The Cause and Effect Essay

1. To understand the relationship of events that brought about an outcome, (Cause)2. To understand the results that come out of an event (Effect)3. To understand the chain of causes and effects between some events (Causal Chain)

Why Cause-Effect Essay

Cause and Effect analyzes why something happens.

Some effects are caused by multiple causes.

Some causes, in turn, can result in multiple effects.

Focus on EffectsFocus on Effects

CAUSE

EFFECT #1

EFFECT #2

EFFECT #3

Focus on CausesFocus on Causes

EFFECT

CAUSE #1

CAUSE #2

CAUSE #3

Cause and Effect ChainCause and Effect Chain

EFFECT

EFFECT

CAUSE

CAUSE

List Causes and Effects• First look for immediate causes/effects.• Then look for remote causes/effects –

underlying, more basic reasons/results.• Make separate lists of causes/effects.• List evidence next to each cause/effect.• Generate additional material for weak

points.• Rate the items on the list by asking,

“How significant is this cause/effect? Would the situation exist or have arisen without it?

Main cause: the most important cause Contributory Causes: less important Immediate Cause: closely precedes the

effect. Remote cause: less obvious because it

involves something in the past or far away.

Causal Chain: an effect can be the cause to another effect, on so on.

Causal Relation: Necessary Cause - one that must be present for the effect to

occur. Ex. Combustion is necessary to drive a gasoline engine.

Sufficient Cause - one that can produce an effect unaided, though there may be more than one sufficient cause of a given effect. Ex. A dead battery is enough to keep a car from starting--

but faulty spark plugs or an empty gas tank will have the same effect.

Contributory Cause - one that helps to produce an effect but cannot do so by itself. Ex. Running a red light might help to cause an

accident....though other facts -- pedestrians or other cars in the intersection -- must also be present.

Information taken from: http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html

Avoiding Post Hoc Reasoning: Do not assume that just because even A

precedes event B, event A caused even B. This illogical assumption is called post hoc reasoning. This error leads you to confuse coincidence with causality.

Do not confuse words like because, therefore and consequently (indicating a causal relationship), with words like subsequently, later, and afterward (chronological relationship words).

Planning a Cause and Effect Planning a Cause and Effect EssayEssay

Purpose and Thesis:◦Be sure to identify the relationships among

the specific causes and effect you will discuss.◦Thesis statement should tell the reader

It doesn't have to be persuasive The points you plan to consider The position you will take Whether you will emphasize causes, effects,

or both. The cause and/or effect you consider most

important. The order in which you will treat your points.Planning a Cause and Effect Essay

Order and sequence; several possibilities include: Chronological Main cause first, and then contributory causes Contributory causes first, and then main

cause. Negative effects first, then positive First dismiss events that are not causes, and

then discuss actual causes for an effect. Most obvious causes first, and then less

obvious causes.

Planning a Cause and Effect Essay

Organizing the EssayIntroduction

• Start with a quote, a list, a description, or statistics to catch the reader’s attention.

• Introduce the subject and explain the situation.

• Give any background material necessary.• Thesis: state your 3 points in the

cause/effect relationship.

Body

Patterns of OrganizationUse transitions between each cause

and/or effect and each paragraph.A. B. C.

D. E.CauseCause

s

CauseCause

Cause

Effect

Effect

Effect

Effects

Effect

Effect

Cause

C/E

C/E

C/E

Conclusion• Revisit the introduction.

• Ask “So what?” What conclusion or point can be drawn or made from the points presented?

• DO NOT summarize the points from the body of the essay.

The LanguageThe Language

Transitions are essential to this type of essay to distinguish causes from effects.◦because, because of, for, since, as◦as a result of, thus, therefor,

consequently, ◦cause, result from, result in, lead to,

bring about, produce◦effect, cause, reason, rationale, result,

affect, relation, correlation◦effective, causal, etc.

Planning a Cause and Effect Essay

Structuring a Cause and Structuring a Cause and Effect EssayEffect Essay

Finding Causes Less important cause > effect> most

important cause

Describing or Predicting Effects Cause > first effect> second effect > third

(most important) effect> conclusion (with possible prediction of additional effects).

Revising a Cause and Effect Revising a Cause and Effect EssayEssayFocus either on causes or effectsanalyze the causes and/or effects

sufficientlyare the link in the chain clear if yours

is causal chain essayprinciples of organization: order of

familiarity, order of interest, order of importance

The thesis statement should contain a central idea.

• Have you clearly stated your point?• Have you made it clear which you are

explaining - causes or effects?• Have you given sufficient evidence to

convince readers that the cause/effect relationships are valid, not just guesses?

• Have you claimed causes or effects (or made assertions) that you haven’t proven?

• Are you certain that the causes produced the effects or that the effects resulted from the cause?

Multiple Causes-->EffectMultiple Causes-->Effect

In this pattern, the organization is as follows:

Thesis statement: Air pollution is caused by a variety of imperceptible, but controllable industries.

I. exhaust gases from cars    A. government does not take enough control    B. citizens are not as conscientious as they could beII. uncontrolled factory gases    A. no regular checks on gases released that need to

be regulated    B. factories are inside the borders of residential

areas and should be movedIII. burning of low-quality coal for heating    A. government does not take enough control    B. other forms of energy are too expensive, but

Information taken from: http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html

Causal chain / DominoCausal chain / DominoIn this pattern, the events lead to one another, as in

the following organization: Thesis statement: Using deodorants with

chlorofluorocarbon gas will bring the end of world.I. Chlorofluorocarbon gases are contained in most

deodorants  and released by  some factories  into the air.

II. This gas causes the ozone layer  to become thinner and finally disappear in patches.

III. The unfiltered ultraviolet rays of the sun cause overheating in the poles of the earth, where the icebergs start to melt.

IV. The huge amount of water released from the poles leads to a rise in the sea-level.

V. The sea will cover the land and this will be the end of the world. Information taken from: http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html

Cause-->Multiple EffectsCause-->Multiple Effects

In this pattern, the effects of a certain situation  are explained in separate paragraphs, with the following organization: 

Thesis statement: Watching too much TV is one of the major sociological issues of this century, which has many effects on the physiology and psychology of people.

I. eating disorders    A. TV meals     B. obesityII. communication problems    A. more violence    B. no interpersonal talkInformation taken from: http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html

Thanks for watching!!!Thanks for watching!!!