C11 Cause and Effect Writing Prompts

Chapter 11, "Cause and Effect"

Writing Prompts

1. Review the photograph on page 163 (4th Ed.) and then use cause/effect reasoning to write a

news story explaining what happened in the photograph, when, how, and why.

Create details as needed.

2. Choose a phenomenon that is discussed in one of your current courses or is

related to your major. Research the topic carefully and then write an essay in

which you analyze the causes and effects of the phenomenon.

3. Scan online or print news sources to find a story that claims a cause-effect

relationship related to its topic. Read the story carefully, looking for logical

fallacies in the argument, particularly Bare Assertion (see 257), False Cause (see

259), Slippery Slope (see 259), and False Analogy (see 260). Then write an essay

in which you report on what you find. Share your writing with the class.

4. List three or four challenges that you likely will face in your career and

brainstorm possible causes and effects of each challenge. Choose one of the

topics, research it thoroughly, and then write an essay in which you analyze the

challenge by focusing on its causes and effects.