Cause and Effect Essay (for November 24)

Cause and Effect Essay (or long Paragraph)

From (Guided) Brainstorming to the Essay

1. Choose 2 or 3 areas that you are interested in.
Agriculture Anthropology Business Computer science Education Fine Arts Geography History Law Language Literature Music Medicine Philosophy Political Science Psychology Recreation Religion Science Social Sciences Technology OTHER

2. Think of a narrower focus. For example, if I chose Language, I might think of the English language. If I like History, I might choose the Meiji Restoration. If I like Business, I might choose Toyota.

3. Make a cause question for it.
EXAMPLE: Why did the US lose the Vietnam War?
= What are the causes of the US defeat in the Vietnam War?
EXAMPLE: Why did I choose my present apartment?
EXAMPLE: Why did English become a world language?
EXAMPLE: What are the causes of the Meiji Restoration?
EXAMPLE: What are the causes of the success of Toyota?
= Why is Toyota a successful car company?
Why ………
What are the causes of ………

4. Make an effect question for it.
EXAMPLE: What were the results/effects of the 9-11 terrorist attack on the United States?EXAMPLE: What would be the effects of the melting of the polar ice caps?
EXAMPLE: How would the melting of Greenland's ice affect Tokyo?

How did/will/would ………… affect
What are the effects of……………

5. Choose the topic that you think would be best to do.

6. Make a diagram of the causes or the effects of your main topic.

7. Write a long Cause-and Effect Paragraph or a short Cause and Effect Essay. Be sure to include a topic sentence.

Look at the Essay Plan on p 108 for help. Also see the checklist on page 113 to improve your short essay (or long paragraph).