cause and effect essays can emphasize which of the following

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Mastering the art of writing a cause and effect essay – a comprehensive guide for students.

Have you ever wondered about the intricate web of causes and effects that shape our daily lives? The world is an interconnected tapestry, where actions lead to consequences and ripple effects can be felt far and wide. Delving into the realm of cause and effect essay writing allows us to explore this fascinating phenomenon and shed light on the intricate dynamics that drive our world.

Unlocking the secrets of causality becomes a thrilling adventure, where we unravel the threads that bind seemingly unrelated events. This form of essay is a powerful tool to analyze the core reasons behind certain outcomes and elucidate the multifaceted consequences that follow. As we embark on this journey, we will discover that cause and effect essay writing is not merely an exercise in academic observation, but a transformative process that enhances our analytical skills and deepens our understanding of the world.

Embracing the challenge of writing a cause and effect essay grants us the opportunity to gain mastery over the art of logical reasoning and critical thinking. Through meticulous examination and careful evaluation, we can trace the roots of various phenomena, untangle the intricacies of cause and effect relationships, and unlock a deeper comprehension of our surroundings.

Choosing a Topic for Your Cause and Effect Essay

When it comes to crafting a compelling cause and effect essay, one of the most vital steps is selecting the right topic. The topic you choose will lay the groundwork for the entire essay, determining the direction and scope of your analysis. It is essential to choose a topic that is not only engaging but also allows for a deeper exploration of the cause and effect relationship.

To begin, consider your personal interests and passions. Reflect on the issues or phenomena that have caught your attention and inspired your curiosity. By selecting a topic that genuinely interests you, you will be more motivated to dive into thorough research and analysis, resulting in a more compelling essay.

In addition to personal interests, it is also crucial to consider the current relevance and significance of a topic. Look for subjects that are currently generating discourse or have real-life implications. Choosing a topic that is timely and meaningful will not only enhance the relevance of your essay but also demonstrate your understanding of the broader context.

Furthermore, consider the available resources for research. Ensure that there is ample information and scholarly resources available on the topic you choose. Adequate research material will allow for a comprehensive understanding of the cause and effect relationship, enabling you to provide well-supported arguments in your essay.

Lastly, it is important to select a topic that is neither too broad nor too narrow. A broad topic may result in a superficial analysis, while a narrow topic may restrict your ability to explore the cause and effect relationship fully. Striking the right balance will ensure that you can provide a comprehensive analysis within the scope of your essay.

By considering your personal interests, the current relevance of a topic, the availability of research material, and the scope of analysis, you can choose a topic that will lay the foundation for an engaging and insightful cause and effect essay.

Discover how to select a captivating topic that will captivate your audience

When it comes to writing a compelling cause and effect essay, one of the most important factors is choosing a captivating topic that will engage and capture the interest of your readers. The topic you select sets the stage for the entire essay, determining the tone, focus, and overall impact of your writing.

It is crucial to choose a subject that is not only interesting but also relevant and meaningful. Selecting a topic that resonates with your readers will not only motivate them to continue reading but also to connect with and appreciate the content you are presenting.

Consider selecting a topic that is current and trending, as this will immediately grab the attention of your audience. You can explore current events, social issues, or even pop culture phenomena that have a cause and effect relationship worth examining. By choosing a topic that is relevant to the lives of your readers, you are more likely to capture their interest and make them invested in your essay.

Another approach to selecting a compelling topic is to target a subject that is controversial or thought-provoking. Controversial topics often spark debates and discussions, which can create a sense of excitement and engagement among your readers. By presenting different perspectives and analyzing the cause and effect relationships of a controversial issue, you can encourage your audience to think critically and consider different viewpoints.

Additionally, selecting a topic that is unique and rarely explored can also be an effective way to engage your readers. By presenting them with fresh and interesting content, you can pique their curiosity and keep them hooked throughout your essay. Look for lesser-known cause and effect relationships or delve into a subject that hasn’t been extensively covered to provide your readers with a unique and captivating reading experience.

In conclusion, choosing a compelling topic for your cause and effect essay is essential in capturing the attention and interest of your readers. By selecting a relevant, controversial, or unique subject, you can pique their curiosity and make them invested in your writing. Remember to consider your audience’s interests and values when choosing a topic to ensure that it resonates with them and keeps them engaged from start to finish.

Learn the essential components and organization of this type of academic writing

Understanding how to write a cause and effect essay involves knowing the key elements and structure that make up this particular type of academic writing. By grasping the essential components and organization, you will be equipped to effectively convey the relationship between causes and effects in your essay.

One important component of a cause and effect essay is the introduction, which provides an overview of the topic and clearly states the thesis statement. The thesis statement should express the main idea or argument of the essay, outlining the causes and effects that will be discussed.

Following the introduction, the body paragraphs of the essay delve into specific causes and effects. Each paragraph should focus on a single cause or effect, providing clear explanations and supporting evidence. It is important to use transitional words and phrases to guide the reader through the essay, making connections between causes and effects.

Additionally, proper organization is key in a cause and effect essay. One common approach is the chronological organization, where causes are presented in the order in which they occurred, leading to the effects. Another approach is the categorical organization, where causes and effects are grouped together based on common themes or categories.

Finally, a cause and effect essay should conclude with a clear summary of the main points and a restatement of the thesis statement. The conclusion should leave a lasting impression on the reader, emphasizing the significance of the causes and effects discussed in the essay.

By understanding and implementing the essential components and organization of a cause and effect essay, you can effectively analyze and present the causal relationships between events or phenomena. This type of academic writing allows you to explore the causes and effects of various topics, providing a deeper understanding and insight into the subject matter.

Gathering Evidence for Your Cause and Effect Analysis

When it comes to crafting a compelling cause and effect analysis, gathering solid evidence is crucial. In order to effectively support your claims and establish the cause-effect relationship, it is important to gather relevant and reliable evidence from various sources. By doing so, you can strengthen your arguments and provide a well-rounded understanding of the topic at hand.

Identify the Cause and Effect

Before you begin gathering evidence, it is necessary to clearly identify the cause and effect you will be exploring in your essay. This will help you focus your research and ensure that the evidence you collect directly supports your analysis. Clearly defining the cause and effect will also assist you in avoiding any potential tangents or unrelated information in your essay.

Research Scholarly Sources

A key element in gathering evidence for your cause and effect essay is conducting thorough research using reputable, scholarly sources. These sources can include academic journals, books, government publications, and authoritative websites. By utilizing these resources, you will be able to access well-researched and reliable information that adds credibility to your analysis.

Interview Experts or Professionals

In addition to scholarly sources, interviewing experts or professionals in the field related to your cause and effect topic can provide valuable insights and firsthand knowledge. These individuals can offer unique perspectives and experiences that can enhance the depth and quality of your analysis. Be sure to prepare thoughtful and relevant questions to make the most out of your interviews.

Gather Statistical Data

Statistics play a crucial role in a cause and effect essay as they provide quantifiable evidence to support your claims. Gathering statistical data, such as surveys, studies, or reports, helps to strengthen the cause-effect relationship by presenting concrete numbers and trends. Ensure that the statistical data you use is reliable and from credible sources in order to maintain the integrity of your analysis.

Utilize Case Studies or Examples

Using case studies or examples can further enhance the evidence used in your cause and effect analysis. Real-life examples or specific cases provide a practical understanding of the cause-effect relationship and make it easier for readers to connect with your arguments. Choose case studies or examples that are relevant to your topic and effectively illustrate the cause and effect you are discussing.

Gathering evidence is an essential step in writing a compelling cause and effect analysis. By clearly identifying the cause and effect, conducting thorough research, interviewing experts, utilizing statistical data, and incorporating case studies or examples, you can effectively support your claims and provide a well-rounded analysis. Remember to use reliable sources and present the evidence in a clear and organized manner to strengthen your arguments and engage your readers.

Explore effective research methods to support your claims and strengthen your arguments

In order to write a compelling cause and effect essay, it is crucial to support your claims and strengthen your arguments with solid research. By utilizing effective research methods, you can gather relevant evidence and data to back up your statements and make your essay more convincing. This section will explore various research techniques that can help you in this process.

One effective research method is conducting interviews. By directly speaking with experts or people with firsthand experience on the topic you’re discussing, you can gather valuable insights and personal anecdotes that can enrich your writing. Interviewing individuals who have a deep understanding of the cause-and-effect relationship you’re exploring can provide unique perspectives and strengthen your arguments.

Another research method to consider is conducting surveys or questionnaires. By designing well-crafted questions and distributing them to a relevant sample group, you can collect quantitative data that supports your claims. Surveys allow you to gather a large amount of information efficiently and objectively. This data can then be used to analyze patterns, trends, and correlations, which can further strengthen your arguments.

Utilizing scholarly sources such as academic journals and books is also an effective research approach. These sources provide in-depth analysis, research findings, and scholarly opinions on the causes and effects you’re discussing. By referencing reputable and authoritative sources, you can lend credibility to your arguments and demonstrate that your claims are well-supported by existing literature in the field.

Additionally, incorporating statistical data and empirical evidence can significantly strengthen your reasoning. By citing statistics, figures, and studies that provide concrete evidence of the cause-and-effect relationship you’re exploring, you can make your arguments more persuasive. This kind of data adds an objective and factual element to your essay, making it more compelling to readers.

By exploring and utilizing these research methods, you can ensure that your cause and effect essay is well-supported and thoroughly grounded in evidence. The combination of qualitative and quantitative data, expert insights, and scholarly sources will strengthen your arguments and make your essay more persuasive and credible.

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How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay: Full Guide

Ever wondered how things are connected in our world? Think of the butterfly effect—where a butterfly's wings in Brazil can set off a tornado in Texas. It's a quirky idea, but it shows how events are intertwined. Writing a cause and effect essay is like unraveling these connections, connecting the dots to reveal how things influence each other and shape our experiences.

In this guide, experts from our paper writing service will explore the concept of causality and share practical tips for creating great cause and effect essays. These essays won't just provide information—they'll leave a lasting impression on your readers.

What Is a Cause and Effect Essay

A cause and effect essay is a form of writing that aims to explore and explain the relationships between different events, actions, or circumstances. The central idea is to investigate why certain things happen (causes) and what results from those occurrences (effects). It's like peeling back the layers to reveal the interconnectedness of events, understanding the domino effect in the narrative of life.

Here's a breakdown of the key components:

• Causes: These are the factors or events that initiate a particular situation. They are the reasons behind why something occurs. For instance, if you're exploring the cause of obesity, factors like unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity could be identified as causes.
• Effects: The effects are the outcomes or consequences that result from the identified causes. Following the obesity example, effects could include health issues, reduced quality of life, or increased healthcare costs.
• Connection: The heart of a cause and effect essay lies in demonstrating the link between causes and effects. It's not just about listing events but explaining how one event leads to another in a logical and coherent manner.

When crafting such an essay, you're essentially acting as a storyteller and investigator rolled into one. Your goal is to guide the reader through the web of interconnected events, providing insights into the 'why' and 'what happens next.'

How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay with Easy Steps

Understanding how to write a cause and effect essay is like putting together a puzzle. Here are ten simple steps to help you write an engaging essay that looks into how things are connected.

1. Select a Specific Topic

• Choose a cause and effect relationship that sparks your interest.
• Ensure your topic is focused and manageable for a thorough exploration.

