Write a 4-6 page typewritten argument essay that persuades an audience to accept your explanation of the causes or consequences of some phenomenon or trend. In this essay, you will describe the phenomenon or trend, present your ideas about the causes or consequences, offer strong support for these causal explanations, anticipate conditions of rebuttal and respond to them persuasively. You will avoid plagiarism by documenting all of your sources accurately using MLA style.
The authors of the most successful Causal Argument essays will:
1. include all the basic features of a good written argument in the
essay.
2. have a clear, qualified and arguable claim that explains the causes
of a trend or phenomenon.
3. skillfully avoid writing the data-dump type of research paper.
4. use at least three different kinds of sources including one source
obtained from a database.
5. document all sources in an MLA Works Cited page at the end
of the essay.
6. use paraphrase and a direct quote from source material in the essay.
7. will submit photocopies of passages from sources that are cited
in the essay. The passages referred to in the essay will be marked with
highlighter.
8. draft the essay at least once and have it reviewed by classmates.
9. analyze the target audience and make audience-based choices for
your essay.
10. write thoughtful reviews of 2 classmates' essays using the guidelines
discussed in class..
11. use scholarly polish on the final draft.