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Causal essays

aka Cause and Effect Essays. Causal essays. Causal Argument. Try to show how one event brings about another. Can become problematic, especially when trying to explain human behavior Does something “force” someone to give up his/her freewill?

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Causal essays

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  1. aka Cause and Effect Essays Causal essays

  2. Causal Argument • Try to show how one event brings about another. • Can become problematic, especially when trying to explain human behavior • Does something “force” someone to give up his/her freewill? • Causal arguments can be used to predict consequences

  3. Causes • Main causes • Contributory causes—less important • Main causes may not come to light until AFTER an event is analyzed (ex. of roof collapse due to snow) • Know whether something is immediate or remote

  4. Causal Chain • A causes B, B causes C, C causes D (etc.) • EX of Causal Chain to show decline of salmon runs • Smolts [baby salmon] use the river to reach the ocean • Dams restrict the flow of the river • Before the dam, smolts made it to the ocean in 6-20 days; now it is 60-90 days • Smolts must make it to the ocean due to physiological changes • Lengthened migration time kills the smolts

  5. Organizing Your Paper

  6. Introduction • Clearly define the event you are analyzing • Ex. If you are writing about causes of World War II, then clearly define World War II. • If you are writing about the effects of social media on the family, then clearly define both social media and the state of the family. Your thesis statement will list a causal relationship between these two things.

  7. Intro. Con’t and Thesis Statement • Make sure your introduction clearly defines the event. • Your thesis statement should be your last sentence of the introduction . • The thesis statement should define the causal relationship about the event.

  8. Body Paragraphs • Remember, causes and effects are completely different. Make sure you write about them in the proper place. • Ex. The causes of WWII are completely different than the effects of WWII.

  9. Sample Layout--Causes • Introdcution/Thesis • Cause 1 (Topic Sentence) • Proof (research—needs citations! It can be several sentences with many citations) • Draw your conclusions— “This shows…” This proves…” • Concluding sentence • Cause 2 (Topic Sentence) • Proof • Conclusions

  10. Layout Continued • Cause 3 (Topic Sentence) • Proof (research) • Conclusions

  11. Sample Layout--Effects • Introduction—define event • Thesis statement • Effect 1—topic sentence • Proof—(research with citations!) • Conclusions—(This shows, this proves, etc. Avoid “I” or “you” in these sentences. • Concluding sentence

  12. Layout—cont. • Effect 2—(Topic sentence) • Proof (research) • Conclusions • Effect 3—(Topic sentence) • Proof—(research) • Conclusions

  13. Conclusions • Your conclusion needs to restate your thesis in different words. • Then, you need to state the significance of this research/paper/event. • Ex. “The lessons to be learned from __________ (stated event) are numerous: (list them). • “The importance of looking at the causes/ effects of ___________event is __________ • Give a concluding statement that sums up your argument. • Avoid “you” or “I think”.

  14. You may……. • Write about both causes and effects

  15. Reminders

  16. Works Cited • Double spaced • Hanging indent • No extra spaces between entries • Included as the last page of your paper

  17. Writing • Do not use “you” or “I” • Proofread and correct your errors! • Write a long enough conclusion. • Suggestion: after you write your paper, go back and add two-three sentences to your intro.

  18. Citations • Make sure they follow the correct format! • This sentence “has research embedded in it because my teacher does not like stand alone quotes” (Smith 82). • Cite the author of your source if you have one. If it is a database, you will not have page numbers, so they will look like this (Smith).

  19. Citations con’t • Ex. Source with no author: • “Reintroduction of Wolves to Yellowstone” • Citations will be (“Reintroduction”). • Make sure you use quotation marks around titles.

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