Saturday, March 19, 2011

Assignment: Cause and Effect Essay

Students at UC Berkeley protest budget cuts in 2009















California is currently in the midst of an unprecedented financial crisis. In 2011, higher education in California is again expected to absorb grave funding cuts. In recent years, the state’s three high educational branches (The California State University, The University of California, and The California Community Colleges System) have lost billions of dollars in funding—with no end in sight. In this year’s budget, Governor Brown is proposing an additional $1.4 billion cut in funding. If approved, this cut will have significant effects on an already stressed educational system. But, what will those effects be? What are the real-life implications of the state’s educational budget crisis in the short and long term? In a concise cause and effect essay, A) briefly define current the state of California’s education budget, and B) explore the probable effects these cuts will have on California. Cite only from any of the articles about the state budget in the eReader.

Requirements:
  • MLA format, including parenthetical citation
  • Cite a minimum of four texts from the eReader
  • 2.5-page minimum

The best papers:
  • Stay within the parameters of the subject matter
  • Have a concise thesis which clearly outlines a position
  • First identify the problem (e.g. the cause), and then extrapolate its implications (e.g. the effects)
  • Clearly support the thesis with solid evidence and a logical structure
  • Cite a minimum of four articles supporting the thesis
  • Conclude with a summation of the argument
  • Properly cite evidence using MLA's parenthetical citation method
  • Are in MLA Style 
UPDATE:
Because the budget situation is ever-changing, here are some "hot off the press" articles you may also use in your essay:

Due: Mo 4.4 / Tu 4.5
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