ENGLISH 1301a/b PAPER # 1: CAUSAL ARGUMENT
Explore the origins of a habit you have (good or bad). Illustrate with specific examples from your own life for “proof” of your claim. For this paper you will use NO outside research beyond our PH book. Cover the following three aspects:
- Describe the habit in full detail.
- Make an argument for its cause, with evidence from your experience only.
- Explain your habit’s effects, with plenty of specific detail for evidence.
Your paper will be made up of these three sections, in this order. You may write a large paragraph on each, or you may develop each point fully with several paragraphs. (The sections might not all end up being the same length.) Label each section.
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This assignment represents a simplified version of the one explained in the EA yellow pages for Chapter 11, Causal Arguments (pp. 259-63). Note that there will be NO research for this version! (For Portfolio version, you will add primary research by recreating the experiments in the Duhigg book w/ your own experience. We will discuss this in class as you are working on the Portfolio.) For now, do not worry about the Toulmin terms mentioned in the yellow pages. There are no “visuals” required for this assignment.
You may refer to the “Habit Loop” concept from our PH book if you like. Use parenthetical references in your text. We will practice MLA style—even if you do not refer to our book in your text, add a Work Cited entry at the end of your paper:
Duhigg, Charles. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business.
New York: Random House, 2012. Print.
Do me a favor and type this out yourself for practice (do not cut and paste from this document). Don’t forget the hanging indentation.
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Grading criteria: The “A” paper will demonstrate…
* commendable grammar / diction / spelling,
* specificity and abundance of illustrative detail (“proof”),
* a coherent structure with clearly stated claim (thesis).
N.B.: Wed. 9/14 is a Workshop Day for this paper. Marked draft and peer review sheet from this day should be stapled to your final copy and are worth 5 pts. on your final grade.
–c. 4 pp., due Mon. 9/19/16
