Math

If you choose this topic, you may write on the same topic for writing assignment #3, the research-supported essay. If you write on this topic for both writing assignment #2 and writing assignment #3, you will be expanding on your argument and finding more sources for the essay for writing assignment #3.

2. Analyze the impact of a particular trend in technology on education.

For this topic, you might want to use one of the articles in chapter 28 of The Bedford Guide for College Writers as one of your sources.
You might analyze any one of the following. These are just examples. Many approaches are possible for this topic.

a) The impact of online courses on education. You might focus on a particular field of study for this choice.

b) The impact of digital media on online courses.

c) The impact of the computer on writing courses or courses in other disciplines

d) The impact of certain forms of technology on reading skills or reading habits

e) Whether video games should be introduced into schools and used to help educate students

You must use at least two sources to support your points in this essay. You will cite your sources in APA style, using both in-text citations and a “Works Cited” page at the end of the essay.

If you choose this topic, you may write on the same topic for writing assignment #3, the research-supported essay. If you write on this topic for both writing assignment #2 and writing assignment #3, you will be expanding on your argument and finding more sources for the essay for writing assignment #3.

3. Analyze or assess the impact of a television and/or video technology on children’s attention spans.

For this topic, you might want to use one of the articles in chapter 28 of The Bedford Guide for College Writers as one of your sources.
You might analyze any one of the following. These are just examples. Many approaches are possible for this topic.
You must use at least two sources to support your points in this essay. You will cite your sources in APA style, using both in-text citations and a “Works Cited” page at the end of the essay.
If you choose this topic, you may write on the same topic for writing assignment #3, the research-supported essay. If you write on this topic for both writing assignment #2 and writing assignment #3, you will be expanding on your argument and finding more sources for the essay for writing assignment #3.

4. Analyze the impact of the Internet on journalism.

a. For this topic, you might want to use one of the articles in the “reserved readings” section of the class as one of your sources.

b. You might analyze one or more of the following. These are just examples. Many approaches are possible for this topic.

c. The impact of the Internet on a particular aspect of the newspaper industry

d. The impact of the Internet on multimedia news delivery

e. The impact of the Internet on how the public understands news events.

You must use at least two sources to support your points in this essay. You will cite your sources in APA style, using both in-text citations and a “Works Cited” page at the end of the essay.
If you choose this topic, you may write on the same topic for writing assignment #3, the research-supported essay. If you write on this topic for both writing assignment #2 and writing assignment #3, you will be expanding on your argument and finding more sources for the essay for writing assignment #3.

5. Analyze the impact of the Internet on political campaigns and elections.

a. For this topic, you might want to use one of the articles in the “reserved readings” section of the class as one of your sources.

b. You might analyze any one or more of the following. These are just examples. Many approaches are possible for this topic.

c. The impact of the Internet on fundraising in campaigns

d. The impact of the Internet on speeches or debates in campaigns

e. The impact of the Internet on a politician when he or she makes a blunder in a speech or does something embarrassing in public.

f. The impact of the Internet on the personal life of a politician

You must use at least two sources to support your points in this essay. You will cite your sources in APA style, using both in-text citations and a “Works Cited” page at the end of the essay.
If you choose this topic, you may write on the same topic for writing assignment #3, the research-supported essay. If you write on this topic for both writing assignment #2 and writing assignment #3, you will be expanding on your argument and finding more sources for the essay for writing assignment #3.

6. Analyze the impact of technology on a field of study of your choice.

This option represents a more general approach to the essay.

Some examples might be the following. These are just examples. Many approaches are possible for this topic.

a. The impact of mobile devices on cybersecurity

b. The impact of the Internet on the field of advertising

c. The impact of cloud computing on a particular business field

d. The impact of the Internet in an area of communication studies

e. The impact of the Internet on global marketing strategies

f. The impact of a particular type of technology on health care

If you choose this topic, you may write on the same topic for writing assignment #3, the research-supported essay. If you write on this topic for both writing assignment #2 and writing assignment #3, you will be expanding on your argument and finding more sources for the essay for writing assignment #3.

2. Approach

The following video tutorial provides general instruction on writing a cause-effect essay:

http://polaris.umuc.edu/ewc/tutorials/cause_effect/

Your essay should have the following:

· an introductory paragraph with a thesis statement.

The Bedford Guide for College Writers offers advice on writing an introduction on pages 428-433. In addition, it provides tips on writing a thesis statement in chapter 20, pages 400-421.

In addition, the following video tutorial gives instruction on writing an effective introduction to an essay:

http://polaris.umuc.edu/ewc/tutorials/introductions/

· body paragraphs that offer evidence to support your thesis and synthesizes your source material

The Bedford Guide for College Writers offers advice on cause-effect analysis on pages 457-458. In addition, it provides advice on giving examples on pages 439-441 and on providing details on pages 41-443.

Moreover, it provides advice on writing body paragraphs on pages 423-427.

In addition, the following video tutorial gives instruction on writing effective body paragraphs for an essay. Keep in mind that this tutorial is not specific to the cause-effect essay:

http://polaris.umuc.edu/ewc/tutorials/paragraphs/

You might find the following tutorial helpful for using effective transitions from one thought to the next in your essay. Keep in mind that this tutorial is not specific to the cause-effect essay:

http://polaris.umuc.edu/ewc/tutorials/transitions/

· a solid conclusion that reminds readers of your main idea (or thesis) without simply repeating it

The Bedford Guide for College Writers offers advice on writing a conclusion on pages 430-433.

In addition, the following video tutorial gives instruction on writing an effective conclusion to an essay:

http://polaris.umuc.edu/ewc/tutorials/conclusions/

· A Works Cited page that lists the two sources you used for the essay

Length: 800-1000 words

Some strategies to consider when writing this essay:

For this essay, you will analyze either the causes of a phenomenon or the effects of a phenomenon.
Please choose one of these two strategies for your essay.

Students sometimes try to analyze both causes and effects. Please do not take this approach.

The length and breadth of this essay is not sufficient to allow you to analyze both causes and effects in a thorough fashion. For example, if you write about the gasoline prices, you would analyze the causes (e.g., what factors cause gasoline prices to rise) or the effects (e.g., what happens when gasoline prices rise).

In addition, this is not a persuasive essay. Your opinion or response, if it comes out in your essay, should not be the focus of the essay. The causes or effects should be the focus of the essay.

Due Date:

You instructor will give you a due date for the first draft of the essay. You will receive comments on the first draft and be asked to write a second draft based on the feedback you receive in the comments.