Why ask Why ?

1. Why ask Why?

2. Why? helps us understand, cope • Knowing why our car overheats helps us avoid problems. • Knowing what causes diseases helps us control them.

3. We use this reasoning every day • Family issues • Shopping decisions • School issues • On the job

4. Test your thinking • Does evidence to support your connection? • Do you make connects that don’t exist? • Have logical fallacies crept into your essay?

5. Know your readers • What do they already know about your subject? • Do they accept your reasoning? • Why or why not? • If they disagree, what would sway them?

6. Cause/Effect Topic: _________ Causes (because of) 1. ________________ 2. ________________ 3. ________________ 4. ________________ 5. ________________ Effects (this results) 1. ________________ 2. ________________ 3. ________________ 4. ________________ 5. ________________

7. Narrow and research the topic • Brainstorm a list of related causes and effects • Find evidence to support your connections • Draft a working thesis statement

8. Thesis: Tell readers three things • The issue you plan to consider • The position you will take • Whether you will emphasize causes, effects or both

9. Gather and analyze your info • Look for clear evidence linking specific causes to specific effects • Use your outline to draft the essay • Show how each cause led to each effect • Use examples

10. Drafting: consider the sequence • Chronological • Main cause first, then contributory causes • If you want to stress positive consequences, begin briefly with negative (and vice versa) • Begin with events that were not the cause (to avoid logical fallacies) • Begin with most obvious causes or effects, then move to subtle factors

11. Transitions • The first cause • The second cause • One result • Another result • The most important cause • Another cause • (See page 43)