Question

Read the excerpt from "Why Do Black Women Fear the Fro?” by Cheryl Thompson

In addition to hair, black women have a lot of other issues that are rarely discussed. For instance, according to the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, black women are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Similarly, in the U.S., according to DepressionIsReal.org, a 2007 study found that depression among black women is almost 50 per cent higher than among white women. And black women are twice as likely as black men to suffer depression.

How does the author’s use of syntax contribute to the tone of the excerpt?

Punctuation emphasizes an insolent tone.
Repetition helps to develop a cautionary tone.

Answer 1

Repetition helps to develop a cautionary tone.

The author repeatedly uses the phrase "black women" and short, declarative sentences with connective words ("For instance," "Similarly," "And") to accumulate troubling facts. This syntactic pattern emphasizes seriousness and builds a cautionary, informative tone rather than an insolent one.