Speculating About Causes |1

ENG 1023, Spring

2014

Speculating About Causes

Task Summary

Propose and defend a hypothesis about the cause of a trend or phenomenon.

(Key chapter: SMG 9)
Length: 1,500-1,700 words (about five pages)
Final Draft Due Date: __________________

Description

Write an essay about an important or intriguing phenomenon or trend, and

speculate about why it might have occurred. Demonstrate that the subject
exists, and argue for the plausibility of certain causes while anticipating
your readers likely objections to your argument as well as their preferred
causes.
Sourcing requirements:
At least three sources, total.
At least 1 peer-reviewed or primary-source government publication
source. (Examples of primary-source government publications include
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports on climate, the
Census Bureaus reports, reports at the Centers for Disease Control,
publications by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, etc.)
The remaining sources must be professionally edited publications:
newspapers, magazines, books, etc.
You may substitute an original interview of an expert in the field,
conducted by you, for any of the above sources.
Seek permission for any source not covered by the above descriptions.
In addition to the above types of sources, you need to make sure you
have at least one source for each of the following roles in your paper:
o You need at least one source to help you establish that the
problem is real and deserves attention.
o You need at least one source to help you establish that your
proposed solution is feasible.
o You need at least one source that disagrees with something
youve said: maybe it says the problem isnt that serious, or it
says your solution wont work. You need to counterargue
against this source in your paper.

Tips

1. Make sure there is some kind of controversy over the cause of your
phenomenon or trend. If there isntif all of the experts agreethen
your paper wont fulfill the assignment. You need to speculate about
something that is unknown or debated.
2. The best phenomena and trends to write about involve human
behavior. Why do social scientists, statisticians, and economists seem
less likely than physical scientists to accept the recommendations of
climate activitists? Why do we like sad stories and songs?

Speculating About Causes |2

3. Make sure you write about a phenomenon or a trendnot an event.

For instance, you can write about the phenomenon of suicide bombing
(what makes someone commit suicide to destroy others?) or an
apparent trend (like an increase or decrease) in the number of such
attacks (why do suicide bombings appear to be getting more
common?). But dont write about what caused the 9/11 attacks. Thats
an event, not a trend.
Related Readings

St. Martins Guide Ch. 9, 23, 24; They Say/I Say Ch. 5-6; and Chapters 10-11 of
The Craft of Research.

Supported Outcomes

EEOs: 1 (process), 2 (audience/purpose), 3 (scientific mode), 4 (working in

groups), 5 (problem solving) 6 (research and document a paper)
FYC: 1 (accurate summaries), 2 (analysis of a debate), 3 (genre expectations), 4
(supports analytical conclusions)
1023: 1 (critical thinking strategies), 2 (process), 3 (purpose/audience), 4
(exposition), 5 (peer review), 6 (source integration), 8 (clear prose).