Sunday, February 17, 2019

Cause/Effect Argument OUTLINE

For the General Outline Handout, visit HERE.




(What do you want to prove?)  THESIS: __________________________



INTRODUCTION


1.     "HOOK" (1 sentence)
2.   TRANSITIONAL CONTENT ABOUT TOPIC (1+ sentences)
3.     THESIS: ASSERTION THAT A CAUSES B, C, AND D (1 sentence)




BODY PARAGRAPH


1.      TOPIC SENTENCE asserting that A CAUSES B (1 sentence)
2.   Introduce the content of A and B (1+ sentences)
·         Take enough time to fully explain your argument in your own words, with conviction.
·         Do not move on to scholarly sources until you have made your argument clear.
3.   Paraphrase, summarize, or quote source material to defend your causal argument asserted in the topic sentence.
·         1+ sentence: limit outside source
·         Choose the material carefully—the writing needs to be 80% (or more) in YOUR words with 20% (or less) from outside sources 
·         Paraphrase or summarize a scholarly source to defend your argument
ü  Do NOT directly quote source content if you can paraphrase or summarize the meaning in your own words, in your own sentence
ü  Provide proper in-text citations for source content whether it was in the form of a quote, paraphrase, or summary
·         Do not use source content that 'makes' the argument for you
ü  You should have already asserted (clearly) the argument prior to introducing supporting evidence from outside sources.
·         Use a scholarly source to prove your argument is sound
4.   Explain how the source defended your point. 
·         Analyze the source and its content.
ü  If the author is well-known or renowned in his/her field, address that if possible
·         Explain the surrounding meaning/ramifications to your argument
·         Show how the source validated your argument
5.    A closing sentence that ties the paragraph argument assertion and supporting proof together. 
·         This closing sentence should reflect the paragraph’s topic sentence.
·         Create only 1 sentence to wrap-up the argument sub-point as it relates to the THESIS


BODY PARAGRAPH


1.     TOPIC SENTENCE asserting that A CAUSES C (1 sentence)
2.   Introduce the content of A and C (1+ sentences)
·         Take enough time to fully explain your argument in your own words, with conviction.
·         Do not move on to scholarly sources until you have made your argument clear.
3.   Paraphrase, summarize, or quote source material to defend your causal argument asserted in the topic sentence.
·         1+ sentence: limit outside source
·         Choose the material carefully—the writing needs to be 80% (or more) in YOUR words with 20% (or less) from outside sources 
·         Paraphrase or summarize a scholarly source to defend your argument
ü Do NOT directly quote source content if you can paraphrase or summarize the meaning in your own words, in your own sentence
ü Provide proper in-text citations for source content whether it was in the form of a quote, paraphrase, or summary
·         Do not use source content that 'makes' the argument for you
ü You should have already asserted (clearly) the argument prior to introducing supporting evidence from outside sources.
ü Use a scholarly source to prove your argument is sound
4.   Explain how the source defended your point. 
·         Analyze the source and its content.
ü If the author is well-known or renowned in his/her field, address that if possible
ü Explain the surrounding meaning/ramifications to your argument
ü Show how the source validated your argument
5.    closing sentence that ties the paragraph assertion and proof together.  
·         This closing sentence should reflect the paragraph’s topic sentence.
·         Create only 1 sentence to wrap-up the argument sub-point as it relates to the THESIS


