People communicate about problems and solutions in their community in many different forms, and often they do so online. One way is to write a post on a blog. Blogs (shortened from the original name “web logs”) are made up of a series of posts about a certain subject or theme. Blogs can be produced by an individual, a collaboration, or an organization. For this activity, you’ll write your causal argument in the form of a blog post, imagining that the subject of the whole blog is either about your community or about the problem. Your particular post will focus on the specific problem you’re exploring.
The claim of a causal analysis answers the question “What causes this problem?” or “What effects result from this problem?”. The analysis itself can explore primary and secondary causes and/or immediate and long-term causes.
Identify specific causes that created your community problem and use authoritative sources to support your reasoning. Be sure to avoid logical fallacies and overgeneralizations. For example, if you wanted to identify the causes of poor physical health in elementary school students, then you need to identify specific causes within the environment that may have contributed to the problem, such as a poor diet at school or a lack of phys ed classes for students. Simply saying “poor school environment” will not be effective. Next, establish a clear hierarchy between causes and effects: what is the primary cause and what are contributing causes? Who or what is most affected by the problem?
The design of a blog post can vary, but most have at least the following characteristics.
easily scannable presentation with headings and white space between single-spaced paragraphs
visual elements like images or embedded videos, color, minimal decorative graphics; all images or embedded videos include the source
author information like a bio with or without a picture
linked sources (both sources used by the author and sources where readers can learn more)
compelling title that entices readers
appropriate language and tone for the rhetorical context
You must include headings, white space between single-spaced paragraphs, at least one image related to the problem (with attribution to source), a bio, linked sources, a compelling title, and appropriate language and tone.
As you make decisions about content and design, consider the rhetorical context:
The audience for your causal analysis can be fellow community members, leaders/decision-makers, activists, or a general public beyond your community. Imagine the post you are composing will appear on a local blog for and about your community. Consider the perspectives of your readers when providing information, using authoritative sources, and making language choices.
Your purpose is to claim that a certain problem is the result of particular causes and/or will result in certain effects.
The blog genre can vary depending on a number of factors–is it personal or affiliated with an organization or business? what is its purpose? what do its readers expect in communications within this context? what technological options or limits are available?
What stance do you want to convey? Are you trying to be serious, matter-of-fact, ironic, or something else?
Since you’re turning this in as a document through Canvas, your context and design are limited to what is possible in this medium.
Below I’m attaching the previous assignment i did with some sources that can help.
