This chapter describes how essays focused on analyzing and explaining of some phenomenon. First, an overview of what the author of this type of essay must consider. In this, the author needs to understand his goal and items that will guide successful creation of the essay.
The chapter then provides three examples of cause and effect essays and provides highlighting how the author uses cause and effect reasoning.
Adrenaline Junkies: In this essay, the author wants subtly provides an argument that adrenaline junkie might be a useful asset if focused correctly. The author first introduces examples of activities that cause adrenaline highs, provides a clinical explanation of the physical actions that provide the rush, and then points out that the adrenaline response could provide the extra push in intense and important efforts.
The Legacy of Generation N: The author’s basic cause is that a high population growth with an effect of that the US will belong to Latinos in the future.
Our Tired, Our Poor, Our Kids: This essay discusses the plight of the American homeless and especially, the children and our ineffective policies that are expensive and do not solve the serious problem. It provides both examples and statistics that highlight the problem. The effects on the children as they are shuffled from one school to another is a strong example of using the personalized stories to bring the story home. These children should never be treated in this matter and the reader knows it.
Interestingly, there is a reference to the middle class embracing their new houses and the booming stock market, two areas in the nearly two decades since the article was written which have greatly reduced the size of the middle class.
The Chapter concludes with guidelines for writing a cause and effect essay.
