Cause & Effect Prewrite & Plan Thesis statements, introductions, conclusions Quotation Marks Commas

What is a causal essay?

Another name for a Cause & effect essay Analyzes causes (why an event/phenomenon happens) OR Effects (what occurs because of the event or phenomenon) OR Both causes and effects

What are the characteristics of a cause & effect essay?

May focus on Causes, Effects, or both Must distinguish causes from effects Sometimes tricky Think of causes as REASONS THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED Think of effects as RESULTS OF THE THING THAT HAPPENED

What are the characteristics of a cause & effect essay?

May focus on Causes, Effects, or both
Includes a clear thesis statement Identify topic Make an assertion about topic Suggest whether focus is on causes, effects, or both The root causes of unsportsmanlike behavior lie in how society regards athletes, elevating them to positions of fame and heroism and thereby making them unaccountable for their behavior.

What are the characteristics of a cause & effect essay?

May focus on Causes, Effects, or both
Includes a clear thesis statement Identify topic Make an assertion about topic Suggest whether focus is on causes, effects, or both Unsportsmanlike behavior has numerous deeprooted causes, and regardless of its origin, it produces negative effects on fans, other players, and the institutions they represent.

What are the characteristics of a cause & effect essay?

May focus on Causes, Effects, or both
Includes a clear thesis statement

Follows a logical organization Causes/effects = chronological order Multiple causes = most-to-least OR least-to-most

What are the characteristics of a cause & effect essay?

May focus on Causes, Effects, or both
Includes a clear thesis statement

Follows a logical organization

Explains each cause/effect fully Includes examples, facts, descriptions, comparisons, statistics, quotations Usually requires research

What are the characteristics of a cause & effect essay?

May focus on Causes, Effects, or both
Includes a clear thesis statement

Follows a logical organization

Explains each cause/effect fully May confirm or challenge readers assumptions

There are 3 types of causal essays.

Cause OR Effects Cause poor body image *essay would discuss causes of poor body image Effect obsession with dieting *essay would discuss effects of dieting obsession Chain of causes and effects
You cannot find your class. (cause)

You are late for class. (effect & cause) You miss a surprise quiz. (effect & cause) Your grade average lowers. (effect)

There are 3 types of causal essays.

Multiple causes and effects Multiple Causes courses available, cost, reputation, distance One Effect college attended ------------------------------------------------------------------------One Cause quit job Multiple Effects more study time, less pressure, less spending money

Causal Prewrite
At the top of page, write Cheating in College
On the left-hand side of the page, list all possible causes (why would someone cheat?)

On the right-hand side of the page, list all possible effects (what happens when someone cheats?)

Causal Prewrite
Determine primary causes & effects Look at the causes. Label the most obvious and immediate causes. What cause(s), if eliminated, would drastically change the event, problem, or phenomenon? Look at the effects. Label the most obvious and immediate effects of the event, problem, or phenomenon. Which effects have the most serious consequences? For whom?

Causal Planning
Choose a method of organization Causes OR Effects Chain of Causes & Effects Multiple Causes & Effects

Break!

Where do you stand?

On a sheet of paper, briefly explain which of the following items presents the most difficulty for you as a writer.
Thesis statements

Introductions
Conclusions

Where do you stand?

Go to the board with the item that presents the most difficulty for you. Discuss your issue with the others who have also chosen this item as most difficult.

As a group, decide which reasons are the most common. Write 3-5 of them on the board.

What is a thesis statement?

A one- or two-sentence summary of a papers

content Serves as an assertion about essays content Highlights all main topics covered in essay

What is its purpose?

It establishes a focus
Establishes a basis on which to include or

exclude information Forecasts authors discussion

What are the components of a thesis statement?

Makes an assertion/claim about essay topic
Dont be wishy-washy!

Specific
Dont be too broad!

What is a working thesis?

Hypothesis about topic or a claim intended to

be made After drafting, success of working thesis can be evaluated Working thesis statements CHANGE!

What is its purpose?

Help guide research
If unable to prove through research, must

change and alter this assertion

Is this thesis statement good or bad?

William Shakespeare defines what love is and what it isnt in Sonnet 116.

William Shakespeares Sonnet 116 identifies loves characteristics as being steadfast and everlasting.
I decided to go to college. The combination of the unchallenging coursework, hostile fellow students, mediocre faculty, and unfair school policies led me to make the decision to go directly to college after my sophomore year, a decision that in turn resulted in vocational and extracurricular benefits as well as academic and social ones.

Thesis statements for cause & effect

The causes of cheating in college can have bad results.
The effects of cheating in college are detrimental to the student in multiple ways. The causes of cheating in college include not having enough time, pressure to achieve high marks, and to maintain a smart image.

