it greatly influenced American women’s interest in sprinting

Task 3.7.1 – Tandem

Which of the following is the best Why Statement among the following? Why? What is wrong with each of the others?

Billy Mills, the only American ever to win the 10,000 meter race in the Olympics, had to overcome the racism that was often directed at Native Americans. His achievement is especially important because—

It was a goal he always wanted.
he symbolizes what Martin Luther King Jr. said as “judging a man by his character and not by the color of his skin.”
it helped Native American runners find their spiritual roots.
an excellent movie, Running Brave, was made about him.

Task 3.7.2 – Individual, Tandem, Small Group, or Class

Create a hyperthesis chart for each of your top three people from the previous chapter.
Research them. Find why they are important other than for their personal achievement(s).
Fill in the Y section of the chart. Use only one Y.

For example:

What Statement			Why Statement
New Variable	Verb Phrase	Old Variable	Because	Why
Billy Mills, the only American to win the 10,000 meters in the Olympics,	had to overcome	prejudice against Native American runners.	His achievement is especially important because	(answer from Task 3.5.1)
Florence Baker, who explored East Africa when women did not do such things,	had to overcome	white slavery.	Her achievement is especially important because	it helps remind us that more people are enslaved today than at any other time in history.
Wilma Rudolph, the first great female American sprinter,	had to overcome	childhood polio.	Her achievement is especially important because	it greatly influenced American women’s interest in sprinting.