2. Explore Causal Links

• Conduct thorough research to uncover hidden connections and supporting evidence.
• Look beyond the obvious to identify intricate relationships between causes and effects.

3. Craft a Clear Thesis Statement

• Develop a precise thesis that clearly articulates the main cause and the resulting effects.
• Your thesis serves as the roadmap for your essay, guiding readers through your analysis.

4. Organize Chronologically or by Significance

• Structure your essay in a logical order, either chronologically or by the significance of events.
• This organization enhances clarity and helps readers follow the cause-and-effect progression.

5. Utilize Transitional Phrases

• Employ transition words and phrases to ensure seamless flow between causes and effects.
• Clear transitions enhance readability and strengthen the coherence of your essay.

6. Support Arguments with Credible Evidence

• Back up your claims with relevant data, examples, and statistics.
• Strong evidence adds credibility to your analysis and reinforces the cause-and-effect relationships you present.

7. Illustrate Chain Reactions

• Show how a single cause can trigger a chain of effects, and vice versa.
• Illustrate the ripple effects to emphasize the complexity of the relationships.

8. Analyze Root Causes

• Move beyond surface-level explanations and explore the underlying factors contributing to the cause-and-effect scenario.
• Deep analysis adds depth and nuance to your essay.

9. Consider Alternative Causes

• Address potential counterarguments to showcase a comprehensive understanding.
• Acknowledging alternative causes strengthens your essay's overall credibility.

10. Conclude with Impact

• Summarize key points and emphasize the broader significance of your analysis.
• Leave your readers with a thought-provoking conclusion that ties together the cause-and-effect relationships explored in your essay.

Cause and Effect Essay Structure Types

When setting up your essay, you can choose from different structures to make it organized. Let's look at two common types of cause and effect essay structures:

• Block Structure:

The block structure is a clear and organized way to present causes and effects in your essay. Here, you dedicate one section to discussing all the causes, covering multiple causes within each category. After that, you have another section to explore all the effects. This separation makes your ideas easy to understand.

Using the block structure allows you to dive deep into each category, thoroughly looking at causes and effects separately. It's handy when you want to give a detailed analysis and show the importance of each part of the causal relationship. This way, readers can fully grasp each element before moving on.

• Chain Structure:

On the other hand, the chain structure focuses on how events are connected and create ripple effects. It highlights how one cause leads to a specific effect, and that effect becomes the cause of more effects in an ongoing chain. This method is potent for illustrating the complexity of causal relationships.

The chain structure works well when you want to emphasize the sequence of events or deal with intricate cause-and-effect scenarios. It allows you to show how actions trigger a series of reactions, displaying the domino effect that leads to a specific outcome.

Regardless of the structural style you choose, if you require assistance with your academic paper, reach out to us with your ' write my paper for me ' request. Our experienced team is ready to tailor your paper to your specific requirements and ensure its excellence.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Creating an effective cause and effect essay begins with a well-structured outline. This roadmap helps you organize your thoughts, maintain a logical flow, and ensure that your essay effectively conveys the causal relationships between events. Below, we'll outline the key components of the essay along with examples:

I. Introduction

• Hook: Start with an engaging statement or fact. Example: 'Did you know that stress can significantly impact your overall health?'
• Background Information: Provide context for your topic. Example: 'In today's fast-paced world, stress has become an increasingly prevalent issue.'
• Thesis Statement: Clearly state the main cause and its corresponding effects. Example: 'This essay will explore the causes of stress and their profound negative effects on physical and mental health.'

II. Body Paragraphs

• Topic Sentence: Introduce the first cause you'll discuss. Example: 'One major cause of stress is heavy workload.'
• Supporting Details: Provide evidence and examples to support the cause. Example: 'For instance, individuals juggling multiple job responsibilities and tight deadlines often experience heightened stress levels.'
• Transition: Link to the next cause or move on to the effects.
• Topic Sentence: Introduce the first effect. Example: 'The effects of chronic stress on physical health can be devastating.'
• Supporting Details: Present data or examples illustrating the impact. Example: 'Studies have shown that prolonged stress can lead to cardiovascular problems, including hypertension and heart disease.'
• Transition: Connect to the next effect or cause.

C. Causes (Continued)

• Topic Sentence: Introduce the next cause in a new cause and effect paragraph. Example: 'Another significant cause of stress is financial strain.'
• Supporting Details: Explain how this cause manifests and its implications. Example: 'Financial instability often results in anxiety, as individuals worry about bills, debts, and their financial future.'
• Transition: Prepare to discuss the corresponding effects.

D. Effects (Continued)

• Topic Sentence: Discuss the effects related to financial strain. Example: 'The psychological effects of financial stress can be profound.'
• Supporting Details: Offer real-life examples or psychological insights. Example: 'Depression and anxiety are common consequences of constant financial worries, affecting both mental well-being and daily life.'

III. Conclusion

• Restate Thesis: Summarize the main cause and effects. Example: 'In summary, the heavy workload and financial strain can lead to stress, impacting both physical and mental health.'
• Closing Thoughts: Reflect on the broader significance of your analysis. Example: 'Understanding these causal relationships emphasizes the importance of stress management and financial planning in maintaining a balanced and healthy life.'

Cause and Effect Essay Examples

To help you grasp cause and effect essay writing with clarity, we have prepared two distinct essay examples that will guide you through the intricacies of both block and chain structures. Additionally, should you ever find yourself requiring assistance with academic writing or descriptive essays examples , simply send us your ' write my research paper ' request. Our expert writers are here to provide the support you need!

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Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Choosing a good topic starts with recognizing cause and effect key words. Here are 10 interesting topics that let you dig into fascinating connections and their important consequences:

• The Relationship Between Lack of Exercise and Mental Health in Older Adults
• Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Workplace Productivity
• The Impact of Cyberbullying on Adolescents' Emotional Well-being
• Influence of Social Media Advertising on Consumer Purchasing Decisions
• Consequences of Oil Spills on Coastal Ecosystems
• How Noise Pollution Affects Concentration and Academic Performance in Schools
• The Connection Between Fast-Food Marketing and Childhood Obesity
• Effects of Urbanization on Water Quality in Local Rivers
• The Relationship Between Indoor Plants and Air Quality in Homes
• Impact of Plastic Pollution on Wildlife in Urban Environments
• The Effect of Meditation on Stress Reduction in College Students
• How Increased Screen Time Affects Teenagers' Attention Span
• The Impact of Single-Use Plastics on Marine Microorganisms
• The Relationship Between Smartphone Use and Sleep Quality in Adults
• Effects of High-Fructose Corn Syrup on Metabolic Health
• The Consequences of Deforestation on Local Biodiversity
• Influence of Social Media Comparison on Body Dissatisfaction in Adolescents
• The Connection Between Air Pollution and Respiratory Health in Urban Areas
• Effects of Excessive Gaming on Academic Performance in High School Students
• The Impact of Fast Food Consumption on Childhood Obesity Rates

Final Words

Knowing what a cause and effect essay is and how to write it helps you uncover connections in different topics. With this guide, you can share your ideas in a clear and impactful way.

Meanwhile, if you're in need of a reaction paper example , rest assured we have you covered as well. So, seize this opportunity, put your thoughts on paper logically, and witness your essays leaving a lasting and influential mark.

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is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

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Cause And Effect Essay Writing

How to Write Cause and Effect Essays in Simple Steps

11 min read

Published on: Mar 13, 2020

Last updated on: Mar 25, 2024

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Learn How to Create a Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Top Cause and Effect Essay Topics to Impress Your Readers

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Are you struggling to wrap your head around cause and effect essays? Don’t worry; you’re not alone. 

These essays might seem complex at first glance, but with the right approach, they can become easier to write.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll look into what cause and effect essays are, how to structure them, and provide valuable tips and examples to help you understand this type of writing.

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What is a Cause and Effect Essay?

A cause and effect essay is a type of essay writing that explores the relationship between events, actions, or phenomena (causes) and their outcomes or consequences (effects) . 

In this type of essay, the writer analyzes how one event leads to another, providing insights into the underlying causes and the resulting effects. Cause and effect essays aim to explain the connections between various occurrences and explain the reasons behind certain outcomes. 

They often require critical thinking, careful analysis, and the use of evidence and examples to support arguments.

You may confuse cause-and-effect essays with compare and contrast essays . While cause and effect essays focus on analyzing the relationship between events, compare and contrast essays examine similarities and differences between two or more subjects or ideas.

How to Structure a Cause and Effect Essay

There are two main structural types commonly used to write a cause and effect essay: the block structure and the chain structure.

Block Structure

In the block structure, the writer first discusses all the causes of the event in one section, followed by a separate section dedicated to discussing all the effects.

This cause and effect essay format allows for a clear separation between the causes and effects, making it easier for the reader to understand the relationships between them.

Use the block structure when:

• There are multiple causes and effects to discuss, and you want to provide a comprehensive overview of each.
• You prefer a clear separation between causes and effects for easier understanding.

Chain Structure

In the chain structure, each cause is followed immediately by its corresponding effect(s), creating a chain-like sequence of events.

This structure emphasizes the direct relationship between each cause and its effect, providing a more immediate and interconnected narrative.

Use the chain structure when:

• You want to emphasize the direct relationship between each cause and its effect.
• You're discussing a series of events that occur in a linear or chronological order.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Creating an outline is essential for organizing your thoughts and structuring your cause and effect essay effectively. 

Here's a basic outline to guide you through the writing process:

Need a detailed outline guide? Be sure to check out our blog on " Cause and Effect Essay Outline " for a comprehensive breakdown of how to organize your essay.

How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay

Writing a cause and effect essay involves examining the reasons (causes) and outcomes (effects) of a particular event, phenomenon, or situation. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you craft an effective cause and effect essay:

Step 1: Choose a Topic

Start by selecting a topic that interests you and has clear cause-and-effect relationships. It could be a social issue, scientific phenomenon, historical event, or any other subject with identifiable causes and effects. 

For example, "The Effects of Climate Change on Wildlife Populations" or "Causes of Obesity in Developed Countries."

Step 2: Conduct Research

Gather relevant information and evidence to support your thesis statement . Look for credible sources such as academic journals, books, government reports, and reputable websites. 

Ensure you have a thorough understanding of both the causes and effects related to your chosen topic.

Step 4: Develop a Thesis Statement

Craft a clear and concise thesis statement that outlines the main causes and effects you will discuss in your essay. Your thesis should provide a roadmap for the reader and clearly state your position on the topic. 

For instance, "The rise in carbon emissions from human activities is leading to severe consequences for global ecosystems."

Step 5: Outline your Essay

Create a structured outline that organizes your ideas and arguments logically. Divide your essay into introduction , body paragraphs (each discussing a specific cause or effect), and conclusion . 

Each body paragraph should focus on one cause or effect and provide supporting details and evidence.

Step 6: Write the Introduction

Begin with an engaging introduction that provides background information on the topic and introduces your thesis statement. 

Hook the reader's attention with an interesting fact, statistic, or anecdote related to your topic. Clearly state the purpose of your essay and preview the main points you will discuss.

Step 7: Body Paragraphs

In the body paragraphs, explore the causes or effects of the topic in detail. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the cause or effect you will be discussing. 

Then, provide evidence and examples to support your claim. Use data, statistics, expert opinions, and real-life examples to strengthen your arguments. Make sure to explain the causal relationship between the factors you're discussing.

