Final Cause or Effect or Compare/Contrast Essay – 4- 5 Paragraphs

Directions: write a complete essay with the following guidelines:
  • Introduction (4-6 sentences)
- Interesting hook
- Good connecting info
- Clear thesis
  • 3 body paragraphs ( 7-9 sentences each) for Cause or Effect and 2 Body Paragraphs (11-15 sentences each) for Compare/Contrast
- Clear topic sentences
- Good supporting ideas
- Good concluding sentences
  • Conclusion (4-6 sentences)
- Restate thesis
- Topic exploration or summary
- Meaningful final thought
Choose ONE of the following topics:
Focus on Causes:
  1. What are the reasons that some students cheat? (3 causes)
OR
Focus on Effects:
  1. What are 3 effects of always playing computer games?
OR
Compare/Contrast: What are several similarities and differences between attending school in your country and attending school in this country?
Brainstorm – 5 points

Outlining:

  1. Introduction Paragraph (Anecdote, historical, general to specific, facts/statistics, etc)
  1. Hook: ______
  2. Connector:

______

  1. Thesis Statement:

______

  1. Body Paragraph 1

Topic Sentence: ______Main points and support: details, examples and explanations:______

  1. Body Paragraph 2

Topic Sentence: ______

Main points and support: details, examples and explanations:______

  1. Body Paragraph 3

Topic Sentence:

______Main points and support: details, examples and explanations:______

Conclusion:

Restatement of thesis, summary of main points, opinion, prediction, suggestion?

______

______

______

______

After you finish writing your essay, double check for accuracy and mistakes.

Checklist:

 Did I answer the question clearly?

 Did I indent the first line of each paragraph?

 Do I have an interesting hook?

 Does my connecting information lead my reader from the hook to the thesis?

 Do I have a clear thesis?

 Do my topic sentences have a topic and controlling idea?

 Are my 2- 3 body paragraphs interesting and do they cover the topic?

 Do I use enough details, explanations, and examples?

 Did I use appropriate transition words and cause-effect or compare/contrast language?

 Is my concluding paragraph a summary, prediction, suggestion or opinion?

 Is my subject-verb agreement correct?

 Are my other grammar and sentence structure correct?

 Are my spelling and punctuation correct?

Writing Rubric / Points possible
 Is the brainstorm & outline complete? / 5
 Does the first sentence “hook” you?
 Is it interesting?
 Is it grammatical and punctuated properly? / 3
 Does the connecting information logically lead the reader from the hook to the thesis?
 Is it long enough (4-5 sentences) ? / 2
 Is there a good thesis statement? (Stated or implied)
 Is it grammatically correct?
 Is it appropriate for this type of essay? / 10
 Are there two - three complete body paragraphs that each begin with a good topic sentence, and are connected to the thesis? (topic + controlling idea) / 10
 Does each body paragraph have strong supporting details?
 Appropriate transition words and organizational words (C/E or CC words)
 Is there a variety of different types of sentences? Compound/ Complex etc.
 Does the content of the writing answer the prompt?
 Level 4 or higher vocabulary? / 30
 Conclusion paragraph restates thesis, provides a summary or topic exploration, and ends with a meaningful final thought? / 15
Sentence mechanics:
 Correct punctuation, spelling, capitalization
 correct grammar, verb tenses, subject/ verb agreement / 25

______/ 100

PLEASE SKIP LINES  PLEASE SKIP LINES  PLEASE SKIP LINES PLEASE SKIP LINES

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