Identify common stereotypes about your field. What are they? Do they involve people working in the field? People who professionals interact with? Choose ONE stereotype and identify both the cause of that stereotype and the effects that the stereotype can have on the people who it is applied to. You will then write an essay where you summarize and outline both the causes and effects (using sources for evidence and support), AND where you analyze why those stereotypes exist, why they are problematic, and why they may have unintended consequences for individuals and your profession.
Purpose:
Cause and effect examinations ask us to think critically about why something happened, and what that effect means for the continued development of other things. If we are incorporating critical examination and analysis into our skill set, then we need to think about how events and actions are interconnected.
What is a cause & effect:
A cause and effect essay asks you to do one of two things:
Consider the cause of an action, explain what its potential effects are, and examine why it is important to consider those effects; OR
Consider an effect or outcome, explain what potential causes for that outcome were, and examine why those causes were likely responsible.
Regardless, this essay will challenge you to think critically about a topic, incorporate some research, and provide your interpretation and judgment on what you’ve found.
