The cause-effect essay can take a variety of forms. The essay can examine an effect and list and explain the many causes which led to the effect in question. One example of such an essay could be the answer to the essay question: "List and explain the causes of the American Civil War." On the other hand, the essay could examine the various effects of a single cause. For example, "List the effects of the Industrial Revolution in England."
Whichever type of cause-effect essay you write, the scoring guide below is provided to help you write your essay. As in all essay assignments, this essay is to be written in 12 point Times New Roman and double-spaced with a one inch margin all around the paper.
Name___________________________ Date________________ Score______________
Scoring Cause and Effect Essays
Introduction containing thesis statement and background details
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Body contains minimum number of cause-and-effect relationships
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Conclusion
0 1 2 3 4 5
Spelling, capitalization, punctuation
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Grammar and sentence structure
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Clearly and logically organized paragraphs with clear transition sentences
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
