Speculating About Causes
Any complicated problem or phenomenon has many possible causes. Your job for this essay is to choose an important, complex problem and/or phenomenon you care about and, using research, argue for what you believe are the most likely causes of this problem and/or phenomenon. (You must argue for at least two causes.) You don’t have to come up with the causes on your own—that’s what the research will help you determine (along with your own observations and experience). Specifically, you will need to do the following: describe your issue, demonstrate its existence and importance, and propose possible causes for it, using support from your research and any appropriate experience or observations. You must also consider and respond to alternative causes or objections readers might have to your proposed causes.
Please see the suggested outline below for a guideline on how to organize this information. This essay must be at least 7-10 pages long and use at least 5 credible sources, documented in M.L.A. format, with a works cited page.
