The Causal Analysis 7th ed

The Causal Analysis and Discussion of Sarah West's Causal Analysis

A causal analysis is just that: an "analysis," and, if you read the discussion of the topic a bit lightly or if you've forgotten, be sure to check it again at Analysis. Here's a refresher:

1. What is your impression? (which yields a claim/thesis)
2. How do you know? (which compels you to provide evidence/facts -- in this case, the evidence you've gained through research)
3. Why is it important? (which lends focus to your analysis -- in this case, while there may be many causes to a problem, you'll want to focus on those addressed by your solution)

I'll come back to these in a moment to show you how to use them.

But the best way to begin would be to check out Sara West's invention activities in "A Writer at Work," on pages 498-501. Note that you can find her final draft on pages 466-70.

If you'll notice on pages 498-9, it says that Ms. West only had a rough and partial idea as to the causes of sexual harassment. Indeed, it says she only began with the first three listed on 498: women are not taken seriously; men don't understand harassment; and men are not worried about being reported.

Similarly, you may only have a rough idea as to the causes of the problem for which you are developing a solution. However, with your Position Paper behind you, you no doubt have a better idea as to the causes, for you've been to the library and out on the net and have gathered at least four sources.

What Ms. West did was simply list the causes she knew about and then tried to determine just how important the causes were -- i.e., whether they were immediate, or remote, or perpetuating, or hidden causes. Notice how she claims the first cause is a "background" cause.

And that's what you should do, which should be easy enough.

Now, if you've done your research already, you should be pretty well set at this point, and you can skip the following sub-discussion. If not, stick around for a moment and read the small print.

What you can do is let the causes you've come up with determine what research you'll need, as did Ms. West. She knew that she had to look up harassment, of course, but she would also need some information (statistics, authoritative sources, and perhaps anecdotes) on those three causes she started with. You see, starting with some idea of what you're looking for helps you immensely with your research; with a list, you don't get sidetracked.

As she sought the information on the first three topics, she not only found four more causes but she also found that she had to recast the focus of her research to consider "reported incidents."

Thus, she added those four causes to her list and found herself with some fine claims to make and some evidence to support those claims. But, I'd bet at this point, she only had a vague idea of how to organize and write her causal analysis.

Now, the first thing to see here is that each one of West's entries on her list can stand as a claim. Like this:

"Women are not taken seriously" -- as it reads on her list. This, of course, is a claim.

You'll notice that West doesn't use the example of her aunt having remained silent and eventually leaving her work. But, in paragraph 5 of her final draft (466 ff), you can see that, instead, West uses evidence from a magazine article that said essentially the same thing. Now, why would she choose the article over personal experience to support her claim? It has to do with authority: the article carries greater authority than a personal anecdote.

What I want you to see, though, is the fact that West uses evidence to support her claim -- that is, she offers an analysis.

Do you see how this works now? Check out West's final draft (468-9), paragraph 6 for another example:

CLAIM: The media have contributed to the rise of reports..."

EVIDENCE: the televised Clearance Thomas Senate hearings; the Tailhook Convention scandal; the Paula Jones charges against President Clinton.

EXPLANATION: These three highly publicized cases made sexual harassment a much-discussed public issue..."

So, once you've listed your causes, supported them with the evidence you've found in your research, and then organized them in what you consider the most convincing order, you're just about done.

Below is my suggest format for your Causal Analysis:

Definition of the Problem -- which could be the very same you used for your Position paper, if you wrote on the same topic.

Discussion of the causes.

Solution

Works Cited page

Finally, what you develop here for the causal analysis should stand as your introduction to your final research project -- what would amount to about the first four or five pages.

To reassure yourself, check again the outline of a proposal on pages 374. Notice how the text shows the Presentation of the Problem. That's exactly your causal analysis.

Good luck.