Cause and Effect Essay Outline Checklist

Planning a Cause/Effect Essay Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Essay Outline Proofreading Checklist

Liberty Student Textbook Chapter 11-7b

Read through your outline and check the appropriate boxes on the chart below. If any area of your outline needs revision, make sure you correct it before submitting your outline assignment. Taking the time to construct a complete and thorough outline will help you save time when you write the actual essay.  You can also use aspects of this checklist for your first draft of the essay to guarantee that your transition from outline-to-essay was successful—without forgetting any key-points.

Reading & Study Application	Successful	Needs Revision
1. Thesis statement: Makes a clear argument explaining the need to examine causes or to consider effects of social media on the American culture due to its impact—positively, negatively, or both.
2. Evidence: Discusses less important causes or effects and major causes and effects in the body-paragraphs.  No source usage in the introduction of conclusion unless it is as the ‘hook’ of the introduction or the culminating sentence of the conclusion paragraph.
3. Evidence in support of the effects argument: Presents support for your evaluation based on the set criteria. In your outline, include at least the minimum number of required paraphrases, summaries, and/or quotes from outside sources. Try to limit the number of quotes used in the writing since those are not your words, and therefore, less integrated into your writing than a paraphrase or summary would be.  See individual assignment instructions for specifics.
4. Opposing argument(s): Presents viewpoints opposing your thesis argument. Be sure to include the strongest opposition to refute and the opposition that would seem most common (known) by the audience. This helps build your credibility and convinces your audience to consider or adopt your position. Use appeals to argue against the opposition.  Locate negatively used appeals and fallacies in the oppositions’ argument to refute such ideas logically.
5. Refutation of opposing arguments: Considers and rejects other possible causes or effects. Be sure to include the strongest opposition to refute. This helps build your credibility and convinces your audience to consider or adopt your position.
6. Conclusion: Reinforces the argument’s main point; includes a strong concluding statement to leave the reader assured of your position and its strength.
7. Contains Appeals: pathos (emotional) appeals, (values/belief) appeals, and/or logos (factual) appeals as appropriate.
8. Title reflects issue and argument information—not the assignment.  Be sure to create a unique title that is linked to the very last sentence of your essay.  In this way, the audience comes full circle, and you have true closure to your writing.
9. Voice: Uses only third person pronouns. (All first and second person pronouns have been removed)
10 If using current APA format, contains properly formatted, title page, header, abstract, and references page. If using MLA format, contains a properly formatted title page, header, heading, and Works Cited page If using Turabian format, contains a properly formatted title page, header, and bibliography page. Limit the use of quotes whenever possible.  Increase your use of paraphrasing to adequately integrate scholarly source support into your argument. Remember, all Liberty papers require the documentation style and declared degree/diploma to be posted to the title page and the subject section of the assignment link; therefore, you will need to make sure that your title page meets the criteria for both Liberty and your assigned documentation style.
11. Double spaced.
12. Font is black 12-point Times New Roman
13. References/Works Cited/ Bibliography page includes all sources cited within the body of the essay in alphabetical order, properly space, with hanging indents and source layout.
14. Checked for proper editing: spelling, grammar/mechanics.  Eliminate all non-standard English terms (slang, colloquialism, cliché, jargon) and contractions from the writing.

© 2018 Jeanette L. H. Dick

For Educational Purposes Only

Checklist for a Cause/Effect Essay Outline (Part 3)