Thesis Statement Worksheet

University of Phoenix Material

Thesis Statement Worksheet

Cause and Effect

Step One

In Week 1 you chose a topic and rhetorical mode to use for your final essay. You have chosen to write a cause and effect essay. Take a few moments to prewrite about your topic to identify some causes and effects related to your topic. For example:

Topic: The increase in cell phone usage

Some possible causes of increasing cell phone usage:

· Maintaining close contact with children, other family members, and friends

· Safety and roadside assistance

· Easy access to information with a smart phone

· Easy access to games and entertainment with a smart phone

Some possible effects of increasing cell phone usage:

· More interaction with more friends and family

· Decline in quality of interaction between friends and family

· Distractions

Use this space for your prewriting activity. Answer the questions using complete sentences.

1. What is the topic your instructor approved in Week 1?

2. What are some possible causes related to your topic you could discuss in your essay?

3. What are some possible effects related to your topic you could discuss in your essay?

Step Two

As discussed in your reading (The Everyday Writer Plus, “Cause and Effect”), some cause and effect essays focus on causes, some focus on effects, and some address both.

Based on the ideas you generated in Step One, do you think you will focus on causes, effects, or both? Explain.

Step Three

Create a thesis statement by using your selected topic and the causes and/or effects you have chosen in Steps One and Two to discuss by following one of the patterns offered in “Cause and Effect” of the text The Everyday Writer Plus.

Topic + Cause + Effect = Thesis statement.

Increasing cell phone usage encourages more interaction among friends and family but has caused a decline in the quality of interaction and leads to distractions.

Topic + Cause + Effect = Thesis statement.

Increasing cell phone usage has caused a decline in the quality of interaction among friends and family and an increase in distractions.

Here is a third option:

Topic + Causes = Thesis statement

Cell phones have become more popular because they promote interaction with friends and family, provide easy access to information and assistance, and offer entertainment opportunities.

Keep in mind, if you address key points in your thesis statement in a specific order, you will want to address them in the same order in your essay.

Choose one of the patterns above (or some variation of your own), and write a thesis statement::

Reference:

Lunsford, A. (2014). The everyday writer plus. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.