Maintaining a high grade point average, having more time to party, and ..are positive effects of cheating in college.
Cheating in college can result in a chain events to include The sequence of events of cheating in college

What are some strategies for writing introductions?

Quotation
Give quote and explain how it elucidates topic

Historical Review
Background info so that reader can follow issue

Review of a Controversy
Like historical, but shows why issue is debated

From General to Specific

Takes reader from what they know to more detailed info

leading to essays specific topic

Anecdote and Illustration

Funny, touching, or otherwise appropriate story

Question
Ask simple question that isnt all that simple to answer

Intro format suggestion

Opener
Background information Thesis statement

What are some strategies for writing conclusions?

Statement of subjects significance
How essay applies to greater world

Call for further research

What needs to still be considered (often done in

scientific essays)

Solution/recommendation
Essays about problems/controversy can give what

should be done

Anecdote
Quotation Question Speculation

What are some strategies for writing conclusions?

Anecdote
Tell a story so that readers discover significance to

another source

Quotation
Helps gain authority and credibility

Question
Calls on readers to assume an active role by offering

their own answers

Speculation
Get the reader thinking about possibilities Consider what might happen as well as what has

happened

Conclusion format suggestion

Summarize points
Restate thesis Final thought

Break!

Quotation Marks Commas

Quotation Marks
What is a direct quotation? Exactly repeats what someone said or wrote

Quotation Marks
When are quotation marks used? Use quotation marks around direct quotations Lina asked, Do you think we should ask a question?
Quotation marks always appear in pairs

Use quotation marks around titles of poems, song titles, short stories, magazine or newspaper articles, essays, speeches, chapter titles, and episodes of TV or radio shows

Just Like a Woman, by Bob Dylan ITALICIZE/UNDERLINE titles of magazines, novels, books, newspapers

Quotation Marks
How is a quotation within a quotation punctuated? With single quotation marks The man said, Im sorry, officer, but did I hear you correctly when you said, Drive into that ditch? What is an indirect quotation? Restates what someone said or wrote, but not word for word Rachel told the security guard that she needed to enter the building for official business. DO NOT USE QUOTATION MARKS FOR INDIRECT QUOTATIONS!!!

Quotation Marks
Punctuation & Quotation marks Periods and commas ALWAYS INSIDE The name of the short story is Hills Like White Elephants. Colons and semicolons ALWAYS OUTSIDE Harold wrote, I regret that I am unable to attend the fundraiser for AIDS research; his letter, however, came with a substantial contribution

Quotation Marks
Punctuation & Quotation marks Questions marks & exclamation points are SOMETIMES INSIDE, SOMETIMES OUTSIDE Place inside if only apply to quotation Place outside if apply to entire sentence/question Bedtime at my house is marked by Mommy, can I tell you a story now? Have you heard the old proverb Do not climb the hill until you reach it?

Quotation Marks
Punctuation & Quotation marks Do not use quotation marks to draw attention to familiar slang, to disown trite expressions, or to justify an attempt at humor It was a ballpark figure.

Ex. 15.1 Quotation Marks

1. The film producer shouted excitedly, Everyone loves Shakespeare because he used so many familiar quotations! quotations! 2. When we make movies based on Shakespeare plays, he added we dont have to pay royalties to the writer. plays, he added

Ex. 15.1 Quotation Marks

3. Films based on Shakespeare plays try to reveal the relevance of his work to a modern audience. Remove quotation marks 4. Although Shakespeare lived four hundred years ago, his work is currently in demand in Hollywood. Remove quotation marks

Ex. 15.1 Quotation Marks

5. Hamlet, A Midsummer Nights Dream, and Romeo and Juliet are just a few of the Shakespeare plays filmed in the 1990s. Hamlet, A Midsummer Nights Dream, and Romeo and Juliet are 6. The producer commented, When I hear that a new film will be based on Shakespeare, I wonder, like Juliet, Whats in a name? Juliet, Whats in a name?

Ex. 15.1 Quotation Marks

7. If the name Shakespeare were not involved, would filmmakers be as interested in the material? Shakespeare 8. Shakespeares plays are frequently performed in theaters, too, and several young playwrights recently wrote works based on his sonnets. Remove all quotation marks

Ex. 15.1 Quotation Marks

9. Hamlet, perhaps Shakespeares most famous character, laments Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. laments Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. 10. Othello, one of Shakespeares most complex characters, laments that he loved not wisely, but too well. too well.

Talk to your neighbors...

When do you use a comma?

