English 101—Dr. Koch (Bob)

PAPER #4

Please employ all that you know about composition to write a cause-and-effect analysis about one of the following topics. Be sure to write about causes or effects (or both). Do not, for example, if you choose topic 1, write about the pros and cons of choosing a particular profession. Write about what happened in your past to lead you to your choice, what has happened as a result of your choice, or what you expect to happen in the future. Whichever topic you choose, focus on the causes and effects you have observed or anticipate. As always, provide a title.

1. Why you chose your profession.

2. The effects upon you and your friends or family of the war against Iraq.

3. How learning your way around a library can improve your life.

4. Why television is losing audience to the Internet.

5. The effects of two-wage-earner families upon child rearing.

6. Why the outdoor temperature here is cold in the winter.

You will be bringing your draft essay to class on Wednesday, October 29, for peer review. Anyone who does not attend class that day and bring a complete draft will lose a full letter grade on this essay. The final version is due Monday, November 3.

The paper should be at least 500 words. More is better. The final version should be typed or word-processed and double-spaced. Please leave at least a one-inch margin for my comments.

Your paper will be graded as follows:

30% on development.

Have you written a clear thesis that you can develop well?

Have you discussed all the points your audience will expect you to discuss?

Have you elaborated on your main points by providing adequate details?

Have you used appropriate methods of development for each paragraph?

Are you sure that everything in the essay supports the thesis?

Have you reasoned well?

Does one idea lead naturally to the next?

10% on interest and depth.

Have you provided your audience new information?

Have you improved your audience’s understanding of your subject matter?

Have you discussed your topic with some depth, going beyond the obvious or superficial?

10% on organization.

Do you have a good introduction, containing your thesis statement, and a satisfying conclusion?

Have you divided your materials logically into paragraphs?

Have you written unified paragraphs?

Have you made the topic of each paragraph clear by writing a topic sentence or by other means?

50% on grammar and style.

Have you written any sentence fragments or comma splices?

Does your paper contain any subject-verb agreement errors?

Have you achieved variety in vocabulary and sentence structure?

Have you selected the words that best express your thoughts?

Have you avoided verbosity and redundancy?

The questions above cover the main points but not everything that might affect your grade.

Late papers will receive reduced grades, as described in the syllabus.