Write a "Speculating About Causes" essay using the article "Prognosis for Homeless Children and Adolescents"in which you argue that a)Homelessness has effects on children and adolescents, such as A, B, and C. OR b) Homelessnesscauses problems in children and adolescents because A, B, and C. Regardless of which approach you choose, you must define homelessness and three effects that it has upon children and adolescents. The length of the essay is required to be 3 pagesminimum and does not need to be longer than 4 pages. MLA Works Cited and in-text citations are expected to be correct.
Purpose:The purpose of this assignment is to write a well-developed and organized discussion of cause and effect. You must fully discuss and give examples/evidence from the article to back up your argument. In other words, the article will be used to back up your argument, and the paper will not be a compilation of quotes from the article.
Introduction
Does the introduction set the tone and purpose for the essay?
Thesis Is the thesis clear? Does it state the general overall evaluation and why?
Criteria Have you clearly defined and discussed the criteria by which you are evaluating the idea under review? Are the criteria relevant and supported by experts (not just your opinion)?
Evidence Are specific examples provided as evidence? Does discussion of the evidence include necessary comparison to the criteria? Uses and cites "Children's Poverty in America"
Organization Is the organization clear and logical with appropriate transitions?
Conclusion
Does the essay include a satisfying conclusion?
Proofreading
Has the essay undergone basic proofreading? Are the citations correct? Proper MLA format?
Punctuation and Grammar Has proper punctuation and grammar been used throughout?
In preparation for submitting my final draft, I have done the following:
_____1. I have checked to be sure my thesis introduces my subject (and reveals the 3 points that I will discuss.
_____2. I have checked to confirm that the body paragraphs of my essay address each of the 3 points in the same order they are presented in the thesis statement.
_____3. I have thought about the probable audience (other than my teacher) who might be interested in my topic and I have written my essay to be clear and convincing to this audience.
_____4. I have checked to be sure none of the following are in my essay (unless I am quoting someone else):
A. The word "we."
B. The word "you."
C. Contractions
_____5. I have checked each sentence to see that it has a subject and a verb, and is a complete thought.
_____6. I have checked sentence punctuation, especially to be sure that no 2 sentences are joined by a comma alone.
_____7. I have checked to see that every time I use ", and" that they contain two complete thoughts.
_____8. I have checked to be sure each verb agrees with the subject in number (singular or plural).
_____9. I have read over (proofread) the final draft of my essay at least twice. I have read my essay out loud at least once.
_____10. I have checked to be sure that my essay is properly formatted in MLA and all citations have quotation marks, authors, and page numbers.