Step 8: Transition Between Paragraphs

Use transition words and sentences to smoothly transition between paragraphs and maintain coherence throughout your essay. 

These transitions help guide the reader through your arguments and ensure a logical flow of ideas.

Step 9: Write the Conclusion

Summarize the main points of your essay in the conclusion and restate your thesis statement. Reflect on the significance of your findings and emphasize the importance of understanding the causes and effects of the topic. 

Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion; instead, offer insights or suggestions for further research or action.

Step 10: Revise and Edit

Review your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy. Make sure each paragraph contributes to the overall argument and that your ideas are well-supported by evidence.

Once you've made revisions and edits, finalize your essay by formatting it according to the guidelines provided by your instructor or publication. 

Double-check citations and references to ensure they are accurate and properly formatted according to the required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).

Cause and Effect Essay Examples

When writing a cause and effect essay for the first time, it is recommended to go through a few examples. It will help you understand the structure and how to use a method effectively.

The following are some of the great cause and effect examples free to use.

Cause and Effect Essay

Cause and Effect Essay Sample

Climate Change Cause and Effect Essay

Poverty Cause and Effect Essay

Air Pollution Cause and Effect Essay

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Here are some cause and effect essay topics:

• The Impact of Climate Change on Extreme Weather Events
• The Rise of Mental Health Disorders Among Adolescents
• The Effects of Social Media on Political Polarization
• The Consequences of Deforestation on Biodiversity Loss
• The Relationship Between Income Inequality and Social Mobility
• The Impact of Technology on Human Relationships
• The Causes and Effects of the Global Obesity Epidemic
• The Effects of Air Pollution on Public Health
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employment
• The Causes and Consequences of Refugee Crises

These topics reflect current societal concerns and offer opportunities for in-depth analysis of cause-and-effect relationships. If you need more such ideas check out our cause and effect essay topics  blog!

Tips for Writing a Cause and Effect Essay

Here are additional tips for writing a cause and effect essay:

• Establish Clear Connections: Clearly establish the causal relationships between different factors to help readers understand the cause-and-effect dynamics of the topic.
• Avoid Oversimplification: Recognize that most events have multiple causes and effects, so avoid oversimplifying complex phenomena by considering various factors and their interactions.
• Consider Chronology: When discussing historical events, consider the chronological sequence of causes and effects to provide a clear narrative structure.
• Focus on Significance: Highlight the significance of your findings by discussing the broader implications of the causes and effects you've identified.
• Reflect and Synthesize: In the conclusion, reflect on the insights gained from analyzing the causes and effects and synthesize your findings to provide a cohesive understanding of the topic.

To conclude, writing a cause and effect essay can be a rewarding experience that allows you to look into complex issues. By following the guidelines outlined in this guide and applying your critical thinking skills, you can create compelling essays that inform and engage your audience. 

But if you are in a time crunch do not hesitate to take professional help. CollegeEssay.org provides a top cause and effect essay writing service for those students who are having a hard time meeting deadlines. We'll help you with your cause and effects essays for the best grades. 

Reach out to avail amazing discounts and get our custom essay writing help in no time. As a plus, you can use our AI writing tool if you need a quick fix to beat the deadline stress!

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How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay: A Quick Guide From Academic Wordsmiths

Samuel Gorbold

What Is a Cause and Effect Essay

First, let’s answer the question –  what is a cause and effect essay? According to the definition, it’s a type of academic writing that explores the relationships between events or phenomena, focusing on identifying the reasons (causes) behind a particular occurrence and examining the consequences (effects) that result from it. 

The goal is to establish a clear and logical connection between the root of the problem and its corresponding outcome, providing readers with insights into the underlying mechanisms and outcomes of a given situation. This type of essay encourages critical thinking and analysis, aiming to explain the interconnected nature of events and their repercussions on each other.

Learning how to write such a paper is important for students using an essay writer service as well. It cultivates critical thinking, refines communication skills, promotes research proficiency, and provides a foundational understanding of relationships applicable in diverse academic and professional contexts.

Three Major Types of Cause and Effect Essay Structure

The block configuration offers writers a clear separation between consequences, the chain method interweaves them in a sequential manner, and the causal system delves into the intricate relationships between events. The choice of cause and effect essay structure depends on the complexity of the dealings being explored and the writer's preferred method of presentation.

Block Structure

In a block arrangement, the writer discusses all the correlations in one block or passage and then moves on to discuss the results in another block or paragraph. This approach is straightforward and easy to follow and is useful when there is a need to elaborate extensively on a selected subject.

• Introduction: Begin by presenting the subject and offering contextual information.
• Body Paragraph 1: Outline the factors contributing to the topic along with supporting specifics.
• Body Paragraph 2: Examine the outcomes of these factors, incorporating testomony or illustrative examples.
• Conclusion: Recapitulate the key aspects and underscore the overarching significance of the theme.

Chain Structure

The chain structure, on the other hand, involves a more interwoven approach. Each rationale is followed immediately by the corresponding weight, forming a chain-like progression. This shape creates a smoother flow between the events or phenomena being discussed and emphasizes the direct connections between consequences. This organization is effective for essays where the relationships are intricate and closely linked.

• Introduction: Begin by presenting the subject and underscore its significance.
• Body Paragraphs: Each section centers on a distinct motive and its ensuing influences, creating a connected string of events.
• Cause 1: Elaborate on the initial reason and its resultant outcomes.
• Cause 2: Detail the second basis and its effects, potentially incorporating the impacts of Cause 1.
• Cause 3: Explore the third occasion and its aftermaths, encompassing the outgrowth of Causes 1 and 2. Follow this design for any additional sections, if required.
• Conclusion: Recapitulate the primary reasoning, emphasizing its interlinked nature.

Causal Structure

The causal structure helps writers focus on discussing the relationship in a more in-depth and interconnected manner. Instead of presenting explanations and implications separately, it emphasizes the links between events, providing a more nuanced understanding of how one event leads to another. This framework is suitable when the writer aims to explore the intricate connections and influences between different elements.

• Introduction: Introduce a topic and offer contextual information.
• Body Paragraphs: Each section concentrates on a specific reasoning, scrutinizing the connections between them.
• Cause 1: Elaborate on the initial reasoning and its immediate aftermath(s).
• Cause 2: Delve into the second point, instigated by the result(s) of Cause 1, and its ensuing impact(s).
• Cause 3: Outline the third basis, influenced by the effect(s) of Cause 2, and its subsequent effect(s). Maintain this pattern for any additional reasons and implications.
• Conclusion: Summarize the causal chain, underscore the overall significance, and highlight potential long-term consequences.

Organizing Your Essay Using These Effective Patterns

When writing cause and effect essay, the importance of patterns cannot be overstated. A well-organized pattern enhances the effectiveness of conveying your perspective. Check out three primary organizational patterns that can be employed to craft an exemplary essay, each tailored to suit the specific focus of your writing. While the first two methods find frequent application in high school and college writing, the third procedure, though less conventional, can prove beneficial in certain scenarios. Pay for essay now if you’d like a professional writer to apply one of these patterns so you don’t have to waste any time contemplating which will suit your assignment best. 

When determining the pattern for your forthcoming essay, carefully consider your topic and pose the fundamental question: 

• Do you wish to delve into outcomes? 
• Or would you like to scrutinize the origins? 

Based on your answer, opt for one of the following essay organization options:

Effects-Focused Method 

This technique directs attention toward unraveling the denouements of a particular phenomenon. Here, the writer delves into the outcomes, exploring their intricacies and implications. This practice allows for a comprehensive understanding of the upshots, painting a vivid picture for the elocutionist.

Causes-Focused Method

It shifts the spotlight to the root factors behind a given situation. By concentrating on the origins, the writer elucidates the underlying reasons, shedding light on the catalysts that set events in motion. This technique is particularly effective when a deeper exploration of the rationale is essential for a thorough comprehension of the subject matter.

Causal Chain Method

A more interwoven approach, it traces the interconnected links between sources and consequences. It unfolds like a narrative, where each reason begets a ramification, which in turn becomes a ground for the subsequent upshot. This style provides a seamless flow, revealing the intricate web of linkage and dependencies among the various elements involved.

Ultimately, the choice between these methods hinges on the writer's intent and the nuances of the subject at hand. These are three distinctive approaches, allowing for a tailored and nuanced exploration of relationships in your essay.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Introduction

• Hook: Engage the reader with a compelling statement or question.
• Background: Provide context and introduce the topic of the essay.
• Thesis Statement: Clearly state the main reasons and denouements to be explored.

Body Paragraphs

• Effects-Focused
• Effect 1: Present the first effect and delve into its evidence.
• Supporting Detail: Provide evidence or examples for Effect 1.
• Effect 2: Explore the second effect and its intricacies.
• Supporting Detail: Offer additional grounding or examples.
• Causes-Focused 
• Cause 1: Examine the primary reasoning and elaborate on its significance.
• Supporting Detail: Incorporate evidence or examples for Cause 1.
• Cause 2: Investigate the second clause and its underlying factors.
• Supporting Detail: Strengthen your argument with evidence or examples.
• Causal Chain 
• Cause 1 and Effect 1: Trace the initial proviso and its immediate effect.
• Supporting Detail: Provide evidence or examples for Cause 1 and Effect 1.
• Cause 2 and Effect 2: Continue the chain with the second proviso and its effect.
• Supporting Detail: Offer additional evidence or examples.

Counterargument (Optional)

• Acknowledge opposing viewpoints or alternate justifications/aftermaths.
• Refute counterarguments or demonstrate their limitations.
• Summarize: Recapitulate the main determinants and impacts explored.
• Emphasize Significance: Highlight the broader implications of the affiliations.
• Concluding Statement: End with a thought-provoking statement or call to action.

How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay: Step-by-Step Guide

In this segment, we will elucidate the fundamental components of writing this type of essay, providing you with insights and guidance to articulate a coherent and substantiated argument.

Step 1 – Select a Topic

Choose a question that not only interests you but also has real-world significance, ensuring that your exploration of connections contributes meaningfully to the reader's understanding.

Step 2 – Generate a Thesis Statement

Thoroughly investigate and gather information from diverse sources, incorporating real-life examples and case studies to add depth and authenticity to your document. Then, brainstorm a thesis statement that not only outlines reasons and consequences but also hints at the broader implications, providing readers with a clear roadmap for what lies ahead in your essay.

Step 3 – Create an Outline

Thoughtfully consider the organizational methodology that aligns with your topic, ensuring that the chosen framework enhances the coherence of your narrative and allows for a seamless exploration of the main theme. After that, draw up a cause and effect essay outline that not only guides the frame but also highlights the logical progression of your arguments, offering a visual representation of how origins lead to results or vice versa.

Step 4 – Write the Introduction

In your introduction, craft a compelling opening that goes beyond capturing attention; aim to establish an emotional or intellectual connection with the reader, making them eager to explore the associations you present.

Step 5 – Develop Body Paragraphs

Dedicate each section to motives or reactions, ensuring that the supporting evidence not only elaborates on your points but also provides a comprehensive understanding of the contextual factors involved. When addressing counterarguments, strive not only to refute alternative perspectives but also to acknowledge the complexity of the issue, showcasing your essay's depth and your consideration of diverse viewpoints.

Step 6 – Use Transitions

Incorporate transitions that not only guide the reader but also serve as signposts, indicating the links between your ideas and creating a smooth and cohesive narrative. 

