Cause and Effect
Proposal: Cause and Effect
PART 1:
You have the prompt for the paper, but before you start writing it I need you to create a proposal. It can be in paragraph form, or it can be in answer form. Either
way you need to address the following questions to show you’ve thought out your chosen subject and are prepared to write on it. You are essentially proposing your
topic, like pitching a story to an editor. If I am not convinced that you can successfully write on this subject then I might reject it, but if I am convinced then you
get the green light to start researching and writing. (Must be typed).
SUBJECT: What is the overall issue? It must be a current issue of some kind. Why is this an important issue? Who does it affect?
BACKGROUND: What do I already know about my topic? What are facts I can find in a basic google search? What do I need to learn more about? This section is like the
who, what, when, where, why, and how.
FORMAT: What is your focus? Are you arguing Chronological—A will lead to B, or Reversal—B was caused by A? Are you trying to predict or explain? Why do you believe
that is the best way to argue this subject?
CAUSES: What are the causes regarding your subject? List as many as you can think of and identify if they’re a causal chain or not. Why did you pick the ones you did?
Make sure to address the two types of causes: people/organizations and events/actions.
EFFECTS: What are the effects regarding your subject? List as many as you can think of and identify if they’re a causal chain or not. Why did you pick the ones you
did? Make sure to address the two types of effects: people/organizations and events/actions.
SHORT TERM: What causes and effects are short term related, as in currently happening or going to happen within the next year?
LONG TERM: What causes and effects are long term related, as in will happen in the future years from now, or might be currently happening but aren’t fully developed—
they’re gradually creeping up on us?
AUDIENCE: Who is my target audience? Who am I trying to persuade? (HINT: Not the teacher).
RESEARCH: Where am I most likely to find information? What types of sources will be most helpful?
RHETORICAL APPEALS: How does each appeal relate to your subject? (Ex: Pathos=emotion, what emotions are related to your subject?) How might you use it to persuade your
audience? (Think on tone and research).
PART 2:
I want you to find at least two of your required three sources and give me both the proper MLA citation and annotation.
An annotated source is meant to be proof that you’ve read the source, which means you do the following parts:
· Summarize what the source is about. In a couple sentences explain the source’s main arguments. What is it about? How did the author go about stating it? What
did you learn?
· Evaluate Credibility of the source. What is it about the author that makes them trustworthy? What is it about where the source is from that makes it
reliable?
· Analyze Use of source. Determine how and where you’ll use it in your essay. Will it support your position, the opposition, be for background?
· Give Excerpts from the source that you will use in your paper. They can be paraphrases or quotations, but they must be source examples with the proper
parenthetical citation.
GRADING RUBRIC: 30 points
2 points a question=20 points
5 points for each source you find, with at least two sources=10 points
Paper: Cause & Effect Essay
The goal of this paper is to argue using cause and effect. You will either be arguing that a certain cause created/will create a certain effect OR a certain effect is
directly related to a certain cause. No matter the format you will still have to address the issue, give background information, and discuss both causes and effects—
including all the parts related to both. BUT your focus or argument will pertain specifically to either causes or effects.
You can write on anything from: history, personal, professional, academic, athletic, political, etc. HOWEVER, this paper will require secondary sources. You will need
to research and find sources to quote that will either support your claim or give information on the subject. Make sure to know who your target audience is and make
sure to avoid illogical statements. No relying on superstition. You can use first person, but the way to avoid an opinion-centered argument is with your secondary
sources.
Paper Requirements: MLA Format, 3-5 pages, 12 point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, typed, with heading, title, and page numbers, each paragraph is 1/3 to 1/2 a
page.
Research Elements: I will expect at least one quote/citation for each body paragraph, but more is always better. I will expect a works cited page starting on a new
page, after the rest of the essay. You must have at least THREE sources. Acceptable sources are: books, magazines, newspapers, movies, shows, news reports, interviews,
etc.
Paper Outline: Remember the Causal Chain idea, but otherwise you will pick one of the two formats:
Chronological/Prediction (A will cause B)
Reversal/Explanation (B was caused by A)
Intro: Explain issue and why it’s important—A is the issue.
Thesis: I believe A will result in B, because of…
Background Paragraph: What information do we need to know about this subject?
Body Paragraphs:
1. Explain the primary effect you believe will happen (B), and why you believe this is inevitable.
2. Explain the people/organizations that are going to be effected by this
3. Explain the events/actions that are going to occur because of this.
4. Explain short-term ramifications.
5. Explain long-term ramifications.
*2-5 can either be other effects aside from the primary one discussed in 1, or just an expansion on 1.
Conclusion
Intro: Explain issue and why it’s important—B is the issue.
Thesis: I believe B was caused by A, because of…
Background Paragraph: What information do we need to know about this subject?
Body Paragraphs:
1. Explain the primary cause you believe is to blame (A), and why you believe this is the culprit.
2. Explain the people/organizations that caused this to happen.
3. Explain the events/actions that caused this to happen.
4. Explain short-term ramifications.
5. Explain long-term ramifications.
*2-5 can either be other effects aside from the primary one discussed in 1, or just an expansion on 1.
Conclusion
Rubric for Cause & Effect Essay (10% of Grade=100)
Prompt, Introduction, Conclusion
Effectively introduces topic, gives context, and clear thesis.
Points Possible:
30
Clear Relationship Between Cause & Effect
No matter which outline chosen, the essay clearly shows the direct line between the chosen cause and effect, and if there are multiple. Logic is sound.
Points Possible:
30
Organization
Every paragraph has a transition/topic sentence. The whole paper flows.
Points Possible:
10
Research Materials
Good use of secondary sources, with proper MLA Works Cited Page and quotation incorporation.
Points Possible:
18
Language use, mechanics
Superior editing—professional looking with limited errors in spelling, grammar, word order and usage, sentence structure, and punctuation. Meets MLA format
Points Possible:
6
Revision
Incorporated comments and feedback into final draft, with a noticeable difference between drafts. Author was present during peer review.
Points Possible:
6
Subject English
Due By (Pacific Time) 09/26/2016 10:00 am
