This page is a template for contributors. It is not part of the Civic Topology model itself. For conceptual standards and naming guidance, see Civic Topology Causal Link Writing Guidelines.
Title convention:
- Use the full cause–effect statement.
- Example: Tax Cuts for the Wealthy cause Severe Income Inequality
- Slug: lowercase, hyphenated (
tax-cuts-wealthy-cause-severe-income-inequality).
Categories:
[TargetIssue]-cause(e.g.,Severe-income-inequality-cause)[SourceIssue]-effect(e.g.,Tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy-effect)
Sections
1. Claim
- One-sentence, neutral statement of the causal link.
- Canonical form: X → Y.
2. Scope & Preconditions
- Contexts where this claim applies.
- Assumptions and limits.
3. Mechanisms (How X → Y)
- Bullet list of pathways (short label + explanation).
- Note mediating or moderating factors.
4. Evidence
- Representative studies or historical cases (brief, cited).
- Note method strength (RCT, natural experiment, historical comparison).
5. Counterevidence / Alternative Explanations
- Findings that contest or qualify the claim.
6. Confidence
- High / Medium / Low, with brief justification.
7. Policy/Design Touchpoints (optional)
- Neutral notes on where interventions might affect the link.
8. Moral Foundations Context (optional)
- Values often invoked on either side of the debate.
9. Related Issues & Links
- Causes of X, other causes of Y, downstream effects of Y.
10. Notes & Versioning
- Open questions.
- Change log.