Step 7 – Write the Conclusion

In your conclusion, reiterate the importance of understanding the links discussed and leave the reader with a compelling thought or question that encourages further reflection.

Step 8 – Revise and Edit

During the revision process, focus not only on grammar and style but also on the overall coherence of your essay, ensuring that each sentence contributes meaningfully to the topic exploration. In your final review, pay attention not only to the technical aspects but also to the emotional power of your essay, ensuring that it resonates with readers and leaves a lasting impression.

We would also like to recommend our guide on how to write an expository essay , as these two types of compositions are some of the most frequently assigned to students. 

Cause and Effect Essay Examples

Below, you will have the opportunity to explore an essay example that uses the causal structure, serving as a source of inspiration and practical illustration. 

How to Start a Cause and Effect Essay?

How to conclude a cause and effect essay, how to write a good cause and effect essay.

Samuel Gorbold , a seasoned professor with over 30 years of experience, guides students across disciplines such as English, psychology, political science, and many more. Together with EssayHub, he is dedicated to enhancing student understanding and success through comprehensive academic support.

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10.8 Cause and Effect

Learning objectives.

• Determine the purpose and structure of cause and effect in writing.
• Understand how to write a cause-and-effect essay.

The Purpose of Cause and Effect in Writing

It is often considered human nature to ask, “why?” and “how?” We want to know how our child got sick so we can better prevent it from happening in the future, or why our colleague a pay raise because we want one as well. We want to know how much money we will save over the long term if we buy a hybrid car. These examples identify only a few of the relationships we think about in our lives, but each shows the importance of understanding cause and effect.

A cause is something that produces an event or condition; an effect is what results from an event or condition. The purpose of the cause-and-effect essay is to determine how various phenomena relate in terms of origins and results. Sometimes the connection between cause and effect is clear, but often determining the exact relationship between the two is very difficult. For example, the following effects of a cold may be easily identifiable: a sore throat, runny nose, and a cough. But determining the cause of the sickness can be far more difficult. A number of causes are possible, and to complicate matters, these possible causes could have combined to cause the sickness. That is, more than one cause may be responsible for any given effect. Therefore, cause-and-effect discussions are often complicated and frequently lead to debates and arguments.

Use the complex nature of cause and effect to your advantage. Often it is not necessary, or even possible, to find the exact cause of an event or to name the exact effect. So, when formulating a thesis, you can claim one of a number of causes or effects to be the primary, or main, cause or effect. As soon as you claim that one cause or one effect is more crucial than the others, you have developed a thesis.

Consider the causes and effects in the following thesis statements. List a cause and effect for each one on your own sheet of paper.

• The growing childhood obesity epidemic is a result of technology.
• Much of the wildlife is dying because of the oil spill.
• The town continued programs that it could no longer afford, so it went bankrupt.
• More young people became politically active as use of the Internet spread throughout society.
• While many experts believed the rise in violence was due to the poor economy, it was really due to the summer-long heat wave.

Write three cause-and-effect thesis statements of your own for each of the following five broad topics.

• Health and nutrition

The Structure of a Cause-and-Effect Essay

The cause-and-effect essay opens with a general introduction to the topic, which then leads to a thesis that states the main cause, main effect, or various causes and effects of a condition or event.

The cause-and-effect essay can be organized in one of the following two primary ways:

• Start with the cause and then talk about the effects.
• Start with the effect and then talk about the causes.

For example, if your essay were on childhood obesity, you could start by talking about the effect of childhood obesity and then discuss the cause or you could start the same essay by talking about the cause of childhood obesity and then move to the effect.

Regardless of which structure you choose, be sure to explain each element of the essay fully and completely. Explaining complex relationships requires the full use of evidence, such as scientific studies, expert testimony, statistics, and anecdotes.

Because cause-and-effect essays determine how phenomena are linked, they make frequent use of certain words and phrases that denote such linkage. See Table 10.4 “Phrases of Causation” for examples of such terms.

Table 10.4 Phrases of Causation

The conclusion should wrap up the discussion and reinforce the thesis, leaving the reader with a clear understanding of the relationship that was analyzed.

Be careful of resorting to empty speculation. In writing, speculation amounts to unsubstantiated guessing. Writers are particularly prone to such trappings in cause-and-effect arguments due to the complex nature of finding links between phenomena. Be sure to have clear evidence to support the claims that you make.

Look at some of the cause-and-effect relationships from Note 10.83 “Exercise 2” . Outline the links you listed. Outline one using a cause-then-effect structure. Outline the other using the effect-then-cause structure.

Writing a Cause-and-Effect Essay

Choose an event or condition that you think has an interesting cause-and-effect relationship. Introduce your topic in an engaging way. End your introduction with a thesis that states the main cause, the main effect, or both.

Organize your essay by starting with either the cause-then-effect structure or the effect-then-cause structure. Within each section, you should clearly explain and support the causes and effects using a full range of evidence. If you are writing about multiple causes or multiple effects, you may choose to sequence either in terms of order of importance. In other words, order the causes from least to most important (or vice versa), or order the effects from least important to most important (or vice versa).

Use the phrases of causation when trying to forge connections between various events or conditions. This will help organize your ideas and orient the reader. End your essay with a conclusion that summarizes your main points and reinforces your thesis. See Chapter 15 “Readings: Examples of Essays” to read a sample cause-and-effect essay.

Choose one of the ideas you outlined in Note 10.85 “Exercise 3” and write a full cause-and-effect essay. Be sure to include an engaging introduction, a clear thesis, strong evidence and examples, and a thoughtful conclusion.

Key Takeaways

• The purpose of the cause-and-effect essay is to determine how various phenomena are related.
• The thesis states what the writer sees as the main cause, main effect, or various causes and effects of a condition or event.

The cause-and-effect essay can be organized in one of these two primary ways:

• Start with the cause and then talk about the effect.
• Start with the effect and then talk about the cause.
• Strong evidence is particularly important in the cause-and-effect essay due to the complexity of determining connections between phenomena.
• Phrases of causation are helpful in signaling links between various elements in the essay.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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A cause and effect essay is concerned with the relationship or sequence between two or more things, events or ideas. This essay explores why something happens (the cause) and what consequences result (the effect).

Cause: The reason for an occurrence, action or event.

Effect: A result, outcome or consequence of a cause.

Example: I was bit by a mosquito and my arm really itches!

Cause: A mosquito bit me.

Effect: My arm itches.

An essay can have multiple causes and effects. Additionally, causes and effects can be sequential in nature, where one leads to another. A good example of this is dominos, where a person knocks over the first, causing all the following dominos to fall over.

It is important to be wary of speculation. Just because an event proceeds another, does not necessitate that it was the cause. Coincidences happen.

Example: Early childhood vaccinations occur during the first 18 months of a child’s life. The first signs of autism appear by 12 to 18 months of age. Most children, when first diagnosed with autism, will have recently received a vaccine. This has led many people to conclude that vaccines cause autism, though there is very little scientific evidence to support that conclusion.

A correlation, or a connection or relationship between two things, can indicate a causational relationship between two things. However, that is not always the case, like in the picture below.

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Module 4: Writing Workshop—Writing in College

Cause and effect essays, learning objectives.

• Describe techniques for highlighting cause and effect

Cause and effect is the relationship between two things when one thing makes something else happen. For example, if we eat too much food and do not exercise, we gain weight. Eating food without exercising is the “cause;” weight gain is the “effect.” There may be multiple causes and multiple effects. Looking for the reason why things happen (cause/effect) is a basic human drive. So, understanding the cause/effect text structure is essential in learning the basic ways the world works. Writers use this text structure to show order, inform, speculate, and change behavior. This text structure uses the process of identifying potential causes of a problem or issue in an orderly way. It is often used to teach social studies and science concepts.

Breaking Down Cause and Effect Assignments

Sometimes writing prompts include signal words that show cause/effect relationships, such as:  because , so, so that, if… then, consequently, thus, since, for, for this reason, as a result of, therefore, due to, this is how, nevertheless , and accordingly . 

Figure 1 . What are some known causes of heart disease? How would you format a cause and effect assignment based on this topic?

Cause and effect writing prompts will often ask the “why” question:

• Why are reality shows popular?

Sometimes they use words like analyze , connection , or relationship :

• What is the connection between greenhouse gases and climate change?
• Analyze the relationship between doing and learning

Other prompts may ask you to explain the cause and effect relationship. Look for the verb explain  as a signal word so you answer the prompt correctly.

• Explain the effects of livestock production on climate change.

Depending on the assignment, you may be asked to look for different kinds of cause/effect relationships:

• Stated cause/effect relationships : the relationship is stated clearly
• Unstated cause/effect relationships : you will need to make inferences or “read between the linked” to make connections in the relationship
• Reciprocal cause/effect relationships : effects may be part of a chain. In this kind of structure, one effect goes on to cause a second effect, which may then cause a third effect, etc.

Approaching the Assignment

Step 1 : Look for unstated cause-and-effect relationships

In some paragraphs, the cause-and-effect relationship is not directly stated. In these cases, you will have to “read between the lines” to find the cause-and-effect relationship. Use clues from the paragraph to identify a cause-and-effect relationship.

• To find the effect, ask yourself: “What happened?”
• To find the cause, ask yourself: “Why did it happen?”

Let’s look at some examples:

• Reef bleaching is the effect; global warming and rising temperatures are the cause.
• In this example, the cause is implied (being bad at team sports), and the effect, or result, is trying out for track and field.

Step 2 : Look for the signal words that show cause-and-effect relationships.

Step 3 : Look for effects that are also causes. Effects can form a chain in which one effect goes on to cause a second effect, which may then cause a third effect and so on. Study this example:

When people cut down trees to clear land, they destroy the habitats of birds. This reduces the number of nest sites. As a result, fewer baby birds are hatched, and the bird population declines.

• Cause 1: People cut down trees.
• Effect 1: The habitats of birds are destroyed.
• Effect 2: The number of nest sites is reduced.
• Effect 3: Fewer baby birds are hatched.
• Effect 4: The bird population declines.

Formatting Cause and Effect

Cause/effect paragraphs generally follow a basic paragraph format. That is, they begin with a topic sentence and this sentence is followed by specific supporting details.

For example, if the topic sentence introduces an effect, the supporting sentences all describe causes. Here is an example:

In recent decades, cities have grown so large that now about 50% of the Earth’s population lives in urban areas. There are several reasons for this occurrence. First, the increasing industrialization of the nineteenth century resulted in the creation of many factory jobs, which tended to be located in cities. These jobs, with their promise of a better material life, attracted many people from rural areas. Second, there were many schools established to educate the children of the new factory laborers. The promise of a better education persuaded many families to leave farming communities and move to the cities. Finally, as the cities grew, people established places of leisure, entertainment, and culture, such as sports stadiums, theaters, and museums. For many people, these facilities made city life appear more interesting than life on the farm, and therefore drew them away from rural communities.

Notice how each supporting sentence is a cause that explains the effect mentioned in the topic sentence. In the chart below are the main ideas of the above paragraph, to help you understand the relationships better:

Notice also how the topic sentence is followed by the “focusing” or “prediction” sentence, “There are several reasons for this.” Such sentences help the reader anticipate the organization of the paragraph or essay.

Writing Workshop: Cause and effect

Open your Working Document and find the heading “Cause and Effect.”

Effect: Anxiety has increased among college students.

