Considering Your Purpose and Your Audience

     Your textbook says the main purpose of a cause-and-effect essay is to explain to your audience the cause of a situation, or its effects, or sometimes both.

     I’ve highlighted the most important words in that sentence.

     It’s easy to forget that when we write, we write to an audience. We tend to think we are writing for everyone, but the easiest way to convince nobody of anything is to try to convince everybody of everything. As beginning writers in a new language, you need extra practice targeting your writing to an audience.

     For your Cause/Effect essay, you will write to a particular person. That particular person is Roger Wilkins, the author of "I Became Her Target." Furthermore, you will be a particular person. That person is Dorothy "Deadeye" Bean.

     The situation is the classroom where Roger tried to make friends from his lonely minority status. The event is the throwing of the gum eraser, the event that gave his teacher the nickname "Deadeye." What caused this event? What were its effects? Did Dorothy Bean anticipate what a profound effect this simple act would have on Roger's life? What sort of person does such a thing? These questions of intention, of motivation, of personality are questions we try to answer in a good Cause and Effect essay.

     We could answer from our own perspective as readers of Roger Wilkins' essay. We could try to explain the event to a room full of literature students, or a kindergarten class, or to the readers of a psychology journal. In each case, we would change our arguments to fit our audience. 

     But not for this assignment! For this assignment, you don't get to choose. For this assignment, you are Dorothy "Deadeye" Bean, many years after the eraser-throwing event, and your audience is a grown up Roger Wilkins.

     Decide for yourself how Bean would explain to Wilkins why she threw that eraser. Then, in 5 paragraphs (or more if you're ambitious), using the first person, in Dorothy Bean's voice, explain your reasons to Roger Wilkins.

ASSIGNMENT: 5 Paragraph Cause and Effect Essay

TOPIC: Why Dorothy Bean threw the gum eraser and Roger Wilkins

PERSPECTIVE: Write from the point-of-view of Dorothy Bean

AUDIENCE: Write your essay directly to Roger Wilkins

SAMPLE FIRST SENTENCE:Roger, I've always wanted to explain why I threw that eraser at you.

QUESTIONS? The best policy is to ask your questions in the "Add a Comment" field below. That way, you classmates can benefit from the conversation you and your professor have here on this page!

EARLY FEEDBACK? You may email me an early draft.

NEED TO SEE A SAMPLE?  I just finished it. Here's the LINK. Sample Cause and Effect Essay