Ms. Mitchell
Freshman Composition
Cause and Effect Poster Presentation
Instead of an essay this unit you will create a cause and effect poster that you will
present to your class. Be forewarned: this will still involve a certain amount of
writing and research in order to produce a quality product.
Steps:
1. Decide if you want to work alone or with one other person. If you work
with someone else you will both get the same grade for the assignment so
pick carefully.
2. Pick a topic that can be explained as having several causes and/or several
effects. Topics like: “Causes and Effects of Homelessness” or “Causes and
Effects of Texting” are great topics! “The Causes and Effects of Putting Gas in
Your Car”—not so great.
3. Begin researching. Get information from at least three different sources.
Cite your sources on a Works Cited page. See me if you need help with this.
4. Design your poster. Your poster must be a combination of words and
images and include color. Be creative! If you use glitter, use sparingly. I don’t
want my room covered in glitter. Seriously.
5. Practice! You will be judged on both the content of your poster and the
quality of your presentation. See attached rubrics for grading criteria.
Due Dates:
1. Monday, March 25th: Pick topic and bring preliminary research materials to
class
2. Tuesday, March 26th: Bring all materials to the lab. You can type up the
written parts and create your works cited today.
3. Wednesday, March 27th: Bring poster materials to class with you. Work-inclass day on poster assembly.
4. Thursday, March 28th and Friday, March 29th: Poster presentations to the
class.
Ms. Mitchell
Freshman Composition
Rubrics and Grading:
The content of your poster (48 major points) will be graded on the following rubric:
Criteria
4-Exemplary
Purpose
Poster discusses a
grade-appropriate
topic and supplies
multiples causes
and effects.
Organization Poster is organized
in a manner that is
easy to read.
Content
Poster discusses a
grade-appropriate
topic and supplies
only one or two
causes and effects.
Poster is organized
in a manner that is
mostly easy to read.
Poster is organized
in a manner that at
times is easy to
read.
Visuals for the most
part enhance the
poster and do not
detract from the
content
Poster utilizes
information from
at least three strong
sources.
Poster utilizes
information from at
least three sources.
Poster discusses
many different
possible causes and
effects and gives
the viewer a
nuanced
understanding of
the topic.
Poster shows
incredible
creativity and
attention to detail.
Pays attention to
use of color and
proportion. Uses
visuals that
enhance the
message in a
unique manner.
2-Developing
Poster discusses a
grade-appropriate
topic and supplies a
few causes and
effects.
Visuals enhance
the poster and do
not detract from
the content.
Information is
presented clearly
and professionally.
Creativity
3-Proficient
Information is
mostly presented
clearly and
professionally.
Visuals at times
interfere with the
ability to
understand the
content.
Poster does not
utilize information
from at least three
sources.
Information is not
presented clearly or
professionally.
Poster discusses a
few possible causes
and effects and gives
the viewer a general
understanding of the
topic.
Poster discusses a
one or two possible
causes and effects
and gives the
viewer a cursory
understanding of
the topic.
Poster shows some
creativity and
attention to detail.
Pays attention to use
of color and
proportion. Uses
visuals that for the
most part enhance
the message in a
unique manner.
Poster shows little
creativity and
attention to detail.
Does not pay
attention to use of
color and
proportion. Uses
visuals that at times
detract from the
message.
1-Beginning
Poster discusses a
gradeinappropriate
topic and/or has
minimal causes
and effects.
Poster is
unorganized and
difficult to read.
No visuals or
visuals detract
from the content
and message of
the poster.
Poster does not
demonstrate use
of sources.
Information is not
presented clearly
or professionally.
Poster discusses
minimal possible
causes and effects
and gives viewers
an incomplete
understanding of
the topic.
Poster shows no
creativity and
attention to detail.
Does not pay
attention to use of
color and
proportion. Uses
visuals that often
detract from the
message or
visuals are
ignored.
Ms. Mitchell
Freshman Composition
Your presentation (32 major points) will be graded on the school-wide presentation
rubric.
Criteria
4-Exemplary
Purpose
Speaking
establishes and
maintains a clear
purpose,
demonstrates a
clear understanding
of the task.
 Progression of
main ideas is
unified and
coherent.
 Transitions are
fluid and easy to
follow.
Organization
Content
Delivery
 Speaking
contains all
expected
content.
 Main ideas are
developed in
depth and
extensively
supported by
effective details
and / or vivid
examples.
 Presentation is
engaging and
creative.
 Speaker uses
appropriate
vocabulary,
maintains eye
contact, and
exudes
confidence
 Speaks clearly
and
expressively,
with
enthusiasm,
uses a tone
appropriate to
audience,
adjusting pace
and volume
3-Proficient
2-Developing
1-Beginning
Speaking
establishes a
purpose,
demonstrates an
awareness of the
task.
Speaking attempts
to establish a
purpose,
demonstrates some
awareness of the
task.
Speaking lacks a
purpose,
demonstrates
minimal
awareness of the
task
 Progression of
main ideas is
unified and
coherent.
 Transitions are
easy to follow.
 Progression of
main ideas
contains
inconsistencies
in unity and /or
coherence.
 Transitions are
evident.

 Speaker uses
adequate
vocabulary and
some eye
contact
 Speaks clearly
but without
adjusting pace,
volume, or
inflection.






Speaking
contains most of
the expected
content.
Main ideas are
limited in depth
and supported
by only a few
details or
examples.
Presentation is
somewhat
engaging and
creative.
Speaker uses
appropriate
vocabulary and
maintains eye
contact
Speaks clearly,
sometimes uses
a tone
appropriate to
audience
Progression of
main ideas
contains
distracting
inconsistencie
s in unity
and/or
coherence.
 Transitions
are attempted.
 Speaking
 Speaking
contains some of
contains little
the expected
of the expected
content.
content
 Few, if any,
 Main ideas are
main ideas are
unclear and
developed and
rarely
supported.
supported.
 Presentation has  Presentation
some creativity.
shows minimal
creativity.

Speaker uses
simplistic
vocabulary
and avoids eye
contact
Speaks with
some clarity
but rarely uses
appropriate
pace, volume,
or inflection.
Ms. Mitchell
Freshman Composition