Causes: List 3 ideas you have about possible causes.

Try it the other way.

What effect might be indicated by the three causes below?

• The average U.S. resident spends over two hours on social media every day.
• The average worker spends over a quarter of their work week on e-mail.
• On average, U.S. adults send more than 30 texts per day.
• Cause and Effect. Authored by : Lisa Weinberger for Lumen Learning. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Cartoon human heart. Authored by : azwer. Provided by : Pixabay. Located at : https://pixabay.com/vectors/human-heart-blood-flow-1700453/ . License : Other . License Terms : https://pixabay.com/service/terms/#license

Cause and Effect Essay Outline: Types, Examples and Writing Tips

20 June, 2020

9 minutes read

Author:  Tomas White

This is a complete guide on writing cause and effect essays. Find a link to our essay sample at the end. Let's get started!

What is a Cause and Effect Essay?

A cause and effect essay is the type of paper that the author is using to analyze the causes and effects of a particular action or event. A curriculum usually includes this type of exercise to test your ability to understand the logic of certain events or actions.

If you can see the logic behind cause and effect in the world around you, you will encounter fewer problems when writing. If not, writing this kind of paper will give you the chance to improve your skillset and your brain’s ability to reason.

“Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

In this article, the  Handmade Writing team will find out how to create an outline for your cause and effect essay – the key to successful essay writing.

Types of the Cause and Effect Essay

Before writing this kind of essay, you need to draft the structure. A good structure will result in a good paper, so it’s important to have a plan before you start. But remember , there’s no need to reinvent the wheel: just about every type of structure has already been formulated by someone.

If you are still unsure about the definition of an essay, you can take a look at our guide:  What is an Essay?

Generally speaking, there are three types of cause and effect essays. We usually differentiate them by the number of and relationships between the different causes and the effects. Let’s take a quick look at these three different cases:

1. Many causes, one effect

This kind of essay illustrates how different causes can lead to one effect. The idea here is to try and examine a variety of causes, preferably ones that come from different fields, and prove how they contributed to a particular effect. If you are writing about World War I, for example, mention the political, cultural, and historical factors that led to the great war.

By examining a range of fundamental causes, you will be able to demonstrate your knowledge about the topic.

Here is how to structure this type of essay:

• Introduction
• Cause #3 (and so on…)
• The effect of the causes

2. One cause, many effects

This type of cause and effect essay is constructed to show the various effects of a particular event, problem, or decision. Once again, you will have to demonstrate your comprehensive knowledge and analytical mastery of the field. There is no need to persuade the reader or present your argument . When writing this kind of essay, in-depth knowledge of the problem or event’s roots will be of great benefit. If you know why it happened, it will be much easier to write about its effects.

Here is the structure for this kind of essay:

• Effect #3 (and so on…)

3. Chain of causes and effects

This is the most challenging type. You need to maintain a chain of logic that demonstrates a sequence of actions and consequences, leading to the end of the chain. Although this is usually the most interesting kind of cause and effect essay, it can also be the most difficult to write.

Here is the outline structure:

• Effect #1 = Cause #2
• Effect #2 = Cause #3
• Effect #3 = Cause #4 (and so on…)

Cause and Effect Essay Outline Example

Let’s take a look at an example. Below, you will find an outline for the topic “The causes of obesity” (Type 1) :

As you can see, we used a blended strategy here. When writing about the ever-increasing consumption of unhealthy food, it is logical to talk about the marketing strategies that encourage people to buy fast food. If you are discussing fitness trainers, it is important to mention that people need to be checked by a doctor more often, etc.

In case you face some issues with writing your Cause and Effect essay, you can always count on our Essay Writers !

How do I start writing once I have drafted the structure?

If you start by structuring each paragraph and collecting suitable examples, the writing process will be much simpler. The final essay might not come up as a classic five paragraph essay – it all depends on the cause-effect chain and the number of statements of your essay.

In the Introduction, try to give the reader a general idea of what the cause and effect essay will contain. For an experienced reader, a thesis statement will be an indication that you know what you are writing about. It is also important to emphasize how and why this problem is relevant to modern life. If you ever need to write about the Caribbean crisis, for instance, state that the effects of the Cold War are still apparent in contemporary global politics. 

Related Post: How to write an Essay introduction | How to write a Thesis statement

In the Body, provide plenty of details about what causes led to the effects. Once again, if you have already assembled all the causes and effects with their relevant examples when writing your plan, you shouldn’t have any problems. But, there are some things to which you must pay particular attention. To begin with, try to make each paragraph the same length: it looks better visually. Then, try to avoid weak or unconvincing causes. This is a common mistake, and the reader will quickly realize that you are just trying to write enough characters to reach the required word count.

Moreover, you need to make sure that your causes are actually linked to their effects. This is particularly important when you write a “chained” cause and effect essay (type 3) . You need to be able to demonstrate that each cause was actually relevant to the final result. As I mentioned before, writing the Body without preparing a thorough and logical outline is often an omission.

The Conclusion must be a summary of the thesis statement that you proposed in the Introduction. An effective Conclusion means that you have a well-developed understanding of the subject. Notably, writing the Conclusion can be one of the most challenging parts of this kind of project. You typically write the Conclusion once you have finished the Body, but in practice, you will sometimes find that a well-written conclusion will reveal a few mistakes of logic in the body!

Cause and Effect Essay Sample

Be sure to check the sample essay, completed by our writers. Use it as an example to write your own cause and effect essay. Link: Cause and effect essay sample: Advertising ethic issues .

Tips and Common Mistakes from Our Expert Writers

Check out Handmadewriting paper writing Guide to learn more about academic writing!

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Writing Cause and Effect Essays for English Learners

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Cause and effect composition is a common type of writing in English that shows up often on important tests and is, therefore, necessary to master. Develop your cause and effect writing skills by first reviewing the structures and practices of standard essay writing and then diving into what makes a successful cause and effect essay.

Cause and Effect Writing

As when writing any other essay, you need to use evidence and examples as well as attention-grabbing techniques when doing cause and effect writing. The key difference between standard essays and cause and effect essays is that cause and effect composition addresses topics or problems by outlining the causes and effects, or reasons and results, of several components of a topic.

Cause and effect essays are generally organized by problems, outcomes, and possible solutions. Though cause and effect writing isn't exclusively used to address problems, this type of composition often involves writing prose that proposes solutions to an issue—cause and effect writers can use the consequences of various occurrences to speculate about how to solve a dilemma.

No matter what the purpose of your cause and effect essay, the first thing you need to do to start writing is brainstorm.

Brainstorm Topics

Step 1: Come up with ideas. Get started brainstorming topics right away—the objective of brainstorming is to generate as many ideas as possible before writing. Brainstorming helps you think creatively about a cause and effect topic in order to come up with something that you truly want to write about. Don't get caught writing about a topic that doesn't interest you because you didn't take the time to brainstorm.

When brainstorming for cause and effect essays specifically, be sure to think of both reasons and results. Follow each idea from its cause to its effect to make sure that your arguments are well-founded so that you don't waste time on ideas that won't go anywhere.

The following cause and effect example ideas show the results of a successful brainstorming session.

Write an Outline

Step 2: Create an outline. An outline provides a map for your writing and you should never try to write an essay without one. Some teachers even require you to write an outline before you are allowed to start an introductory or body paragraph because they improve the quality of writing so significantly.

Use ideas from your brainstorming session to "jot down", or quickly write, ideas for how your whole essay might progress (these do not have to be in complete sentences). An outline makes organizing much easier but does not have to be rigid—feel free to make changes as needed. See the following cause and effect essay outline example for help.

Title: How Fighting Fast Food Can Help End Obesity

I. Introduction

• Hook: Statistic about obesity
• Thesis statement:   Obesity has become the number one threat to good health in developed countries.

II. Body Paragraph 1: Availability and overeating

• Fast food is everywhere
• Impossible to ignore
• Buy too much fast food too often because it's everywhere
• Obesity, heart problems, diabetes, etc.
• Easier to resist when you have a plan
• Meal prep, take different routes, etc.

III. Body Paragraph 2: Affordability and overspending

IV. Body Paragraph 3: Convenience

V. Conclusion

• End obesity by teaching people how dangerous fast food can be

Cause and Effect Language

Step 3: Choose the right language. Now you can write a great cause and effect essay using your outline. There are several language formulas that can effectively show cause and effect relationships, so take the time to choose the best ones for your piece. As always, vary your sentence structures for a smoother read and use plenty of evidence to write a convincing essay, then try some of these phrases to take your cause and effect arguments to the next level.

Cause Language

• There are several reasons for...
• The main factors are...
• The first cause is...
• [Cause] leads to or might lead to [effect]
• This often results in...

Effect Language

• Before [cause]...Now [effect]...
• One of the results/outcomes of [cause] is...Another is...
• A primary effect of [cause] is...
• [Effect] often occurs as a consequence of [cause].

Linking Language

Make your cause and effect essay more coherent with linking language—or sentence connectors—that make the relationships between causes and effects crystal clear.

Use the following conjunctive adverbs to smoothly transition from one idea to the next in your cause and effect writing.

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• Showing Cause / Effect in Written English
• Personal Descriptions
• Learn to Order Events for Narrative Writing Assignments
• Cover Letter Example
• Sentence Connectors: Showing Opposition in Written English
• How to Use Sentence Connectors to Express Complex Ideas
• Writing About Cities
• Complex Sentence Worksheet
• Text Organization

How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay

Writing essays is inevitable for all students. And while many of them consider this kind of academic assignment difficult and boring, others truly enjoy writing their essays on the widest array of topics. Do you want to know their secret? It’s simple: they just know how to write essays well! And those who don't also have a solution – they are ready to pay for essay best services to get completed paper without a hassle. Finding the essay writing service out there to fall back on is great but honing your own writing skills will never go amiss.

If you are reading this article, then you’re already on your way to start loving essay writing. By the time you finish reading it, you will have all the necessary instruments at hand to craft an impressive essay of one particular type – that is, a cause and effect essay (sometimes also called cause-effect or reason and result essay).

What Is a Cause and Effect Essay?

It is impossible to do something well without knowing what exactly it is that you have to do. So, let’s start with the basics – the cause and effect essay definition.

A cause and effect essay (also called cause-effect or reason and result essay) is a type of an analytical academic paper in which the relationship between causes and effects of a particular event or phenomenon is being analyzed. It usually answers the questions, “why?” (cause) and “what is the result?” (effect), and utilizes subjunctive mood extensively. If already at this moment you feel you're unlikely to be able to cope with writing an essay yourself – relax and get help from professional dissertation writing services .

How to Make a Correct Cause and Effect Essay Structure

Now that we know what a cause and effect essay is, we can start working on its structure. Having a clear structure is essential for the successful completion of your assignment. So, it’s highly important to devote enough time to this part of the task. If you think it's pretty challenging for you or you simply don't want to spend time on it, you can always look for coursework writing help , custom essay writing and get help from experts in the field.

There are two main ways to structure a cause and effect essay – using a block or a chain pattern. Your essay outline will differ depending on what option you choose.

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Cause and Effect Essay Outline

A cause and effect essay outline consists of a minimum of four sections – an introduction, at least two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each section, in turn, consists of several parts, and their contents vary depending on what pattern – block or chain – you choose.

Let’s start with a block structure.  This is how it will look like:

• Introduction;
• Body paragraph I: cause;
• Body paragraph II: effect;
• Conclusion.

