Writing the Cause and Effect Essay

Choose one of the following essay topics: Choosing NWACC Not doing your homework Why Britney Spears is no longer popular

Write a list of at least 10 brainstormed causes and/or effects about your topic statement. For example, if the topic were "Buying an SUV," you might brainstorm a list that looked like this: live on a dirt road paying more for gas need room for a large family trendy thing to do having trouble parking in small spaces tipping over in corners because of high center of gravity trouble seeing smaller cars on the road live where there is a lot of snow in the winter like to go camping more expensive to repair drive train

Organize these ideas into at least two paragraph groups. For example, you can organize these ideas in this way: Causes live on a dirt road need room for a large family trendy thing to do live where there is a lot of snow in the winter like to go camping Effects paying more for gas having trouble parking in small spaces tipping over in corners because of high center of gravity trouble seeing smaller cars on the road more expensive to repair drive train

 *Note that if you choose to write an essay ONLY about causes or ONLY about effects, then the organization is going to be similar to an illustration essay, and the organization will be similar as well.

 Write three possible thesis statements for your organized list. Be sure each is a complete sentence, includes a controlling idea, and is specific.

Write a topic sentence and organize (and add, if necessary) at least three specific details for your first paragraph group (use the checklist for writing cause and effect paragraphs on page 148). Write a topic sentence and organize (and add, if necessary) at least three specific details for your second paragraph group (use the checklist for writing cause and effect paragraphs on page 148). Write a topic sentence and organize (and add, if necessary) at least three specific details for any more paragraph groups (use the checklist for writing cause and effect paragraphs on page 148).

 Organize the thesis statement along with the topic sentences and events and details you have chosen for each paragraph into an outline or plan.

 Choose at type of order (time, space, or order of importance) and revise the outline or plan to reflect the ordering.

 Write a first draft of the essay, paying particular attention to transitions in and between the paragraphs (use examples from the box on page 145).

 After going back and rereading your first draft for organization and clarity, proofread for grammar and spelling errors.