Paper details
Causal Analysis Paper
Length 8 (or more) typed pages (length not including Works Cited page which is required)
Times New Roman font/size 12
Write an essay that presents a well-thought-out argument speculating about why a phenomenon, trend, or event has occurred, or discussing its significant effects. The phenomenon, trend, or event may be one you have observed firsthand, one you learned about in the news, or one you are learning about now in a course.
If your essay is an analysis of causes, it should do (at least) two things: demonstrate the existence of the phenomenon, trend, or event and offer possible causes for it. In this case your purpose is to convince your particular readers that your proposed causes are credible and plausible.
If your essay is an analysis of effects, it should introduce the reader to the phenomenon, trend, or event and enumerate some of its effects or results — positive, negative, or both. In this case your purpose is to convince your reader to accept your speculations about the effects of the subject.
In order to create more credibility for yourself as an analyst, doing research and including that research in your paper will be necessary. For this paper, please employ at least 8 credible external sources (integrate those sources into your text and indicate complete citations in a WORKS CITED page).
Sources not allowed: encyclopedias (including Wikipedia), dictionaries, tabloids or Readers Digest, WebMD or Reader’s Digest. No about.com. No Dummies or Idiots books allowed as sources.
Effect Analysis Outline
Doing an analysis of effects demands the same criteria of organization and treatment as one focusing upon causes. One must still determine what your subject is and examine whether it is a trend, an event or a phenomenon. Then you need to demonstrate that it exists, is serious enough to warrant an analysis and that it is a trend, an event or a phenomenon. Your Founding Question(s) will then turn you to looking at effects that stem from the existence of your subject.
Four of the most common types of effects:
1) those effects you and other authorities actually see occurring at this time (you need to clearly draw a line between the effect and your subject — can’t be vaguely drawn);
2) those effects you and other authorities see that may occur given time — i.e., project into the future: “Given x we could conjecture that y may soon be the result, or y will get worse or better.” But this one must be based upon solid conjecture, not a whim.
3) those effects others have posed that you disagree with and must counter with your own (this applies to causation too, if an authority poses a cause you disagree with, you may need to refute them with evidence).
4) unique to effect work is that you need to be open to the fact that there are both good and bad effects that might stem from your subject
Organizing effect papers follow much of the same causal concerns, but there are a couple somewhat unique to effect analysis that simplifies the task (though it is possible that even those doing causals could employ these as well):
1) enumeration (i.e., listing) of effects in order of importance (determined by you, the subject and your evidence) or in order of some usual sequence within the subject’s field — e.g., a process that usually follows a sequence;
2) categorization, i.e., breaking your effects into groups of similar effects that seem to cohere together;
3) other concerns same as causals apply here too:
general to specific
specific to general
causal chain: one effect leads to another by nature of sequence;
obvious to less obvious
NOTE: a c/e analysis does not necessarily have to make an argument; it could merely present all of the c/e’s as you found them in research materials. However, if you do feel strongly about particular angle, you can forcefully argue your case
Some major points:
1. Do not over rely upon one source
2. Do not avoid the task: look for causes/effects
3. Be explicit in your analysis, readers should not be left guessing as to your intent, nor in the connections you are making
4. Demonstrate and develop well your points
5. Your points should be reasonable and plausible; use of well cited and integrated evidence is still necessary; Works Cited is parallel to paper
6. Apply the critique guide on back of the Causal assignment sheet to your own work
