Speculating About Causes/Determining Effects               

Objective:       Compose a balanced, insightful speculation essay that explores a major issue in our culture.  You must address the increase, decrease, or stagnation as it pertains to the issue. You must also determine the effectives that the increase, decrease, or stagnation is having on individuals and/or society.

Be sure to 1) define your topic, 2) provide adequate background information, 3) detail your causes, 4) provide adequate support, 5) discuss the effects, and 6) summarize your main points in the conclusion.

You need to give a minimum of THREE (3) causes to establish the legitimacy of the issue.  For example, if you were to address the increase in single parent households in America, you might assert that the causes are (1) irresponsible sex among teenagers and adults, (2) social acceptance of out of wedlock births, (3) a change from traditional family values, and (4) moral decay concerning parental responsibilities among men.  In addition, you must ELABORATE about why you believe this information to be valid.[unique_solution]

Audience:       Your attentive audience consists of people from various backgrounds who are not familiar with your topic.  Though they are not experts on the subject, avoid suggesting causes that are obvious or overstated.

Outline Due:              Monday, October 1, at the beginning of class (bring two (2) copies) (Workshop)

                                    Failure to bring two copies will result in drastic point deduction

Research:                   No published research required.

Rough Draft One:     Wednesday, October 3 (bring two (2) copies (Workshop)

Need at least two pages of essay (3.5-4 pages)

Failure to bring two copies will result in drastic point deduction

Rough Draft Two:    Monday, October 8 (bring two (2) copies (Workshop)

Need completed draft of essay (3.5-4 pages)

Failure to bring two copies will result in drastic point deduction

Essay Due Two:        Wednesday, October 10, at the beginning of class 

ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS

The GRADING RUBRIC must be attached to the FRONT of the final draft.

Page Length:             3.5-4 pages (3 pages does not meet the page length requirement.)

Point Distribution:    Outline                                                25 pts

                                    Rough Draft One                              25 pts

                                    Rough Draft  Two                            50 pts

                                    Workshop                                          25 pts each

                                    Final Draft                                         100 pts/15% of your overall grade   

English 1013

Speculating About Causes

Planning and Drafting:       

• BRAINSTORM Topics
• LIST INFORMATION about each topic and select a topic for your essay
• ANALYZE your audience
• READ ABOUT YOUR SUBJECT and gain support for your speculations; be sure to document

borrowed info

• MAKE A DETAILED OUTLINE that functions as the skeleton of your essay
• COMPOSE the first draft of the essay; revise the draft for peer evaluation

SAMPLE TOPICS

There is no obligation to select a topic from the listing.  You may choose a discipline specific or community specific issue; just ensure that the topic is a phenomenon or a trend as opposed to a fad.

• Increase in bullying
• Increase in reality TV shows (“Housewives” Franchise, Dating Shows, etc)
• Decrease in high school dropout rates
• Increase in political commentary shows (TV or radio)
• Increase in prejudice against particular races, ethnicities, religious groups
• Increase in political correctness
• Increase in community college and/or technical college enrollment
• Decrease in math and science majors
• Increase in activism
• Increase interest in Asian religions or increase in non-denominational churches and mega churches
• Increase in conservatism or liberalism
• Increase in interethnic or interracial marriages in the United States
• Increase in grandparents raising their grandchildren
• Increase cost of medical care
• Increase use of plastic surgery to enhance self-image
• Increase in older students attending community college
• Increase in online colleges/degrees
• Increase in charter schools
• Increase in suicide
• Increase in gun violence (teenagers, adults)
• Increase in mass shootings
• You cannot address increasing prejudice toward diversity, increase in mass shootings, decrease in STEM majors, home schooling, obesity, single parent households, abortion, capital punishment, activism,

English 1013

Speculating About Cause/Determining Effects Detailed Outline

Copy and Paste this Outline in a blank WORD document.  You must use this template.

To ensure clarity, all information must be written in complete sentences; hence, phrases and clauses are not acceptable.   Handwritten work will not be accepted for a grade.

INTRODUCTION

Compose a minimum of four well-developed sentences to detail your subject and provide background information.

THESIS STATEMENT: Write out the thesis statement.

Body

1. First Cause

1. Support

1. Support

1.   Support

2. Second Cause

1. Support

1. Support

1. Support

3. Third Cause

1. Support

1. Support

1. Support

4.   Effects (Generate more than three effects)

1. Effect 1

1. Effect 2

C.       Effect 3