Lab Activity 23: Developing Cause and Effect

Lab Activities
Lab Activity 23: Developing Cause and Effect

Objective To identify thesis statements and develop support points and specific details.

Step 1: Make a list of three causes and three effects for each of the following topics.


		1. Spending every night on the Internet Cause A: Cause B: Cause C: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		Effect A: Effect B: Effect C: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		2.Topic: Learning to drive Cause A: Cause B: Cause C: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		Effect A: Effect B: Effect C: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		3. Topic: Going (or not going) to the dentist regularly Cause A: Cause B: Cause C: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		Effect A: Effect B: Effect C: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 2:* Choose a topic for a cause-and-effect essay. You may choose your own topic, one from Step 1, or one of the following: Causes of a specific eating disorder Causes of rain forest destruction Effects of a specific event in your life Effects of having (or not having) enough money Causes of hair loss Causes of the oceans' tides Effects of having the parents you have Effects of finishing (or not finishing) college Your Topic: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 3:* Take five or ten minutes for prewriting about your topic to get yourself started. Consider making a cluster diagram to help you see which support points have the most details. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 4:* Write a thesis statement for a cause-and-effect essay. Be sure to make it clear whether your essay focuses on the cause or the effect. Consider putting the area of focus at the end of your thesis statement. Your thesis statement: To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 5:* Review the prewriting and thesis statement you wrote in Steps 3 and 4. Now, write your support points and specific details. Be sure your support points and details illustrate the causes or effects you're focusing on. To gather enough support points and details, you may have to talk to people or read trusted publications. Then, organize your support points and details; consider using emphatic order, saving the best point for last. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 6:* Now, write a rough draft of an introductory paragraph for your essay. You may want to map out for your reader the main idea and support points of your essay, explaining exactly how you plan to proceed. Or, you may want to begin your explanation of the causes or effects right here. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 7:* Next, write a rough draft of the body paragraphs for your essay. Use the support points and details you wrote in Step 5. You may also want to do more prewriting to come up with more support points and details. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.

		*Step 8:* Now, write a rough draft of a concluding paragraph for your essay. You may want to include a summary of your causes or effects. Or, you may choose to add final thoughts or end with a question. To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.