This document provides guidance on writing cause and effect essays. It defines different types of causes such as main causes, contributory causes, and immediate vs remote causes. It also discusses avoiding logical fallacies like assuming correlation implies causation. The document recommends identifying the key causes and effects in the thesis, and providing transitions to distinguish between causes and effects. It offers different structures for the essay such as beginning with the most important cause or ending with the most important effect. Finally, it provides editing tips and assigns a topic for the next essay.

1. Cause and Effect Writing English 1 Prof. Marcinek

2. Cause and Effect analyzes why something happens. Some effects are caused by multiple causes. Some causes, in turn, can result in multiple effects.

3. Main cause: the most important cause Contributory Causes: less important Immediate Cause: closely precedes the effect. Remote cause: less obvious because it involves something in the past or far away. Causal Chain: an effect can be the cause to another effect, on so on.

4. Avoiding Post Hoc Reasoning: Do not assume that just because even A precedes event B, event A caused even B. This illogical assumption is called post hoc reasoning. This error leads you to confuse coincidence with causality.

5. Do not confuse words like because, therefore and consequently (indicating a causal relationship), with words like subsequently, later, and afterward (chronological relationship words)

6. Planning a Cause and Effect Essay Purpose and Thesis: Be sure to identify the relationships among the specific causes and effect you will discuss. Thesis statement should tell the reader The points you plan to consider The position you will take Whether you will emphasize causes, effects, or both. The cause and/or effect you consider most important. The order in which you will treat your points. Planning a Cause and Effect Essay

7. Order and sequence; several possibilities include: Chronological Main cause first, and then contributory causes Contributory causes first, and then main cause. Negative effects first, then positive First dismiss events that are not causes, and then discuss actual causes for an effect. Most obvious causes first, and then less obvious causes. Planning a Cause and Effect Essay

8. Transitions! Transitions are essential to this type of essay to distinguish causes from effects. For a useful list of cause and effect transitions, see page 43. Planning a Cause and Effect Essay

9. Structuring a Cause and Effect Essay Finding Causes Less important cause > effect> most important cause Describing or Predicting Effects Cause > first effect> second effect > third (most important) effect> conclusion (with possible prediction of additional effects).

10. Revising a Cause and Effect Essay See checklist on page 437 of Bedford Reader Editing a Cause and Effect Essay Avoid redundant phrases like “the reason is because” examples Use Affect and Effect correctly. Editing checklist on page 437

11. Assignment for next week On page 459 of The Bedford Reader, Read the article, The Rise and Fall of The Hit. Write an Essay in which you explain your own relationship with the media of popular culture – Internet, TV, Books, radio and so on. Which media you prefer? Have your preferences changed in the past year or two? Give specific Examples to support your explanation.

12. Any Questions or Comments Please call Marcinek at 570-259-1114 Grade Reports will be coming Today (Tuesday) and Tomorrow. The Final Exam will be done outside of class and you will have the normal amount of time between sessions to ask questions and seek help for revisions.