Commas
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses

The department sponsored a seminar on college survival skills and it also hosted a barbecue for new students. Do NOT use a comma to separate coordinate word groups that are not independent clauses A good money manager controls expenses, and invests surplus dollars to meet future needs.

Commas
Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase

When Irwin was ready to iron his cat tripped on the cord. In no time we were at 2,800 feet. Use a comma between all items in a series Bubbles of air leaves ferns bits of wood and insects are often found trapped in amber. Use Oxford comma in MLA style writings

Commas
Use a comma between coordinate adjectives not joined with and. Do not use a comma between cumulative adjectives. (use the and test)

Roberto is a warm gentle affectionate father. Three, large gray, shapes moved slowly toward us.

Commas
Use commas to set off nonrestrictive (nonessential)

elements. The campers need sturdy shoes, which are expensive. How do the meanings of these two sentences differ because of the commas? The dessert made with fresh raspberries was delicious. The dessert, made with fresh raspberries, was delicious. In the first example, the phrase made with fresh raspberries tells readers which of two or more desserts the writer is referring to. In the example with commas, the phrase merely adds information about the dessert.

Commas
Use commas to set off transitional and parenthetical expressions, absolute phrases, and word groups expressing contrast

Minh did not understand our language; moreover he was unfamiliar with our customs. As a matter of fact American football was established in the mid-nineteenth century.

Commas
Use commas to set off nouns of direct address, the words yes and no, interrogative tags, and mild interjections

Forgive me Angela for forgetting your birthday. Use commas with expressions such as he said to set off direct quotations Its okay, Angela said.

Commas
Use commas with dates, addresses, titles, and number

On December 12 1980 orders were sent out for the arrest of Sitting Bull. The security alert system went into effect on 15 April 2009. Use a comma to prevent confusion Patients who can walk up and down the halls every day. To err is human; to forgive divine.

Exercise 12.1 Adding Commas

1. Breeders have long prized their swiftest, most graceful horses, and raced them.

horses and raced them. 2. Horse racing in the United States generally means either thoroughbred racing or harness racing. correct

Exercise 12.1 Adding Commas

3. Harness racehorses pull small lightweight vehicles, handled by a driver. small, lightweight vehicles handled
4. Harness racing falls into the two categories of trotting, and pacing. omit comma

Exercise 12.1 Adding Commas

5. The most famous event in harness racing the Hambletonian, is a mile-long trotting race. racing, the Hambletonian, is
6. Harness racing may be known mainly to enthusiasts but even people who appreciate very little about horse racing are familiar with thoroughbred racing. enthusiasts, but

Exercise 12.1 Adding Commas

7. Thoroughbred racehorses, unlike harness racehorses, carry a rider. Correct
8. The best-known events in thoroughbred racing, the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, are the three races, that make up the Triple Crown. three races that make up

Exercise 12.1 Adding Commas

9. All of the Triple Crown races which vary in length are for three-year-old horses. races, which vary in length, are 10. In the twentieth century only eleven horses won thoroughbred racings Triple Crown. century, only

Exercise 12.2 Working with Commas

1. Several years ago, many police departments ignored minor violations of the law, and concentrated on bigger crime problems. ...law [omit comma] and concentrated 2. Today, however, the broken window theory, is widely accepted. ...theory [omit comma] is widely accepted.

Exercise 12.2 Working with Commas

3. According to this popular theory allowing broken windows to remain, unrepaired, leads to a loss of hope in a community. ...theory [insert comma] allowing broken windows to remain [omit comma] unrepaired [omit comma] leads... 4. Frequently, buildings that look neglected make neighbors feel that no one cares what goes on in the area. correct

Exercise 12.2 Working with Commas

5. Similarly, if petty crimes are ignored in a neighborhood people there may feel that larger crimes are acceptable as well. ...neighborhood [insert comma] people... 6. Community policing is one result of the new emphasis on stopping victimless crimes such as loitering and panhandling. ...crimes [insert comma] such as... 7. But, can a police officer, walking a beat, really be more effective than a patrol car? Omit all commas

Exercise 12.2 Working with Commas

8. Some experts believe that police should be required to live in the communities, that they serve. Omit comma 9. Police who live elsewhere may not understand the needs of the community, and they will certainly know less about the people living in the community. Correct.

Exercise 12.2 Working with Commas

10. Different methods of community policing may work in different areas but the goal should always be to keep communications open between the public and the police. ...areas [insert comma] but the goal

Talk to your neighbors...

When do you use a comma?
In a list of 3 or more items (oxford for MLA)
To combine 2 sentences (CS, [FANBOYS] CS)

After an introductory clause Around extra information in the sentence

For next week...

Read Chapter 6 Process pgs 320-335 Complete worksheets on semicolons and colons