BODY PARAGRAPH


1.     TOPIC SENTENCE asserting that A CAUSES D  (1 sentence)
2.   Introduce the content of A and D
·         Take enough time to fully explain your argument in your own words, with conviction.
·         Do not move on to scholarly sources until you have made your argument clear.
3.   Paraphrase, summarize, or quote source material to defend your causal argument asserted in the topic sentence.
·         1+ sentence: limit outside source
·         Choose the material carefully—the writing needs to be 80% (or more) in YOUR words with 20% (or less) from outside sources 
·         Paraphrase or summarize a scholarly source to defend your argument
ü Do NOT directly quote source content if you can paraphrase or summarize the meaning in your own words, in your own sentence
ü Provide proper in-text citations for source content whether it was in the form of a quote, paraphrase, or summary
·         Do not use source content that 'makes' the argument for you
ü You should have already asserted (clearly) the argument prior to introducing supporting evidence from outside sources.
ü Use a scholarly source to prove your argument is sound
4.   Explain how the source defended your point. 
·         Analyze the source and its content.
ü If the author is well-known or renowned in his/her field, address that if possible
ü Explain the surrounding meaning/ramifications to your argument
ü Show how the source validated your argument
5.    closing sentence that ties the paragraph assertion and proof together. 
·         This closing sentence should reflect the paragraph’s topic sentence.
·         Create only 1 sentence to wrap-up the argument sub-point as it relates to the THESIS


BODY PARAGRAPH


1.     TOPIC SENTENCE (1 sentence) asserting that not everyone agrees with your cause and effect argument
·         That A causes B      OR
·         That A causes C      OR
·         That A causes D
2.   Introduce the counter-arguments to your causal assertions
·         The counter-arguments in the counter-argument body paragraph need to focus on only one of your previous body paragraph assertions: A, B, or C
ü  Do not address all your arguments and their counter-arguments in one body paragraph.
ü  Each counter-argument—to one of your arguments—will be a paragraph unto itself.
ü  You can provide multiple sources on that counter-argument, but the whole paragraph will stay focused on that one counter-argument for A, B, or C.
3.   Paraphrase, summarize or quote source material to refute the counter-arguments
4.   Locate additional, different support to defend your causal argument asserted in the thesis statement
5.    Explain how the source defended your point. 
·         Analyze the source and its content.
·         If you have additional counter-argument sources that all relate to the same overall issue…
ü  You may have to go through steps 2-5 a few times to cover the counter-arguments for that one point.
ü  However, if each counter-argument is on completely different points, relating to your overall Thesis, you may have to end up with two or three counter-argument paragraphs.
6.   The closing sentence ties the paragraph assertion and proof together
·         This (1 sentence) closing sentence should reflect the paragraph’s topic sentence.


CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH 


1.     Topic sentence asserting the thesis statement—but in a new way.  (1 sentence)
2.   Tie together all the main points from the essay…
·         Consider your topic sentences from each body paragraph. 
ü Your topic sentences should address the main points of the essay.
ü Do not simply re-post the topic sentences.  Pull the main points together in a meaningful and assertive way to make sure that your readers are fully convinced of your overall thesis statement.
3.   A closing sentence that leaves the reader with a feeling of closure and peace on the topic and possibly a ‘call-to-action’ if needed. (1 sentence)


1.     After you finish your whole essay…
·         Re-read your conclusion paragraph. 
·         Think of something catchy from the concluding paragraph that you could use as your title.
·         Do not use the assignment name.
2.   Your title needs to directly relate to the closing/conclusion paragraph. 
·         A title provides a circular feeling for the readers. 
·         The audience begins with your title, and after reading through all of your developmental paragraphs, they reach the conclusion that reminds them of what they started with—YOUR TITLE.


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Essay 3 Cause/Effect Argument

Design and Development Handouts

· Know the Guidelines: Cause/Effect Argument Essay Writing—view the planning, outlining, and development handouts for the cause/effect essay.

· Sample thesis for a causal argument: this handout shows a sample cause/effect THESIS, the break-down of that THESIS, and how the essay would be structured to develop and argue the THESIS.

· Flow, Length, and Content of a Typical Body-paragraph: a specific break-down of what is expected in a well-developed body-paragraph of an argument paper.

· Need Ideas for Cause/Effect Essay??: this handout provides 'spring-board' articles and images to help you think through how you feel about the topic and possible cause/effect relationships. These are not scholarly sources. They are simply readings to help you understand different ideas surrounding the issue.