Think Before You Begin

Topic Selection

If you have not been given a topic, select one you’re able to verify with sources. While a conspiracy theory may seem an interesting idea, and you can demonstrate a cause and effect relationship in your essay, it may not be the best choice. Pick a topic that you can clearly demonstrate that the effects are based on specific causes.

Writing for Your Audience

Are you explaining how the causes lead to certain results? Are you assuming too much knowledge on the part of your audience ? Are you writing for your peers or for the general public? Are causal chains explained clearly?

Prewriting Techniques

Which prewriting techniques may help you write your essay? Do you want to use a prewriting technique to write your essay, or do you want to start with a rough draft? Graphic organizers can help you determine and organize causal events.

LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS

Excelsior Online Writing Lab (OWL). Located at: https://owl.excelsior.edu/ . This site is licensed under a https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .