The Essay: Five Double-Spaced Pages.
In this assignment, you will write a paper speculating about the causes of an important or intriguing phenomenon or trend, explaining to an audience WHY it has occurred/occurs. Describe and identify your phenomenon/trend first. Demonstrate its existence with concrete evidence if necessary, and then speculate about the possible causes of it. Your purpose is not necessarily to prove that all your proposed causes are scientifically true, but to convince your readers that your proposed causes are the major ones and that they are plausible. You should discuss at least three causes in your essay and finally decide which of the three is the most convincing.
Your Topic:
Do NOT explore the phenomena which are heavily scientific or whose causes are obvious. The former will be too in-depth for this length of an essay and the latter will give you too little to discuss. Likewise, avoid overly large and complicated issues (poverty, global warming, war, etc.) where the causes are too diverse and complex for a short essay.
Just walking out the door and living isn’t enough to find the trend or phenomenon you want. You may need to dig a bit deeper. First of all, the newspaper has a great deal to work with. So do news broadcasts and magazines. Campus or work are great places to start. Use your observation skills! What things do you see on campus or among friends that seem trendy? Why are some things more popular with female students than with male students? As always, keep it close to your personal experiences. Your book lays out some ideas as well, so be sure to consult it as you think about your topic. Find something interesting for your sake AND my sake!
Note: If you choose a topic that is suitable, you may be able to write Essay 4: Problem-Solving on the same subject!
Other Requirements:
These causes should be elaborated upon and developed with more than “because I said so.” (Remember our discussion of logical fallacies!) Why do you think they lead to the phenomenon or trend you are writing about? Don’t assume your audience will figure it out without your detailed evidence and explanation.
At least four outside sources must be used to support your assertions.
- At least two of them must be obtained through the Library.
- No Wikipedia
- All sources should be evaluated for credibility (i.e., you can use a .com if it seems credible, but remember that your argument is only as strong as your source!)
As mentioned above, you must explain which cause is the primary reason for the phenomenon/trend you are discussing. Focus on why one reason is better than the others. Treat the other reasons, the secondary reasons, with respect, developing them. But in the end (preferably, after considering each of them), explain why they are not as convincing as your primary reasons.
Format:
As always, the format should conform to the MLA style, with 12-point font. The heading and spacing are the same as before also, with a Works Cited page is absolutely required for the rough and the final draft alike.
Now, consider which of these topics might work for a formal essay where you need to support your ideas with research.
_____________________(phenomenon/topic)
Cause 1 Cause 2 Cause 3
Evidence? Evidence? Evidence?