Depending on your topic and approach, you can focus more on the effects or the causes and have various numbers of both. For example, if you put the main focus on the effects, your outline may look like this:

• Body paragraph I: effect #1;
• Body paragraph II: effect #2;
• Body paragraph III: cause;

If you choose the chain pattern, it will mean that in your body paragraphs, every cause will be immediately followed by its effect. The outline will then be as follows:

• Body paragraph I: cause #1 -> effect #1;
• Body paragraph II: cause #2 -> effect #2;   

In this case, too, the numbers of causes and effects may vary – it is their sequence that matters.

Now, let’s look closer at every section of the structure.

Introduction

Every essay starts with an introduction. In this section, you must introduce your topic to the reader, give some background information, and explain how you’re going to approach the discussion.

This is what an introduction section of a cause and effect essay must include:

• Background information;
• Thesis statement.

If you’re wondering how to start a cause and effect essay, you can use some of the proven techniques like using a quote, a rhetorical question, or a statement that is surprising or paradoxical. Then, after giving some background information, move on to a thesis statement.

A thesis is the part of your essay in which the main point of discussion is stated. It should be clear and concise and allow no ambiguity.

Example: “The gender gap is still very far from being closed. Globally, gender parity stands at 68.6%, according to the Global Gender Gap Report (2020). In this essay, we’ll look closely at some of the causes and effects of this phenomenon”.

Body Paragraphs (Causes)

Depending on what type of structure you choose, your body paragraphs may be slightly different. But, in any case, they should contain the following elements:

• thesis (main cause or effect);
• arguments (evidence);
• conclusion, and transition to the next section.

These may be arranged in a different way, but their presence is essential. Let’s again turn to our gender inequality topic and see how it works. In the causes section, we will list the various causes of the discussed phenomena:

• Cause #1 – societal mindset;
• Cause #2 – lack of sufficient childcare;
• Cause #3 – lack of political representation.

Each of these causes should be supported by evidence to be persuasive to the reader. This is how it may be put in a paragraph:

“One of the main causes of such inequality is the societal mindset that still regards women as primarily being responsible for providing home comfort and childcare. Most men still expect their wives to stay at home and sacrifice their careers in order to take the majority of household responsibilities (support with evidence – statistical figures, etc.).

Treat the next causes in the same manner.

Body Paragraphs (Effects)

This paragraph is basically the same as the previous one, with the only difference that here, we will discuss the effects of the phenomenon. Let’s continue with our topic:

• Effect #1 – higher levels of frustration;
• Effect #2 – lower income;
• Effect #3 – feelings of insecurity and vulnerability.

Keep in mind that the effects must be direct consequences of your causes – you can’t just pick random facts. You should also make that connection clear in your text.

Example: “Such prejudiced societal mindset regarding women and their role in the society results in higher levels of frustration among women. They feel that they have reached their glass ceiling just because of the fact that they have been born female – i.e., something they just couldn’t affect in any way (support with evidence)”.

Then, go on in the same manner in the next body-effects paragraphs.

After you’ve discussed all the causes and effects that you planned, continue with making a short conclusion. It must contain the following points:

• Reiteration of your thesis;
• Short summary of the essay’s key points;
• Concluding afterthoughts.

This is what it will look like in our case:

“As we see, gender inequality is still a pressing issue in the modern world, and it’s far from being solved. This phenomenon has multiple causes, the most obvious of which are society’s prejudiced attitude, lack of childcare, and lack of political representation for women. The effects of these problems are plausible: women end up feeling frustrated, having lower income, and being generally vulnerable. In order to change the situation, we mustn’t avoid discussions of this issue and should try to find solutions to the problems that cause it”.

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Interesting Cause and Effect Essay Topics

If you’re looking for an interesting topic for cause and effect essay, this section is for you. Listed below are some good cause and effect essay topics on various popular themes – history, politics, society, and more. Use them as examples to brainstorm ideas of your own.

History and politics:

• The economic consequences of the Civil War in the U.S.
• The collapse of the Soviet Union and its effect on the world’s power balance.
• World War II and its effect on the world economy.
• Brexit: was it necessary and how it will affect the U.K.
• Gender inequality as a major source of stress for modern women.
• How having children changes the life of a family.
• Social media as the major source of procrastination for students.
• Why do people commit crimes?
• How outstanding writing skills can help your future career.
• Burnout at work as a major career threat.
• Why it is important to go to college.
• Starting a business as a student. How it can affect your studies and future career.  

Environment:

• Air pollution as one of the main threats to public health.
• The effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the environment.
• How melting glaciers in the Arctic affect climate change on our planet.
• Multiple effects of global warming on the Earth’s population.
• Why we all need to go green right now.

Cause and Effect Essay Examples

Now that you have all the tools necessary to create a good cause and effect essay of your own let’s look at an example to see how all the components work together. Let’s assume that our topic is “Procrastination among college students.” Here, we will use a block structure, and this is how our example cause and effect essay will look like.

Procrastination Among College Students.

Our first paragraph is an introduction. Here we introduce our topic with a hook statement, give some background information, and make a thesis statement. 

Procrastination is dangerous for college students. At the same time, it’s extremely common among them: various studies show that up to 95% of college students engage in it from time to time, and almost 50% do this systematically. The causes of this phenomenon are multi-faceted and profound, and it’s vital to discover them in every particular case to be able to fight procrastination effectively. But to start treating procrastination as a problem, students must be aware of its harmful consequences. There are many of them, but one of the most acute ones for college students is its negative effect on their academic performance.

Here, the topic suggests that we have to focus more on the effects than on the causes, so the first body paragraph will be about an effect mentioned in the title. First, we will name the effect and then bring arguments and evidence to support our claim.

Procrastination is putting off things one has to do till the last minute and spending one’s time on some other, less important occupations. When students procrastinate instead of doing their academic assignments, they usually end up not having enough time to complete their tasks properly by the deadline. As a result, they only do what they can in the amount of time left, and the quality of their work may suffer. For most students, it means receiving lower grades than they could have achieved had they spent their time more wisely. And this is not a mere assumption: a study conducted by Warwick Business School has proven that procrastination leads students to lower grades (2019). One may argue that it depends largely on how gifted a student is, but even the talented ones may get to the point when the assignment is so difficult that they cannot do it well quickly.

Our second body paragraph will be about another effect. We will write it using the same scheme as in the previous paragraph.

What’s worse, procrastination can also cause mental health problems among students (Source, year). When a person finds out that they only have several hours to complete an assignment that requires several days to be done well, they are most likely to succumb to anxiety. Science proves this, too: for example, a 2010 study titled “I’ll Go to Therapy, Eventually” found a clear connection between procrastination and poorer mental health. Then, worries about failing to do a task properly resulted in even more anxiety and stress, and if a student eventually gets a lower grade than expected, it may lead to a feeling of guilt, regret, and even to depression, especially if the situation is repeated often.

In the third body paragraph, we will talk about the causes. 

It may be tempting to just label students who keep putting off their assignments as sluggards, but there are more complex and profound reasons for procrastination than mere laziness. As A. Chris Heath, MD, a psychiatrist from Dallas, says, procrastination usually happens because the task seems too difficult. It can also be an issue of self-esteem, he adds, – when a person thinks he or she is not good enough to cope with a demanding task. There are many other causes for procrastination among students, like having trouble concentrating or not possessing enough organizational skills. But whatever the reasons are, the results procrastination leads to are always devastating.

Conclusion. Here, we reiterate our thesis, site the significance of the topic, and add some afterthoughts.

As we see now, procrastination is a huge problem for college students. Being considered a result of pure laziness by many, it is often overlooked as a common problem. But this approach can be very dangerous.

In reality, procrastination has deeper roots, and the effects it causes are quite harmful. If treated lightly, systematic procrastination eventually leads college students to lower grades, mental health problems, and poorer overall academic performance.

So, it’s essential for every college student not to ignore the problem and find the causes of procrastination in their particular case as early as possible to be able to avoid its dreadful consequences.

That’s it! Feel free to use this essay as a model to generate your unique cause and effect essay ideas. If you need another example, download cause and effect essay sample here.   

Wrapping Up

In this article, we’ve covered all the important issues on how to write a cause and effect essay. After reading it thoroughly, you should know what a cause and effect essay is, how to structure it well, and make an outline that will work. We’ve also explained how to work on every paragraph of your text and provided some good essay topics as well as examples of a cause and effect essay with commentary. 

Still puzzled about how to write your cause and effect essay properly? Get instant write a paper for me help from professional editors and writers.  With such detailed instruction, you cannot fail, if you are diligent enough to practice writing essays on your own using the information given. Don’t get downhearted if you won’t be able to write a flawless paper from the first try; remember: practice makes perfect. So, put effort into your essay writing, and this will pay you back in the future – not only with excellent marks but with better critical thinking and logical skills, too.

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Encyclopedia for Writers

Writing with artificial intelligence, causes & effects.

• © 2023 by Joseph M. Moxley - Professor of English - USF

Learn to explore your causal relationships. Improve your critical thinking skills.

Table of Contents

• “Why are things like this?
• What is the effect, or result, of this?” and “
• What causes this?”

These questions guide authors as they analyze or argue about causal relationships, such as “What is the effect of a college education on income?”

Unlike explanations of processes, which follow a chronological order of events, cause and effect texts are deeply speculative and tentative, relying on causal reasoning and argument. Your purpose is to answer

• Why are things like this?
• What is the effect, or result, of this?
• What is the cause of this?

Analyzing cause-and-effect relationships requires you to question how different parts and sequences interact with each other over time, which is often more difficult than reporting a chronological order of events, as you do when describing a process.

Why Write About Causes and Effects?

Human beings ask why perhaps more than any other question. When we listen to the nightly news and hear about the atrocities of war, we wonder, “What causes the hatred?” When we read about the violence plaguing our country, we ask, “Why does the United States lead the world in violent crimes?” When we read studies that indicate that 28 percent of women in America have been raped and that the occurrence of date rape is rising on college campuses, we ask, “Why is this happening?” When we read about environmental problems such as the depletion of the ozone layer, we wonder, “Why don’t we do something about it?” Whenever we make decisions in our daily lives, we ask ourselves, “Why should I do this?”

On a daily basis, we seek to understand why events occurred by identifying the factors that led up to them. For example, if you were not doing well in school and on homework assignments, you might ask, “Did my high school class(es) sufficiently prepare me for this class? Am I studying long enough? Am I taking effective lecture notes? Am I paying too much attention to the course texts and too little to the instructor’s lectures? How is my attendance? Is my part-time job interfering too much with my school work? Am I using my time to study effectively? Are some of my friends having a negative influence on my study habits? Am I taking too many courses or putting too much time into another course? What can I do to improve my memory or study skills?” After asking these and other questions, you would eventually be able to identify a variety of causes for your poor performance, and once you recognize the causal relationship, you can set about realistically to improve your grade.

Cause-and-effect assignments are among the most interesting writing projects that you will tackle in school and in professional life. In school, teachers frequently assign process assignments. For example, humanities professors may ask for an analysis of what causes particular music genres or artistic genres to capture the imagination of popular culture; history professors, the impact of cultures on world history; social science professors, the effects of inventions on culture or the effect of gun control laws on violent homicide rates; business professors, the effects of changes in the interest rates on the economy.

