Rubric for Cause and Effect Essay
Organization
Introduction: Engage the reader, consider inverted triangle method
____Hook/Catchy first sentence
____Getting the reader warmed up to topic by introducing the relevance of cause and effect topic or chain reactions.
____A detailed thesis statement (10-15 points off for no thesis statement)
_____Thesis statement that lays an outline for the paper.
_____Body paragraphs that are connected to thesis statement
_____Thesis is detailed in laying out the cause and effect relationship
_____ Your essay should have an argumentative tone in that you are persuading us that these factors are in fact connected.
Two Options for Body of Essay: Three to four body paragraphs outlining a cause and effect relationship. You should have a minimum of 3 body paragraphs outlining in detail specific causes and/or effects. You can choose between two different formats for the body paragraphs:
- Option #1—2 or more causes and one effect: In looking at the cause and effect relationship we can search for the causes of a particular effect. For instance, if you wanted to search for the causes of poverty, this option would put poverty as the effect. And then you would write about the causes of poverty: Cause 1(BP#1): unemployment rate is high Cause 2(BP#2) : lack of motivation Effect (BP#3): poverty. In this scenario you would need two causes (and you could add on a third if you wanted) but you would have only ONE effect.
- Option #2: 1 cause and 2 or more effects: The other option you might think about is looking at the effects of a particular cause. If we were to look at the effects of a person being a narcissist, we could look at multiple negative effects. If you were to do this, it would look like this: Cause (BP#1): narcissism, Effect 1(BP#2): Strained relationships, Effect 2 (BP#3): Abuse of others. . In this scenario you would need ONE cause and have two or more effects.
- You cannot have two causes and two effects because we are trying to isolate one particular thing and argue for that specific relationship.
Body Paragraph 1: Cause
____Uses a clear topic sentence that gives a reader an idea of what this paragraph is about.
____Identifies cause that relates to main topic of discussion.
____Briefly defines cause and the positive and negative outcomes that it is connected with.
____ If you are doing Option #1, this paragraph should be showing the reader how this cause is connected to the effect, which is named in BP3
____ If you are doing Option #2, this paragraph should be setting up your argument that this cause has serious effects on other people which will be named in BP2 and BP3.
____Informs reader of particular effect with quotes from credible sources. Relates element/characteristic to primary concept
____Uses at least one direct quote.
____Use in source citations.
____Explains direct quote(s) in a way that relates to main idea of paragraph.
____Uses objective tone and does not use “I” or “In my opinion
Body Paragraph 2: Cause or Effect
____Uses a clear topic sentence that gives a reader an idea of what this paragraph is about.
____Identifies cause or effect that relates to main topic of discussion.
____Depending on which method you are doing, will depend on what this paragraph is about. If you are doing Option 1, this will be a cause paragraph. If you are doing Option 2, this will be an effect paragraph.
____Informs reader of particular cause or effect with quotes from credible sources. Relates element/characteristic to primary relationship.
____Uses at least one direct quote.
____Use in source citations.
____Explains direct quote(s) in a way that relates to main idea of paragraph.
____Uses objective tone and does not use “I” or “In my opinion”
Body Paragraph 3: Effect
____Uses a clear topic sentence that gives a reader an idea of what this paragraph is about.
____Identifies effect that relates to main topic of discussion.
____Connects effects to previously mentioned causes.
____Informs reader of particular effect with quotes from credible sources. Relates element/characteristic to primary concept
____Uses at least one direct quote.
____Use in source citations.
____Explains direct quote(s) in a way that relates to main idea of paragraph.
____Uses objective tone and does not use “I” or “In my opinion”
Body Paragraph 4: Your body paragraphs should already be persuading your reader that your cause and effect relationship is legitimate. This essay should attempt to firmly persuade the reader that this is a real cause and effect relationship. This paragraph can explain the short-term and long term consequences of this “effect” Your paragraphs 2-4 should not be offering solutions to this problem. However if you did want to make recommendations on what people can do to stop a particular problem, this is the paragraph you can do that in. This paragraph can offer solutions to the cause/effect relationship.
Conclusion:
____Restates main aspects of this cause and effect relationship to persuade reader of this relationship
____Reminds reader why this cause and effect relationship matters to them in 2015. Confidently stresses the cultural importance/impact of this concept. Answer this: So what? How does this relate to my life practically?
____ Considers challenging the reader to take personal action or to change their mind in relation to this topic.
____ At least 4-5 sentences long.
____ Ends with a memorable last line or call to action.
General Details
____3 and 1/2 pages long(minimum). (Not including Sources Cited page/ 5 points off for every ½ page missing)
____Includes and Uses In Source Citations correctly for all direct quotes (March 2)
_____ Uses at least 4 different sources in this essay.
____ At least 5 quotes from credible sources (minimum).
____Clarity in language—–if I have to read a sentence 3 times, then it is unclear and needs to be reworded. Grammar exists to make our ideas accessible to others.
____5-6 paragraphs
____Sources Cited page includes correct citation of each article
____MLA format
____Essay includes title
____Essay “flows” smoothly and uses transitions.
____Essay uses a variety of language and display a sense of cohesive purpose.
____Your MLA works cited page will be worth at least 10 points on this essay—–make it good.
Essay strives to make accurate statements as opposed to generalizations about concept. Back up your statements with a quote, evidence or statistic.
____Don’t end a paragraph with a quote. Always end with your narration.
____Strive to show variety in language, show differences and similarities in language that isn’t cliché or generalized. AKA Avoid the word interesting and phrase things differently throughout
- In your introduction paragraph, consider the following questions as your hook: “Why does ____________ exist?” or “How did Americans in 2016 end up doing __________?” “How do people become creative?” “Why are some people more creative than others?” You want to engage your readers ideas of how and why for the cause and effect essay from the beginning. Your purpose will be to give a presentation as to why something exists or what the effects of a certain event is.
- When you write a good essay, the reader forgets he or she is reading. They want to keep reading. You don’t want to waste your reader’s time. An essay that allows the reader to stop thinking and just read are informative, interesting and clear. Find ways to do these three things, so they will be fully engaged.
- Find ways to give relevance to why studying your concept matters.
- Ask yourself after every paragraph “So what? Why does this matter?” Make sure that you are making sense of the facts you are giving.
- Consider what people in your audience might believe that your cause and effect relationship is not real. Some people might think one of your causes is not a factor in your chosen negative outcome. How will you persuade them that this is a real cause and effect relationship?
- Qualifying statements: Contrasting the good and the bad of a certain idea without overstating or condemning the idea. This might help: http://spot.pcc.edu/~mdembrow/QUALIFYINGStatements.htm
