Eng 101

Cause and Effect Analysis

Directions: Read one of the following essays: Read one of the following essays: Caroline
Knapps Why We Keep Stuff: If You Want to Understand People, Take a Look at What They
Hang On To, David Dobbs Beautiful Brains, or Luscombe & Stinchfields Why We Flirt.
Write a 3 4 page essay (plus a Works Cited page) discussing the effectiveness of the authors
cause and effect techniques. Cause and effect analysis principles include purpose, patterns,
reasoning errors, ethics, and thesis & details. Not all principles need to be addressed in the essay:
it is better to extensively analyze the published essay using a few of the principles.
A 25 pts.
Writing process;
MLA format

shows
evidence of
prewriting,
planning,
rough draft,
proofreading,
and
publishing;
follows MLA
format; each
paragraph is
at least seven
sentences in
length

Introduction

begins with a
hook,
provides
background
information,
and ends with
a thesis
statement that
clearly fits the
size of the
assignment;
states a single
main
point/position
about the
topic; is
specific; can
be shown,
explained, or
proven; and is
a forceful
statement.
All topic and
concluding

A 15 pts.

Body Paragraphs

B 21 pts.

C 19 pts.

D 16 pts.

F 14 pts.

1 component is
missing from
writing process,
MLA format, or
length

2 components are
missing from
writing process
MLA format, or
length

3 components are
missing from
writing process
MLA format, or
length

4 or more
components are
missing from
writing process
MLA format, or
length

B 13 pts.
1 of the following
characteristics is
weak or missing
from the
introduction:
hook; background
information; or a
length appropriate,
singular, specific,
forceful thesis
statement

C 11 pts.
2 of the following
characteristics are
weak or missing
from the
introduction:
hook; background
information; or a
length appropriate,
singular, specific,
forceful thesis
statement

D 10 pts.
3 of the following
characteristics are
weak or missing
from the
introduction:
hook; background
information; or a
length appropriate,
singular, specific,
forceful thesis
statement

F 8 pts.
4 or more of the
following
characteristics are
weak or missing
from the
introduction:
hook; background
information; or a
length appropriate,
singular, specific,
forceful thesis
statement

1 of the following
characteristics is
missing from the

2 of the following
characteristics are
weak or missing

3 of the following
characteristics are
weak or missing

4 or more of the
following
characteristics are

Eng 101

Conclusion

Grammar &
Mechanics

EARNED:

sentences
align, topic
sentences
align with
thesis
statement,
topic
arrangement
is logical,
ideas
supported
with quotes
from
published
essay.
relates back
to hook,
summarizes
main points
of essay, ends
with a mic
drop .

body paragraphs:
topic and
concluding
sentence
alignment, topic
sentence and thesis
statement
alignment, logical
topic arrangement,
support from
quotes from the
essay

from the body

paragraphs: topic
and concluding
sentence
alignment, topic
sentence and thesis
statement
alignment, logical
topic arrangement,
support from
quotes from the
essay

from the body

paragraphs: topic
and concluding
sentence
alignment, topic
sentence and thesis
statement
alignment, logical
topic arrangement,
support from
quotes from the
essay

weak or missing
from the body
paragraphs: topic
and concluding
sentence
alignment, topic
sentence and thesis
statement
alignment, logical
topic arrangement,
support from
quotes from the
essay

1 of the following
characteristics is
weak or missing
from the
conclusion: relate
back to hook,
summarization of
main points, or
mic drop

2 of the following
characteristics are
weak or missing
from the
conclusion: relate
back to hook,
summarization of
main points, or
mic drop

3 of the following
characteristics are
weak or missing
from the
conclusion: relate
back to hook,
summarization of
main points, or
mic drop

A 30 pts.
less than 2 errors
in grammar or
mechanics

B 26 pts.
3-4 errors in
grammar and
mechanics

C 23 pts.
5-6 errors in
grammar and
mechanics

D 20 pts.
7-8 errors in
grammar and
mechanics

4 or more of the
following
characteristics are
weak or missing
from the
conclusion: relate
back to hook,
summarization of
main points, or
mic drop
F 17 pts.
9 or more errors in
grammar and
mechanics

100 Points Total