Cause-and-effect texts are extremely common in professions–particularly the sciences, where researchers employ the scientific method to seek out cause-and-effect relationships. Writers commonly focus on analyzing causes or effects. A medical writer, for example, might explore the effects of a poor diet or the causes of a disease. A lawyer might argue the effect of an accident on his client. A sports writer might analyze why a team continues its losing or winning streak.

Diverse Rhetorical Situations

The purpose of many cause-and-effect texts is to explain the effects or causes of something. And the tone of these texts tends to be dispassionate and objective. In complex situations, however, the writer’s purpose may shift from explaining to speculating or even arguing about an interpretation. Sometimes writers argue about a particular cause or effect because they want to sell you something or because they want to change your mind on a policy or interpretation.

People write about causes and effects for a variety of communication situations, and they employ a variety of media. The shape and content of cause-and-effect reports tend to be more diverse than the shape and content of texts that explain subjects, concepts, or processes, as suggested in the table below.

Rhetorical Analysis of Cause and Effect Texts

Consider the context, audience, purpose, and media invoked by the following readings. Also examine how ideas are developed in these texts. Are assertions grounded in personal experience, interviews with authorities, questionnaires, Internet and library research, or empirical research?

• GHB on Campus : A subtext of a larger Web site created to educate readers about the dangers of GHB, this page summarizes the deadly effects of GHB on college campuses and urges readers to forward a listserv message to their friends, which reveals the deadly effects of GHB. Interestingly, a sidebar seeks readers’ input to a survey on GHB usage on college campuses. On the Project GHB home page, the authors explain that Mr. and Mrs. Shortridges began the site following the death of their son to a GHB overdose: This GHB website started out as a quick project with the sole purpose of getting some truth about GHB on the Internet. In doing their original searches for GHB on the Internet, the Shortridges found that most websites advocate its use, etc. Some Internet pages about GHB have seemingly educated reports about GHB. They offer recipes, kits for sale, and tips for “safe” experiences.
• College graduation rate below 50 percent : Written by a reporter for CNN.com, this texts summarizes academic research conducted by the Council for Aid to Education. The research analyzed why 52 percent of students in public colleges and 45 percent of students in private colleges failed to graduate in 2000. The researcher focused on greater access to college as the cause for the high dropout rate, suggesting that students who are being accepted into college are not prepared and that colleges need to do more to help these students succeed. The author’s tone/voice is impersonal and objective. The audience for the original research study was universities, while this report is written for a broader audience–readers of CNN’s online education pages.
• The Mayo Clinic discusses the causes of HIV infection, and symptoms experienced after HIV infection, to provide initial information to individuals with little education on HIV/AIDS.
• The State of the World’s Children by UNICEF : Mixing evocative pictures with extremely detailed analyses of the effects of poor nutrition on the world’s children, UNICEF offers an informative and persuasive account of how countries and communities can and should help their children.
• The Dead Grandmother/Exam Syndrome and the Potential Downfall of American Society by Mike Adams : Written for a university audience, Mike Adams pokes fun at social science methods and students’ “grandmother” problems: Overall, a student who is failing a class and has a final coming up is more than 50 times more likely to lose a family member than an A student not facing any exams.

When dealing with causes and effects, it is important to keep to a narrow topic. Time constraints and resources should always be kept in mind when pursuing a topic. Example: To find the reasons for world hunger would take years of research and/or tons of hours, so focus on a specific entity of a broad topic. Perhaps you could identify one country’s efforts over the past few years.

Writers often bring focus to their work by claiming cause-and-effect relationships upfront, in their introductions. These “thesis statements” guide the writer and reader throughout the document. And they also offer clues as to the writer’s voice, tone, and persona. Consider, for example, this tongue-in-cheek analysis of the The Dead Grandmother/Exam Syndrome and the Potential Downfall Of American Society.

The basic problem can be stated very simply: A student’s grandmother is far more likely to die suddenly just before the student takes an exam, than at any other time of year.

While this idea has long been a matter of conjecture or merely a part of the folklore of college teaching, I can now confirm that the phenomenon is real. For over twenty years I have collected data on this supposed relationship, and have not only confirmed what most faculty had suspected, but also found some additional aspects of this process that are of potential importance to the future of the country. The results presented in this report provide a chilling picture and should waken the profession and the general public to a serious health and sociological problem before it is too late.

Development

Critical readers such as your instructors are quick to recognize shallow reasoning. College instructors expect you to cite multiple causes or effects when you are addressing a complex phenomenon. For example, if you were exploring the effects of TV on children, your readers would most likely expect you to do more than attack the violence as being unethical or immoral. Likewise, if you were analyzing the causes of our nation’s high divorce rates, your instructors would expect you to do more than cite troubles with finances as the cause of divorces.

To help you develop a stronger sense of the level of detail your readers need to understand a particular cause-and-effect relationship, consider conducting research. What have others reported about the particular cause-and-effect relationship you are exploring? Read about what others have speculated or reported about your topic.

Below are some additional suggestions for developing your cause-and-effect report.

Check for Post Hoc Fallacies

Critical readers will expect you to develop the reasoning that demonstrates the cause and effect relationship isn’t due to chance. Academic readers are reluctant to assume causality between two actions because they are trained to identify post hoc (“after this”) fallacies. Essentially a post hoc fallacy occurs when an author assumes Event B was caused by Event A simply because it followed Event A; the connection is false because it is equally possible that Event B was caused by some other factor. For example, let us suppose that Bill has been jilted by his girlfriend Laura. Because Laura argued with Bill last Friday night that he never spent any money on her and that she always has to pay for their dates, Bill might assume that she left him because he was cheap. However, this might not be the true reason for Laura’s dumping Bill. In fact, it could be that Laura was tired of Bill’s negative view of life. Perhaps she truly left Bill because she found him to be insensitive, boring, and uncommunicative.

Identify Sufficient and Necessary Causes

In some instances you may be able to explain an effect by identifying sufficient causes and necessary causes.

A sufficient cause is one that can cause the effect to take place. By itself, a sufficient cause can explain a phenomenon or trend. For instance, according to the Mayo Clinic resource above, in order for someone to contract the HIV virus, any of the following forms of contact is a sufficient cause:

• Blood transfusions
• Sharing needles
• Pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding

However, frequently more than one sufficient cause is necessary to explain a phenomenon or trend. Three or four causes, for example, may be necessary to explain an effect. You cannot say, for example, that all one needs is a match to start a fire. You also need oxygen and something to burn. When describing physical phenomena such as how acid rain is produced, you may have little difficulty identifying sufficient causes. Explaining human behavior is rarely so simple, of course.

Identify Remote/Speculative Causes

When we face complicated questions and problems, we often are unable to identify sufficient causes so we must speculate about necessary causes—those causes that can result in the effect. For instance, no single cause precipitated the collapse of the Soviet Union, yet we could speculate that hunger, poor economic conditions, alienation from communism, and political corruption were all remote causes.

Because academic readers are sensitive to the complexity of most issues, they generally do not expect you to offer sufficient causes for complex problems. Instead, they expect you to speculate about possible causes and effects, while limiting the scope of your claims with qualifiers such as “usually,” “may,” “possible,” “sometimes” or “most.” No simple answer, no sufficient cause, can explain, for example, why some people become violent criminals or serial killers while others devote themselves to feeding the hungry or serving the helpless.

Establish an Appropriate Voice

You can choose from a range of tones, personas and voices. Some writers choose a contentious, argumentative tone. Alternatively, sometimes writers will soften their tone, perhaps assuming a milder persona than they actually feel, because they fear providing the information in a more straightforward, argumentative way would cause readers to look elsewhere. For example, in Tropical Forests and Climate Change, the Canadian Development Agency offers a terrifying, well-researched analysis of global warming, yet softens its message with this caveat in the introduction:

Climate change predictions are difficult because of the complexity of the atmosphere and the interaction of the many variables involved.

Humanize Abstract Issues

No matter how technical your subject is, you should keep in mind that you are writing to other people. When you sense that the human story is being lost in abstract figures or academic jargon, consider adding an anecdote of how the problem you are discussing affects particular people. For example, Melissa Henderson, a student writer, began her report on the effect of crack on babies with the following portrayal of a newborn, which she composed after reading numerous essays about the effect of crack cocaine on human fetuses:

Lying restlessly under the warm lights like a McDonald’s Big Mac, Baby Doe fights with all of his three pounds of strength to stay alive. Because he was born prematurely, Baby Doe has an array of tubes and wires extending from his frail body which constantly monitor his heartbeat, drain excess fluid from his lungs and alert hospital personnel in the event he stops breathing. As he lies in the aseptic incubator his rigid little arms and legs twitch and jerk as though a steady current of electricity coursed through his veins. Suddenly, without warning or provocation, he begins to cry a mournful, inconsolable wail that continues steadily without an end in sight. As the nurses try to comfort the tiny infant with loving touches and soothing whispers, Baby Doe’s over-wrought nervous system can no longer cope. Suffering from sensory overload, he withdraws into the security offered in a long, deep slumber. Welcome to the world, Baby Doe, your mother is a crack cocaine addict.

As you write drafts of your causal report, consider incorporating an anecdote—that is, a brief story about how people are influenced by your subject. For example, if you are researching the effects of a sluggish economy on our nation’s poor, you might want to flesh out your statistics by depicting the story of how one homeless family lost their jobs, income, medical benefits, house, community, and hope.

Use Visuals

Although visuals are not required–in fact, many cause-and-effect texts do not use visuals–readers appreciate visuals, particularly ones that explain the cause-and-effect relationship being addressed. Consider, for example, this visual from the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site on Global Warming:

Readers particularly appreciate tables and graphs. Critical readers will often skim through a document’s tables before reading the text:

Visuals can be used to influence readers at an emotional level. For example, at Project GHB’s Tragedy Page, each picture links to an obituary, which tells the personal story of how these young people overdosed on GHB

Organization

When analyzing causal relationships, you must reveal to readers how different parts and sequences interact with each other over time. Rather than merely reporting the order of events in chronological fashion as we do when describing a process, you need to identify the specific reasons behind the effects or causes. Your organization needs to reflect the logic of your analysis. This is often difficult because a single cause can result in many different effects. Likewise, an effect can have multiple causes.

For example, even a simple effect such as a minor car accident can have multiple causes. Yes, we could say that John D. caused the accident because he was driving while intoxicated. Yet if we knew more about John D.’s state of mind—if we knew, for instance, that he wasn’t watching where he was going because he was thinking about his wife’s threat to leave him—then we could identify additional causes for the accident. It could very well be that he was exhausted after a sleepless night. Or perhaps his personal predicament had nothing to do with the accident: Maybe the loss of his job that morning or his failure to have faulty brakes replaced is a more significant cause for the accident. If we get really carried away with our reasoning, we could say that his former employers were responsible. After all, John D. would not have lost his job if the automobile manufacturer he worked for had not closed three of its American plants and moved manufacturing of some parts to plants in Mexico, Hong Kong, and Japan. In addition, we could also find potential causes for the accident by considering the other driver, Susan K. Maybe she rushed into the busy intersection expecting everyone else to make room for her because she was already late for an in-class exam. Perhaps if Susan K. had not consumed four pots of coffee, she would have been more mellow, more cautious, and less willing to risk her life to get to school on time.

