Cause-Effect Critical Reading Guide
(hand this in with your revised essay)
 OK to share with class  You can share, but don’t use my name  Please don’t share
Writer: ________________________________________________________________
Purpose: What do you hope to accomplish in this paper?
Problem: Ask your reader to help you solve the single most important problem
with your draft. Describe this problem briefly.
Reader ________________________________________________________________
Contact info: ___________________________________________________________
General Reaction/Advice:
Cause-Effect Essay Criteria
Unity
Comments
Yes
No
Thesis clearly expresses
cause-effect relationship


Content supports thesis


Yes
No
At least three supporting
points are present


Transitions and signal
words such as because
make relationship of
ideas clear


Logical fallacies are
avoided:
— coincidence is not
confused with cause
— focus is on important
causes
— evidence is provided
for all causes


Yes
No
Introduction, conclusion,
and title are effective


Organization is clear:
Cause-to-effect(s),
Effect-to-cause(s), or
Series of causes


Transitions and other
connecting words lead
reader through paper


Verb tenses are
appropriate, without
confusing shifts


Yes
No


Support/Development
Coherence
Sentence Skills
Spelling, grammar, and
sentence structure are
correct
COMPOSITION II GRADING RUBRIC: CAUSE-EFFECT
Name___________________________
Evaluative Area
Unity
(25 points total)
Appropriate
organizing
strategies include
• cause-to-effect
• effect-to-cause
• chain of causes
4
Section___________________ Date ______________
3
2
1/0
Thesis clearly
states cause/effect
relationship
Thesis states
cause/effect
relationship
Thesis lacks clear
direction
No thesis (557)
Solid topic
sentences and
supporting
paragraphs
Topic sent. and/or
para. content need
more relation to
thesis
Topic sentences
present, but
paragraphs need to
be expanded
Lacks topic
sentences and
appropriate
paragraphing (559)
Conclusion:
Restated thesis
relates directly to
thesis and uses
varied language
Conclusion:
Restated thesis
provided, but too
much like thesis
OR needs work
Conclusion:
Summation
provided, but does
not relate closely
enough to thesis
3 points of support
but relate loosely
1 or 2 points of
support
Lacks quality
support
Some evidence for
each point is
provided
Evidence is
provided for only 1
or 2 points
Lacks specific
evidence
Documentation
present, but format
is incorrect
Organization plan
is clear
Some
documentation
missing
Work needed to
maintain
organization
No documentation
present
Transitions
present, but work
is needed to clarify
how ideas are
related
Some transitions
missing between
and within
paragraphs
Lacks transitions
and connections
throughout (567)
Introduction,
conclusion, and
title present; lack a
relationship
Title is lacking,
introduction and
conclusion relate
well
Title, introduction,
and/or conclusion
missing
Conclusion: Lacks
restated thesis
Thesis and
conclusion engage
attention and give
reader a reason to
care
Support
3 or more specific
points of support
(25 points total)
Specific evidence
for each point is
presented
Coherence
(25 points total)
Material is
correctly cited and
smoothly
integrated
Method of
organization is
clear and wellsuited to topic and
audience
Transitions and
connections
between and
within paragraphs
flow easily
Effective
introduction,
conclusion, title
Lacks any method
of organization
Sentence Skills
(25 points total)
Sentences are
correct and varied
in length and
structure.
Language is
precise and
original.
Language is
appropriate to the
intended audience.
Paper is free from
fragments
Few fragments
exist (H 10)
Understanding lost
due to fragments
Paper is free from
run-ons
Work needed to fix
run-ons (H8)
Understanding lost
due to R-O-S
Subjects and verbs
agree throughout
Some S-Vs lack
agreement (H25)
Understanding lost
due to S-V agree.
All verb tenses are
correct
Some verb tenses
need work (H21)
Understanding lost
due to verb tense
Parallelism is used
throughout
Parallelism lacking
at times (H45)
Understanding lost
due to faulty
parallelism
Pronouns agree;
correct reference
Pronouns lack
agreement;
reference (H14)
Only 3rd person
PNs used
Shifts in PN point
of view (H-19)
Capital letters are
correct
Capital letters need
correction (H88)
Punctuation is
correct
Punctuation needs
work (H58-85)
Varied sentence
structure is evident
Few sentence
variations (H116)
No spelling errors
or careless errors
Few spelling/
careless errors
Sentences are clear
and carefully
worded
Few awkwardly
worded sentences
Succinct wording
throughout
Effective and
appropriate
language
Correct format:
name, section, type
of paper, date,
draft, layout
Sometimes lacks
succinctness (H48)
Few instances of
ineffective or
immature lang.
(H52-55)
All information
present; lacks
correct format
Understanding lost
due to PN
agreement/ ref.
Understanding lost
due to shifts in PN
P-O-V
Understanding lost
due to
capitalization
problems
Understanding lost
due to punctuation
errors
Lacks sentence
variety
Understanding lost
due to spelling/
careless errors
Understanding lost
due to awk. sent.
Understanding lost
due to repetition
Lacks
effectiveness and
maturity
Lacks correct
format and
information