help with assgn due in 5 hours

Informative Essay

Cause and Effect

Important Terms:

Informative Writing is a specific type of nonfiction writing that teaches the reader about a topic.

The thesis of informative writing explains the main idea and what the writer is teaching about. This is the topic

the writer is explaining.

Each topic sentence is the first sentence of each body paragraph. These first sentences break the topic down

into the most important aspects of what the writer is teaching.

The supporting details are the evidence you find that explain each of your topic sentences. There are six types

of evidence. You can remember the six types of evidence using the acronym F.E.A.S.T.ExO.

F Facts Facts come from a source and can be proven true from that source.

Ex. Renewable energy comes from natural sources and can be replenished.

E Examples This type of evidence gives a specific example to illustrate your point.

Ex. One type of renewable energy source is solar energy. Solar energy is energy from the sun and is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy.

A Anecdotes An anecdote is a short, personal, true story.

Ex. When my neighbor installed solar panels on his roof, he not only saved money, but he also received a monthly check from the electric company for any additional energy collected from his panels.

S Statistics Statistics include numbers and percentages.

Ex. Renewable energy has increased 100% from 2000 to 2018.

T Truths Truths include information that is widely accepted.

Ex. Renewable energy is considered an alternative to fossil fuels.

Ex. Solar energy comes from the sun.

ExO Expert Opinions The opinion of an expert in a specific field has significant experience and knowledge about the topic.

Ex. The Environmental Protection Agency is an example of a source for expert opinions related to renewable energy.

Identifying Cause and Effect

Cause-and-Effect Writing requires that you do some backwards planning. Usually, a writer can see the effect of

something right away, but identifying the reason, or cause, of that effect might take some exploring.

We ask certain questions in order to discover who or what is responsible for an action; in other words, we ask,

“What is the cause of the effect I see?”

Take a look at the photo of the car accident below.

We can see the effect right away:

• two cars are damaged,

• the front end of each vehicle is damaged, and

• there is debris on the road.

This is where we start to ask questions to figure out the cause.

• Was someone driving too fast or driving distracted?

• Did one of the drivers run a stop sign or traffic light?

• Was one of the drivers on the wrong side of the road?

• Did one of the drivers turn into the wrong lane?

• Were there any factors in the weather leading to this accident?

We can also start asking ourselves questions about the longer effects of the accident.

• Will the insurance rates go up for one or both drivers?

• Will either driver be ticketed or face criminal charges?

• Will the driver of the taxi lose their job?

• Will any of the people involved need medical treatment?

In Cause-and-Effect Writing, asking yourself similar questions about your topic will help you determine what

the causes are for the observed effects.

English 11 Essay 3: Informative Cause & Effect Essay

Pre-Writing: The Essential First Step

Instructions: Your goal for this essay is to teach your audience about how a technological advancement since

you have been born has made either a positive or negative impact on society. The technological advancement is

the cause.

• We will use the imagined example of Time Travel.

Your thesis will be a statement saying that the technological advancement that you chose has had either a

positive or negative impact on society. This is the cause of changes in society.

Example of Thesis:

• Time Travel has made a lasting positive impact on society.

The topic sentences will be statements either about the positive impact or about the negative impact the

technological advancement has had. These are the effects of the technological advancement in your essay and

will be the first sentence of each body paragraph.

Examples of Topic Sentences:

• Time Travel has prevented wars.

• Time Travel has allowed people to correct personal mistakes.

• Time Travel has allowed insight into the future.

Your supporting details (or evidence) will prove the effects that the technological advancement has on society.

Examples of supporting details (or evidence) for one of our Topic Sentences:

• Time Travel has allowed insight into the future.

o Scientists have been able to cure cancer due to medical advancements from the future.

o The Ozone Layer has been protected because of insight into the causes of its erosion being

applied to the past.

o World hunger has been eliminated due to advancements in agricultural technology from the

future.

Writing Prompt:

Choose one technological advancement since you have been born. Write an expository/informative essay

about how this type of technology has impacted society for better and/or for worse.

Your Thesis: This will be the main idea for

your entire essay, what you are teaching

your audience about. It will also be the last

sentence of your introduction.

Body Paragraph #1

Topic Sentence #1: This is the 1st aspect of

the topic you want to explain. In this case,

introducing a specific effect that the

technological advancement has on society.

Supporting Detail #1: This will be a

specific example showing the effect

of the technological advancement

on society.

Explanation #1: This

sentence explains your

example’s impact on

society.

Supporting Detail #2: This will be

another specific example showing

the effect of the technological

advancement on society.

Explanation #2: This

sentence explains your

example’s impact on

society.

Supporting Detail #3: This will be

another specific example showing

the effect of the technological

advancement on society.

Explanation #3: This

sentence explains your

example’s impact on

society.

Body Paragraph #2

Topic Sentence #2: This is the 2nd aspect of

the topic you want to explain. In this case,

introducing a specific effect that the

technological advancement has on society.

Supporting Detail #1: This will be a

specific example showing the effect

of the technological advancement

on society.

Explanation #1: This

sentence explains your

example’s impact on

society.

Supporting Detail #2: This will be

another specific example showing

the effect of the technological

advancement on society.

Explanation #2: This

sentence explains your

example’s impact on

society.

Supporting Detail #3: This will be

another specific example showing

the effect of the technological

advancement on society.

Explanation #3: This

sentence explains your

example’s impact on

society.

Body Paragraph #3

Topic Sentence #3: This is the 3rd aspect of

the topic you want to explain. In this case,

introducing a specific effect that the

technological advancement has on society.

Supporting Detail #1: This will be a

specific example showing the effect

of the technological advancement

on society.

Explanation #1: This

sentence explains your

example’s impact on

society.

Supporting Detail #2: This will be

another specific example showing

the effect of the technological

advancement on society.

Explanation #2: This

sentence explains your

example’s impact on

society.

Supporting Detail #3: This will be

another specific example showing

the effect of the technological

advancement on society.

Explanation #3: This

sentence explains your

example’s impact on

society.