Use Formatting to Highlight Your Organization

You can emphasize the most emphatic elements of your analysis by using headings and subheadings. A quick scan of any of the cause-and-effect readings highlights the popularity of headings. For example, below are the headings used by the Canadian International Development Agency for their essay on Tropical Forests and Climate Change

• Is the world’s climate changing?
• How are we causing climate change?
• Impact of climate change on forests
• Climate change convention and the Kyoto protocol
• Forestry’s role in mitigating climate change
• Carbon trading markets
• Conclusions

You may also want to play with the formatting of your text to highlight the reasoning behind your causal analysis. Consider, for example, the Canadian International Development Agency’s Tropical Forests and Climate Change. These authors used callouts to define climate change terms that readers may not understand and they used call out boxes to emphasize important points in their essay:

The Sustainable Forest Management Project in Cameroon, Trees for Tomorrow in Jamaica, and the Arenal Conservation and Development Project are CIDA-supported projects that work towards enhancing forest management in developing countries.

Expanding the area of forest cover by establishing tree plantations, agroforestry plantings, or analog forests enlarges the capacity of the terrestrial carbon sink. Trees are composed of approximately 50 percent carbon which they extract from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. The rate of carbon sequestration depends on the growth characteristics of the species, the conditions for growth where the tree is planted, and the density of the tree’s wood. It is greatest in the younger stages of tree growth, between 20 to 50 years. Growth rates on commercial plantations in the tropics have been improving steadily as the results of tree improvement research have been applied. The technology to establish fast-growing plantations exists, as does the global expertise for establishing them. Growth rates of more than 30 cubic metres/hectare/year are now commonplace for intensive industrial pulp plantations in the tropics and FAO estimates that there are between 1.5 million and 2.0 million hectares of tree plantations established every year.

You may find it helpful to visually represent the structure of your argument, perhaps even including your organizational map as a visual for readers. For example, consider the following screenshot from the EPA’s site on global warming. From this image, you understand four topics are being addressed and you understand the questions that guide the EPA’s causal analysis:

Introduce the Topic : Typically, texts that explore cause-and-effect relationships summarize the author’s position upfront, in the introduction (see General to the Specific Strategies). For example, back in 1985, Joseph K. Skinner began his influential essay “Big Mac and the Tropical Forests” with this dramatic opening–two sentences that immediately focus your attention on the causal connection he explicates throughout his essay: Hello, fast-food chains. Goodbye, tropical forests. However, you may want to avoid explicit thesis sentences and forecasting statements if your subject is likely to threaten the beliefs of your audience or if it is an inherently emotional subject. You may occasionally find it important to establish a credible persona first by reviewing what your readers are likely to believe about a causal relationship and then by stating your own opinion.

For example, assume you are writing an essay against spanking children. Now if your audience believes that spanking children is the proper way to discipline them, and if you claim in the introduction of the essay that spanking children may result in their becoming criminals, then your readers might assume you are an oddball and dismiss your essay. Yet if you intelligently discuss some of the reasons why parents and psychologists recommend spanking and then introduce extensive research from prominent journals and reports that all violent criminals were spanked as children, your readers might be more willing to listen to your reasoning

Style : When grappling with difficult issues and concepts, your prose can understandably become unclear, dull, or cluttered. Eventually, though, as you continue to revise your drafts and further refine your message, you need to cut away the superfluous words, redundancies, and needless abstractions. You can make your language more interesting and more understandable by eliminating needless jargon; passive voice; lengthy, redundant sentences; or pompous and archaic language.

Provide Descriptive, Sensory Language : You can help your readers imagine your subject better by appealing to their senses. Whenever possible, describe how an object looks, sounds, tastes, feels, or smells. For example, in this excerpt from Carl Sagan’s powerful essay on the effects of a nuclear war, “The Nuclear Winter,” notice how Sagan appeals to our visual sense in his description of the effect of a single nuclear bomb on a city: In a 2 megaton explosion over a fairly large city, buildings would be vaporized, people reduced to atoms and shadows, outlying structures blown down like matchsticks and raging fires ignited. And if the bomb exploded on the ground, an enormous crater, like those that can be seen through a telescope on the surface of the Moon, would be all that remained where midtown once had been.

The lifeblood of effective writing is concrete and sensory language. A word, properly placed, can create a tone that angers or inspires a reader. Knowing the power of language to promote change, effective writers are selective in their use of concrete words—words that represent actual physical things like “chair” and “house”—and sensory words—words that appeal to our five senses. Selecting the right word or group of words is a crucial step in drawing your readers into your work so that they can fully understand your vision and ideas. Note the masterful use of concrete and sensory words in this passage from a Newsweek essay, “Don’t Go in the Water”:

“Black mayonnaise”: The problem for most landlubbers, of course, is that most of the effects of coastal pollution are hard to see. Bays and estuaries that are now in jeopardy—Boston Harbor, for example, or even San Francisco Bay—are still delightful to look at from shore. What is happening underwater is quite another matter, and it is not for the squeamish. Scuba divers talk of swimming through clouds of toilet paper and half-dissolved feces, of bay bottoms covered by a foul and toxic combination of sediment, sewage and petrochemical waste appropriately known as “black mayonnaise.” Fishermen haul in lobsters and crab [sic] covered with mysterious “burn holes” and fish whose fins are rotting off. Offshore, marine biologists track massive tides of algae blooms fed by nitrate and phosphate pollution—colonies of floating microorganisms that, once dead, strangle fish by stripping the water of its life giving oxygen.

In addition to selecting an abundance of distinctive concrete words (such as sediment, sewage, and nitrate) and sensory words (foul, burn holes, feces), the authors have used powerful images and metaphors. Note, for example, the clouds of toilet paper. Even more potent is the image of “black mayonnaise.” Can you imagine biting into a sandwich spread with such poison?

When Speculating, Use Qualifying Language : When addressing complex issues and processes, you adopt an appropriate speculative voice by using words like “may cause” or “could also.

Useful Qualifying Words and Phrases : may, might, usually typically, perhaps, can, I believe it seems likely. As an example of carefully chosen qualifying words, consider the following passage from the US EPA’s Web site on global warming impacts:

• Rising global temperatures are expected to raise sea level, and change precipitation and other local climate conditions. Changing regional climate could alter forests, crop yields, and water supplies. It could also affect human health, animals, and many types of ecosystems. Deserts may expand into existing rangelands, and features of some of our National Parks may be permanently altered.
• Most of the United States is expected to warm, although sulfates may limit warming in some areas. Scientists currently are unable to determine which parts of the United States will become wetter or drier, but there is likely to be an overall trend toward increased precipitation and evaporation, more intense rainstorms, and drier soils.
• Unfortunately, many of the potentially most important impacts depend upon whether rainfall increases or decreases, which can not be reliably projected for specific areas .

Brevity - Say More with Less

Clarity (in Speech and Writing)

Coherence - How to Achieve Coherence in Writing

Flow - How to Create Flow in Writing

Inclusivity - Inclusive Language

The Elements of Style - The DNA of Powerful Writing

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Common Transitions to Use in Cause and Effect Essay

We should probably start by asking ourselves what are transition words and what value do they add to an essay. You need to connect ideas in your essay to improve readability. If your points are isolated and unrelated, then reading becomes difficult and boring.

As a matter of fact, most software that checks for the readability of texts looks for the correct usage of transition words. Some people recommend that you can add transition words when you are revising the paper. However, you have to get a good flow from the beginning. This means that you should be adding these words as you write. Transition words are very many. Using them might be confusing and that is why this article breaks them down into 4 major types depending on how and where you can use them.

Transition words for essays help to ensure a smooth flow of ideas throughout the paper. They help readers understand the relationships between different parts of the text and navigate through the essay easily. However, sometimes it can be hard to find the right transition words for essays. Fortunately, there are services that provide cheap custom essays that use the right transition words and provide excellent structure to help you get the highest grade. Also, if you can’t do it yourself, we can help with college essays .

These are the kind of words that you will want to use when writing about a list of points in prose.

The words in this category are:

• Firstly, secondly, thirdly
• To begin with, initially, to start with, finally
• Subsequently, afterward, previously

The list is by no means endless. However, what you should know about words in this category is that they help you in introducing sentences of paragraphs that follow a sequence in prose. Using lists or numbers in an essay might be inappropriate and appear untidy. However, you might need to introduce related points and demonstrate that they are related. For instance, you want to write down three factors that lead to global warming. You might use “to begin with” for the first point, “secondly” for the second point, and “finally” for the third point. This will not only make it easy to read but show the reader that the points are related. Using transition words for essays is important to make your written work more professional, and to make your points clear and easy to follow. In addition, do your essays in a relevant way by adding new information that connects the text and the phrase. This will ensure that the essay flows effectively while making make the writing process smoother.

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Casual transition words show the relationship between sentences and paragraphs, where the proceeding point emerges as a cause or effect of the previous.

Some words in this category are:

• Consequently, as a result, due to the fact that
• Therefore, thus, otherwise
• For, since, unless

You can easily identify casual transition words by looking at the relationship they create between two sentences or paragraphs. For instance, you can have two independent sentences like: I was late for school. I was punished by the head teacher. You can improve readability by showing that the second action was as a result of the first. Your sentence can look something like this: “Due to the fact that I was late for school, I was punished by the head teacher. When using casual transitions, you should always be keen on establishing the nature of the relationship between sentences and paragraphs.

If you are stuck with writing your essay, you can even opt to hire an online academic writing service to write academic assignments for you . These services can provide you with a professional writer that can help you to create an essay that is well-written, concise, and equipped with the perfect transition words.

These are the kind of transitions you use when you want to show that the current point is an addition to the previous. You should not confuse additive with sequential. In the case of additive, the current point is only directly related to the previous. However, in the case of sequential, there is a relationship between all the points mentioned in the sequence.

Examples of additive transitions are:

• In addition to, furthermore, similarly, likewise
• In other words, to illustrate, for instance

You can use these words to explain in detail the previous point. They can be used to avoid run-on sentences where the reader is forced to read a long sentence without a pause.

For instance, let us consider the following sentences:

• Technology has made life easier through the introduction of gadgets such as smartphones and technology has also promoted peace
• Technology has made life easier through the introduction of gadgets such as smartphones. Furthermore, it has also promoted peace.

Adversative

These transitions accomplish the task opposite to additive transitions. Instead of adding, they show conflict between ideas.

Examples in this category are:

• Regardless, nonetheless, however
• Otherwise, regardless, on the other hand

The words in this category are mostly used when writing an analysis or argumentative essay. This is because you will mostly find that explaining opposing views will provide a better analysis or argument. You can also use these transitions to provide alternative, not necessarily opposing, views. The list of transition words is long because there are many examples. You will hear most students asking for examples of transition words. However, it is important to understand the different types and how they are used first. Once you are conversant with the types, you will only need to look at an example within a sentence to be able to use the same in an essay. When it comes to transition words, you will definitely need to improve your reading habits. With time they will sink in and you will find using them easy.

When you are writing an essay, it is important to use transition words to help the flow of your paper. Transition words help to make the essay more structured and offer a smoother reading experience. Transition words can be used in the introduction paragraph, in the body paragraphs, and in the conclusion paragraph. For example, you can use the words ‘first of all’ or ‘in order to’ at the beginning of your essay. In the body paragraphs, you can use transition words such as ‘moreover’, ‘furthermore’, or ‘in addition’. Finally, in the conclusion paragraph, you can use words such as ‘to conclude’ or ‘in conclusion’. In addition, you can order essay writing to get a professionally written paper.

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