Unless your instructor has told you otherwise, focus on just causes OR effects, not both.
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Step 1: Choose to examine the causes or the effects of an event. |
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Causes Essay |
Effects Essay |
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Provide the causes of an event.
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Provide the effects (outcomes) of an event. |
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Focus on a single event. Think about why the event occurred and what happened as a result of the event. |
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Causes (Reasons) |
EVENT |
Effects (Results) |
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topic |
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too much flour too much time too much heat |
Burnt cookies
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made them taste horrible wasted money and time ruined reputation
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Step 2: Brainstorm for three main points |
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Causes Essay |
Effects Essay |
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Write down as many ideas as you can about why the event occurred—all the contributing factors.
Then, group ideas into three main points. Keep the best ideas that fall into one of the three main points and drop the rest.
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Write down as many ideas as you can about the results of the event—all the outcomes.
Then, group ideas into three main points. Keep the best ideas that fall into one of the three main points and drop the rest. |
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Step 3: Draft Thesis Statement |
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| Causes Essay | Effects Essay |
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Draft a thesis statement that mentions a “causes-type” word and the three main causes. For now just get something on paper; you can improve the statement later.
In a pinch, you can use this thesis statement template: The event is caused by 1, 2, and 3. |
Draft a thesis statement that mentions an “effects-type” word and the three main effects. For now just get something on paper; you can improve the statement later.
In a pinch, you can use this thesis statement template: The effects of the event are 1, 2, and 3.
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