Causal Analysis (Cause - Effect) Essay What is Causal Analysis? ·Rooted in elemental need to make connections ·Understand reasons and result ·Analyze issues and outcomes Examples: An article analyzing the unexpected outcome of an election. A report linking poor nutrition to low academic achievement. An editorial analyzing the impact of a proposed tax cut.

Causal Analysis (Cause - Effect) Essay Purpose and Audience Causal Analysis is often found in essential questioning and critical response: Key words may suggest causal analysis in your response: Cause: What do you think are the sources of the political apathy found among year old voters? Effect: Evaluate the validity of expert forecasts of drug abuse and in American society by discussing the impact of drugs on the workplace. Cause and Effect: According to studies done by school officials what motivates students to drop out and what happens once they leave?

Causal Analysis (Cause - Effect) Essay Purpose and Audience Informative: Explains the problem Although parental stress is the immediate cause of child abuse, the more compelling reason for such behavior lies in the way parents were themselves mistreated as children. Pe rsuasive: Convince your audience about some point or aspect The tragic consequences of child abuse provide strong support for more aggressive handling of such cases by social workers and judges. Sp eculative: Suggest possibilities Psychologists disagree about the potential effect on youngsters of all the media attention given to child abuse. Will children exposed to this media coverage grow up assertive, self-confident, and able to protect themselves? Or will they become fearful and distrustful?

Causal Analysis (Cause - Effect) Essay Purpose and Audience Ad apt content and tone to your purpose and audience. Inform: Logos and Ethos; stats, facts, expert opinion. Persuade: Pathos; anecdotes, examples, dramatizations Speculate: Focus on all aspects to make assumptions or predictions.

Causal Analysis (Cause - Effect) Essay Think rigorously about types of cause and effect relationships: Causal Chain: one cause/effect brings about another, that, in turn, brings about another, and so on. Pr ohibition went into effect; bootleggers and organized crime stepped in to supply public demand of alcohol; ordinary citizens began breaking the law by buying illegal goods; disrespect for legal authority became widespread and acceptable. De cide whether to focus on immediate, more obvious causes/effects, or on more remote and obscure ones.

Causal Analysis (Cause - Effect) Essay Avoid false or misleading causal analysis. Post hoc fallacy ("after this, therefore because of this"): When you assume that simply because one event followed another, the first event caused the second. If the Republicans win a majority of seats in Congress and, several months later, the economy collapses, you can conclude that the Republicans caused the collapse. Co rrelation for causation: Two events correlate when they occur at about the same time. Such co-occurrence does not guarantee a cause-effect relationship. Wh ile the number of ice cream cones eaten and the instances of heat exhaustion both increase during the summer months, this does not mean that eating ice cream causes heat exhaustion.

Causal Analysis (Cause - Effect) Essay Choose an organizational pattern. Two basic ways to organize the points in a causal analysis essay: Chronological Order: Discuss causes and effects in the order in which they occur or will occur. Emphatic Order: Discuss cause and effect according to significance, saving the strongest or most significant cause or effect until the end.

Causal Analysis (Cause - Effect) Essay Use of language Avoid absolutes such as: "It must be obvious" "There is no doubt" "Without any question" Because it is difficult - if not impossible - to identify causes and effects with certainty you should try using phrases such as: "Most likely" "It is probable" "In all likelihood"

Fishbone Graphic Organizer Possible Topics: Sleep Deprivation Having the parents you have Lack of communication in a relationship Over-exercising or not exercising A particular TV, movie, sports, or rock star's popularity Skill or ineptitude in sports A major life decision Voter apathy An act of violence or cruelty Changing attitudes toward the environment

Causal Analysis (Cause - Effect) Essay Other patterns of development for causal analysis Compare and contrast: Use comparisons and contrasts to support specific links in cause and effect. C hanging food habits have directly affected the dynamics of the American family. As opposed to American eating habits, which rely heavy on fast food, processed/frozen foods, and take- out dining, Europeans set aside time in the day for at least two family style, home-cooked meals. Consequently, Europeans have lower rates of stress induced maladies such as heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Il lustration: Demonstrate the validity of your points by giving specific details and examples. G rowing interest in international foods is leading to new, healthier eating habits in America. Upwards of twenty-four international food shows can be viewed weekly on cable and satellite feed television sets and more than thirty-four different ethnic style food restaurants can be found in cities of more than 50,000 people.

Causal Analysis Topic Examples ·Explain the major reasons for the high dropout rate in college. · Explain the cause(s) of some fad(s) or pop culture event(s). ·What effects can be attributed to phenomena such as the Civil Rights movement of the 50s and 60s? ·Explain the causes for the popularity of fast food restaurants or their effect on American society? ·Explain your like or dislike of a particular book or writer, movie, musician or television program. ·Explain a personal, unreasonable fear or irritation of yours. Give its causes. ·Explain the effects of learning to write well. ·Explain your interest or lack of interest in sports or a specific sport. ·What were the causes of the American Civil War? ·Technology and its effect on human freedom and happiness in society. ·The causes or effects of changes in music throughout the years.