Search
Thesis Builder: Cause and Effect Essays
Details
Main Website:
Activity Website:
Activity Description
In this activity, students use the Thesis Builder tool to create a thesis statement for a cause-and-effect essay. Students are then shown an outline to help them write each of the five paragraphs based on their thesis statement. What makes this essay different is the narrower focus on looking into the causes (what made/makes something happen) and the effects (the thing that happens).
Source: http://www.ozline.com/electraguide/cause.php (License: Protected by Copyright (c) [i.e. screenshot])
Preparation
- Check that the site is not blocked at your school site.
- Play with the input boxes in order to learn how your words will form the thesis.
- Learn the rules about not adding a period at the end of the sentence or using capital letters in the beginning.
- Prepare a lesson on cause and effect essays and a list of possible essay topics. Here are a couple of sites with lists of topics:
- And here is a PowerPoint that may help you teach the topic: Cause and Effect PowerPoint
How-To
- Introduce the topic of cause and effect and present your lesson.
- Use one of your possible essay topics to demonstrate how to use the Thesis Builder tool (the Example Web Site, link above). Let the class help you brainstorm possible causes and effects. Once you are happy with your thesis statement, select Make an Online Outline.
- Go over each paragraph and discuss what should be written in each paragraph based on the outline.
- Allow time for questions and discussion.
- Give students a list of possible essay topics to choose from based on general knowledge or give a specific topic based on classroom instruction. If possible, students should be given time to explore their topic on Thesis Builder. This works best in a lab; however, students can work on the same topic and work together to create the thesis statement, which can be entered and the outline printed for the entire class.
- Give students ample time to write their essays.
- Go over a few of the essays noting some exceptional points made.
Teacher Tips
- Select the time frame box to show work written in the present, past, or future.
- If you teach in a computer/projector classroom, print the box questions (select Print Screen in order to print your screen) and let the students write their answers. Then choose a few students to input their answers in your computer.
- Project the result to students.
Program Areas
- ASE: High School Equivalency Preparation