2. Writing Causal Analysis with a Reader’s Eye
Causal analysis essays must have a logical, believable
development
Otherwise they will not connect with their audience and
will fail to accomplish their purpose.
This should be considered when engaging your desired
audience with your writing
Think of audience throughout the writing process
3. Issues to Keep in Mind
The intended purpose of a causal analysis essay is to
explain a situation to the reader
Including both causes and effects may be difficult
What is the best way to present each cause or effect
Consider the nature and importance of each cause or
effect
Weigh the causes and effects
Determine major causes/effect to focus on
4. Issues to Keep in Mind (cont.)
Do not mistake correlation for causation
Understand the relationship between simultaneous
event
Do not forget that all causes may have unintended
consequences
5. Choosing Internal Strategies
Internal strategies refers to the focus of the essay:
usually either on causes or effects
Good causal analysis essays avoid a narrow, formulaic
approach to their subject matter
You will most likely apply more than one internal
strategy to develop your essay thoroughly
6. Choosing a Topic
Keep in mind the scope of the assignment
Narrow down broad topics to make them manageable
Fully understand the topic, allowing for better analysis
Research may be necessary
7. Prewriting
Use an informal, idea-gathering strategy such as
brainstorming, clustering, or free-writing to develop
possible causes and effects
Revise results to include only Major causes and/or
effects
8. Organizing
Essay should reflect its pattern
i.e. Multiple causes, one effect
Or one cause with multiple effects
Using an outline will help indentify minor causes or
effects
9. Drafting
Introduction should supply both context and essay
Avoid being formulaic in analysis
Avoid summarizing in the conclusion
Instead give the significance of the topic
Evaluate the causes or effects and propose a solution
10. Revising
Questions
Is the purpose clear? Was enough background provided?
Is there a clear thesis, as well as clear topic sentences?
Is the conclusion effective?
Elements
False causes or effects
Correlation mistaken for causation
Structure
11. Examining a Causal Analysis Essay
“Black Men and Public Space”
By Brent Staples
Page 167
12. A Closer Look at Causal Analysis
Questions to Consider
Is there an effective introduction?
Is there a clear and effective thesis?
What are the causes discussed?
What are the effects discussed?
Which one does the writer focus on?
Is there a good conclusion?
Does the author propose a solution?
13. Introduction
“My first victim was a woman” 167
The author goes on to paint a vivid picture of a past
experience
His topic becomes clear in the introduction
14. Thesis
“It was in the echo of that terrified woman’s footfalls
that I first began to know the unwieldy inheritance I’d
come into-the ability to alter public space in ugly ways”
(167)
The author’s position on his chosen topic becomes clear
in his thesis statement
15. Causes
“I understand of course, that the danger they perceive
is not a hallucination” (168).
Vulnerability
Crime rate
Preconceived notions
All out of his control
16. Effects
The author briefly discusses he has become used to in
his time in Chicago and New York
Passengers locking the car doors
Regardless of the passenger’s gender or race
Pedestrians crossing to the other side of the street
17. Focus
The author chose to focus on the causes of these
reactions
Possible patterns:
Multiple causes, one effect
Why an event happen
Discusses different causes that warrant similar
responses at the end of paragraph two
18. Conclusion
The author proposes a solution
“I now take precautions to make myself less
threatening” (168)
Also learned how not to become angry
Does not offer a solution to end the problem
19. How Does Causal Analysis Work?
The writer examines the causes and effects of a
particular situation
3 different types
20. Three Types of Causal Analysis
Hypothetical
Effects of past event
Why past events happened
Writer must decide whether to focus on causes or
effects depending on the chosen topic
21. Hypothetical
Writer is asked to predict the effects of something
happening
Businesses use this type before making decisions
i.e. What would happen if we raise prices 5%?
Also called feasibility study
22. Effects of Past Events
Focuses on factual events that can be both studied and
understood
September 11th
Tighter airport security
Negative feelings towards those of Middle Eastern decent
23. Why Events Happened
Focuses on the causes that contributed to an event
taking place
Why is it so hard to find parking on campus?
Limited space
High demand
Unorganized administration
24. Four Basic Patterns
Multiple causes leading to one effect
Here the writer how the outcome of a particular
situation is the combinations of multiple causes
One major cause with multiple effects
This type of essay focuses on a single event that has a
wide array of consequences
25. Four Basic Patters (cont.)
Hypothetical effects
Writer tries to rationally predict the effects of a
proposed change
Explore both possible positive and negative effects
Causal chains
Here the writer explains the chain of events that led to
an outcomes
Causes are caused by the preceding event
27. A Bad Move Gentleman
Our college has a new policy, it’s a horrible policy: any student
that misses more than 3 ‘contact hours’ will be dropped from
their class. The effects are going to hurt badly individual
students: they will be punished unfairly. First in a three-day a
week class over 16 weeks has 45 class meetings, therefore, at least
42 classes must be attended orelse the student is dropped. Thats
too much. What if you get sick. What if your car wont start. And
besides everyone gets a day off every once in a while, dont they?
Students with too absenses could find themselves living in fear
because they know their on the edge. Moreover students, we, pay
the tuition that runs this school, who is the school to cancel us
after we’ve paid are money? The whole thing sucks if you ask me.
We putup with alot with this school anyway; bad parking , old
classrooms. What are they thinking? In conclusion, as I have
clearly pointed out, the new rules is too hard on students and
unfair toboot. Think it over gentleman.
28. Revisions- 1st Paragraph
Our college has a new policy, < Grammatical Error:
Comma Splice. it’s a horrible policy: any student that
misses more than 3 ‘contact hours’ will be dropped
from their class. The effects are going to hurt badly
individual students: they will be punished unfairly. <
Organization of words, Not clear.
29. 2nd Paragraph
First, < Grammatical Error: Comma needed. in a
three-day a week class over 16 weeks has 45 class
meetings, therefore, at least 42 classes must be
attended orelse < Spelling the student is dropped.
That’s too much.< Spelling What if you get sick. What
if your car wont start. And besides everyone gets a day
off every once in a while, don’t < Grammatical Errors:
Punctuation errors. they?
30. Revisions (cont.)
Moreover students, we, < Organization of words. pay
the tuition that runs this school, who is the school to
cancel us after we’ve paid are money? The whole thing
sucks if you ask me. We putup with alot < Spelling
with this school anyway; bad parking, old classrooms.
What are they thinking?
In conclusion, as I have clearly pointed out, the new
rules is too hard on students and unfair toboot <
Spelling. Think it over gentleman. < Sexist language
31. Works Cited
“Causal Analysis”. Howard Univesity Student
Handbook for Writers. Eds. Elaine P.
Maimon, Janice H. Peritz, Kathleen Blake
Yancey. USA: The McGraw-Hill
Companies 2010. 272-307. Print.
Staples, Brent. “Black Men and Public Space”.
Revelations. Ed. Teresa M. Redd, Carolyn E.
Shuttlesworth. Boston, MA: Pearson
Learning Solutions, 2010. 167-168. Print.
