ENGL 150: Writing and Research (Sections 01 and 18)
Professor E. Derek Taylor
Topic Sheet for Essay 2: Cause / Effect
Due Friday, 9-29-17 (submit a hard copy at the beginning of class)
We are all profoundly influenced by our region’s culture: its history, traditions, and popular entertainments. In this 3-page essay, you will explore a particular aspect of your region’s history or culture, seeking to understand either its origin (its causes) or its later influence (its effects). You will use at least 3 sources, 1 of which must be a peer-reviewed database source or library book (not a web page).
Your paper will need to have a narrow focus; you should discuss in detail one aspect of your region’s history or culture. You might analyze, for instance, a particular Civil War battle fought in your region, looking at either the reasons why this battle had to be fought at this exact location at this exact time (its causes) or the ways in which this battle affected your region’s immediate or long-term future (its effects). Or perhaps your town has a yearly parade/pageant that might be worth investigating. Or maybe you’ve heard of a peculiar “secret” ceremony and wondered how and why it started (Chi Burning?). However you elect to proceed, I would encourage you to cast a wide net at first as you attempt to identify a manageable (and interesting) topic. Feel free to talk to parents, grandparents, pastors, friends, etc., as you work to generate ideas.
I will expect your essay to contain the following elements:
1. Introductory paragraph. Introduce your readers to your topic by providing necessary background information. Show readers why they should care about your topic; display why it is interesting (bizarre, curious, odd) or important (its impact on people’s lives).
2. Thesis. At the end of your first paragraph, provide a thesis that concretely identifies the historical or cultural phenomenon you will be discussing and its principal causes or effects (e.g., “The closing of the Prince Edward County Schools as part of the ‘Massive Resistance’ movement continues to haunt the Farmville community in ways both big and small.”)
3. Body. The body of your paper should contain two basic sections:
5. Works Cited Page. This should be formatted according to Chicago Style guidelines.
Professor E. Derek Taylor
Topic Sheet for Essay 2: Cause / Effect
Due Friday, 9-29-17 (submit a hard copy at the beginning of class)
We are all profoundly influenced by our region’s culture: its history, traditions, and popular entertainments. In this 3-page essay, you will explore a particular aspect of your region’s history or culture, seeking to understand either its origin (its causes) or its later influence (its effects). You will use at least 3 sources, 1 of which must be a peer-reviewed database source or library book (not a web page).
Your paper will need to have a narrow focus; you should discuss in detail one aspect of your region’s history or culture. You might analyze, for instance, a particular Civil War battle fought in your region, looking at either the reasons why this battle had to be fought at this exact location at this exact time (its causes) or the ways in which this battle affected your region’s immediate or long-term future (its effects). Or perhaps your town has a yearly parade/pageant that might be worth investigating. Or maybe you’ve heard of a peculiar “secret” ceremony and wondered how and why it started (Chi Burning?). However you elect to proceed, I would encourage you to cast a wide net at first as you attempt to identify a manageable (and interesting) topic. Feel free to talk to parents, grandparents, pastors, friends, etc., as you work to generate ideas.
I will expect your essay to contain the following elements:
1. Introductory paragraph. Introduce your readers to your topic by providing necessary background information. Show readers why they should care about your topic; display why it is interesting (bizarre, curious, odd) or important (its impact on people’s lives).
2. Thesis. At the end of your first paragraph, provide a thesis that concretely identifies the historical or cultural phenomenon you will be discussing and its principal causes or effects (e.g., “The closing of the Prince Edward County Schools as part of the ‘Massive Resistance’ movement continues to haunt the Farmville community in ways both big and small.”)
3. Body. The body of your paper should contain two basic sections:
- Explanation: Clearly explain the aspect of history or culture you are analyzing (if we are to understand the causes or effects of your phenomenon, we must know precisely what it is). Be concrete, clear, factual, detailed, and exact; give specific examples and stories and provide any relevant quantitative data.
- Causal Analysis: This section will comprise the bulk of your paper. You should identify at least two possible causes or effects of your historical or cultural phenomenon. Each paragraph in this section should open with a topic sentence identifying a particular cause or effect. The paragraph should then illustrate and support this cause or effect claim with convincingly interpreted evidence.
5. Works Cited Page. This should be formatted according to Chicago Style guidelines.