Cause-Effect Critical Reading Guide(hand this in with your revised essay)

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Writer:
Purpose: What do you hope to accomplish in this paper?
Problem: Ask your reader to help you solve the single most important problem
with your draft. Describe this problem briefly.
Reader
Contact info:
General Reaction/Advice:

Cause-Effect Essay Criteria

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Comments

Unity

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Yes

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No

Thesis clearly expresses cause-effect relationship /  / 
Content supports thesis /  / 

Support/Development

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Yes

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No

At least three supporting points are present /  / 
Transitions and signal words such as because make relationship of ideas clear /  / 
Logical fallacies are avoided:
— coincidence is not confused with cause
— focus is on important causes
— evidence is provided for all causes /  / 

Coherence

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Yes

/

No

Introduction, conclusion, and title are effective /  / 
Organization is clear:
Cause-to-effect(s),
Effect-to-cause(s), or
Series of causes /  / 
Transitions and other connecting words lead reader through paper /  / 
Verb tenses are appropriate, without confusing shifts /  / 

Sentence Skills

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Yes

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No

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Spelling, grammar, and sentence structure are correct /  / 


Composition II Grading Rubric: Cause-Effect

Name______Section______Date ______

Evaluative Area / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1/0

Unity

(25 points total)
Appropriate organizing strategies include
• cause-to-effect
• effect-to-cause
• chain of causes / Thesis clearly states cause/effect relationship
Solid topic sentences and supporting paragraphs
Conclusion: Restated thesis relates directly to thesis and uses varied language
Thesis and conclusion engage attention and give reader a reason to care / Thesis states cause/effect relationship
Topic sent. and/or para. content need more relation to thesis
Conclusion: Restated thesis provided, but too much like thesis OR needs work / Thesis lacks clear direction
Topic sentences present, but paragraphs need to be expanded
Conclusion: Summation provided, but does not relate closely enough to thesis / No thesis (557)
Lacks topic sentences and appropriate paragraphing (559)
Conclusion: Lacks restated thesis

Support

(25 points total) / 3 or more specific points of support
Specific evidence for each point is presented
Material is correctly cited and smoothly integrated / 3 points of support but relate loosely
Some evidence for each point is provided
Documentation present, but format is incorrect / 1 or 2 points of support
Evidence is provided for only 1 or 2 points
Some documentation missing / Lacks quality support
Lacks specific evidence
No documentation present

Coherence

(25 points total) / Method of organization is clear and well-suited to topic and audience
Transitions and connections between and within paragraphs flow easily
Effective introduction, conclusion, title / Organization plan is clear
Transitions present, but work is needed to clarify how ideas are related
Introduction, conclusion, and title present; lack a relationship / Work needed to maintain organization
Some transitions missing between and within paragraphs
Title is lacking, introduction and conclusion relate well / Lacks any method of organization
Lacks transitions and connections throughout (567)
Title, introduction, and/or conclusion missing

Sentence Skills

(25 points total) / Sentences are correct and varied in length and structure.
Language is precise and original.
Language is appropriate to the intended audience. / Paper is free from fragments
Paper is free from run-ons
Subjects and verbs agree throughout
All verb tenses are correct
Parallelism is used throughout
Pronouns agree; correct reference
Only 3rd person PNs used
Capital letters are correct
Punctuation is correct
Varied sentence structure is evident
No spelling errors or careless errors
Sentences are clear and carefully worded
Succinct wording throughout
Effective and appropriate language
Correct format: name, section, type of paper, date, draft, layout / Few fragments exist (H 10)
Work needed to fix run-ons (H8)
Some S-Vs lack agreement (H25)
Some verb tenses need work (H21)
Parallelism lacking at times (H45)
Pronouns lack agreement; reference (H14)
Shifts in PN point of view (H-19)
Capital letters need correction (H88)
Punctuation needs work (H58-85)
Few sentence variations (H116)
Few spelling/ careless errors
Few awkwardly worded sentences
Sometimes lacks succinctness (H48)
Few instances of ineffective or immature lang. (H52-55)
All information present; lacks correct format / Understanding lost due to fragments
Understanding lost due to R-O-S
Understanding lost due to S-V agree.
Understanding lost due to verb tense
Understanding lost due to faulty parallelism
Understanding lost due to PN agreement/ ref.
Understanding lost due to shifts in PN P-O-V
Understanding lost due to capitalization problems
Understanding lost due to punctuation errors
Lacks sentence variety
Understanding lost due to spelling/ careless errors
Understanding lost due to awk. sent.
Understanding lost due to repetition
Lacks effectiveness and maturity
Lacks correct format and information