Giving reasons and examples in speaking and writing

Answer, reason, example

A one-word answer scores little. The pattern that always earns more is three steps: say your answer, give a reason with because, then add an example with for example or such as. My favourite subject is science, because we do experiments. For example, last week we grew beans in the dark.

Words that add a reason

because, so, that is why, since. Note the difference: because comes before the reason, so comes before the result. It was raining, so we stayed inside = We stayed inside because it was raining.

Words that add an example

for example, such as, like, especially. An example makes an answer concrete, and concrete answers are always marked higher than general ones.