Critical Thinking #2 “Civic Duty” (Cause and/or Effect) There’s write anessay on something that bugs you right now. I’m sure of it. It may be that cars go too fast down your street. It may be a billboard on your commute in poor taste. Perhaps it’s graffiti or litter in a public park you like to attend. It could be the number of polling places at voting time, or the lack of handicapped ramps at the library. Whatever it is, it’s time to do something about it. Choose your cause. For this fairly short paper (1400 words), a local, civic issue (the need for a dog park) is probably more easily handled than a broad political issue (legalizing marijuana). Be sure that your issue will have enough substance for you to write an essay exploring the causes and/or effects of the situation, and make sure the issue affects more people than just yourself (complaining about your manager isn’t the way to go here). Explain the reasons behind your concern, and offer a solution to the problem. Illustrate how the solution would be beneficial to all concerned, or at least the most beneficial of all possible solutions.
