English 99

J. Roth Essay Assignment #3—Cause-Effect

DUE DATE for Essay #3: Wednesday, June 8, 2005

Points Possible: 50

Workshops in Computer Lab 1220G: Fridays and Mondays until due date

Peer Editing Day: Thursday, June 2, 2005

Directions: Please complete the following steps leading to creating, revising, and submitting your third essay.

Step 1: Review the course packet information on pages 12-14.

Step 2: Read pp. 292-308 in your textbook. Though this chapter is about writing cause-effect paragraphs, the advice within applies equally to cause-effect essays.

In addition, you might find this web site page from the Capital Community College Foundation helpful:

http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/cause_effect.htm

Step 3: Pick any event/situation in your life/experience and analyze it by writing EITHER a cause OR an effect essay.

When I grade your essay, I will look for the following in particular:

ü Organization: a clear thesis sentence at the end of your first paragraph. A “Milkshake Essay” structure throughout.

ü Development: a clear topic sentence at the beginning of each body paragraph as well as unity, coherence, and completeness of body paragraph details.

ü Language Use: absence of sentencing errors (fragments, comma splices, run-ons). Proper use of Words that Look and Sound Alike (Zero-Tolerance Skill #1 (pp. 651-662)), subject-verb agreement (pp. 526-534), and proper use of pronoun agreement and reference (pp. 541-561).

Outline Format:

Paragraph #1: Introduction—describe the event/situation you will analyze and end this paragraph with your thesis sentence.

Paragraph #2: Cause OR Effect #1

Paragraph #3: Cause OR Effect #2

Paragraph #4: Cause OR Effect #3

Paragraph #5: An elegant Conclusion