Effects won't work on Text in After Effects

I must be missing some crucial step because I can't get effects to work on my text. I downloaded After Effects CC. I write text, put a solid, ramped background, add an effect, add a keyframe for the effect and see nothing. I copy what tutorials tell me. Nothing. Should if be difficult to see these effects? I tried CC Light Rays and Light Sweep. Just any effect in general won't apply to a text. I can't see it in FULL rendering or in Half/Rough Draft (which is where I want to work).