cause effect essay structure pdf

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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.

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Cause & effect essays Aka reason and result

The Cause and effect essay is another common essay type, either as an essay type on its own, or as part of a larger essay which includes one or more paragraphs examining causes and effects. This page gives information on what a cause and effect essay is , how to structure this type of essay, and how to use cause and effect structure words (transition signals) for this type of essay. There is also an example cause and effect essay on the topic of women at work, as well as some exercises to help you practice this area.

What are cause & effect essays?

For another look at the same content, check out YouTube » or Youku » , or this infographic » .

A cause and effect essay looks at the reasons (or causes) for something, then discusses the results (or effects). For this reason, cause and effect essays are sometimes referred to as reason and result essays. They are one of the most common forms of organisation in academic writing. Sometimes the whole essay will be cause and effect, though sometimes this may be only part of the whole essay. It is also possible, especially for short exam essays, that only the causes or the effects, not both, are discussed. See the examples below.

• Discuss the causes and effects of global warming ['cause and effect' essay]
• Explain the high death rate in Chernobyl ['causes' only essay]
• Discuss the WTO and its effects on the Chinese economy ['effects' only essay]

There are two main ways to structure a cause and effect essay. These are similar to the ways to structure problem-solution essays , namely using a block or a chain structure. For the block structure, all of the causes are listed first, and all of the effects are listed afterwards. For the chain structure, each cause is followed immediately by the effect. Usually that effect will then be the cause of the next effect, which is why this structure is called 'chain'. Both types of structure have their merits. The former is generally clearer, especially for shorter essays, while the latter ensures that any effects you present relate directly to the causes you have given.

The two types of structure, block and chain , are shown in the diagram below.

Cause and Effect Structure Words

Cause and effect structure words are transition signals which show the cause and effect relationships. It is important to be clear which is the cause (or reason) and which is the effect (or result), and to use the correct transition word or phrase. Remember that a cause happens first , and the effect happens later .

Below are some common cause and effect structure words. X is used to indicate a cause, while Y is used to indicate the effect.

• The first cause of (Y) is (X)
• The next reason is (X)
• Because of (X), (Y)
• As a result of (X), (Y)
• As a consequence of (X), (Y)
• because/since/as (X)
• to result from (X)
• (X) results in (Y)
• to be the result of (X)
• (Y) is due to (X)
• Owing to (X), (Y)
• (Y) is because of (X)
• (Y) is the effect of (X)
• (Y) is the consequence of (X)
• Worsening pollution levels in cities are due to the increased use of cars.
• Because of the increased use of cars, pollution levels in cities are worsening.
• As a result of the increased use of cars, pollution levels in cities are worsening.
• The effect of the increased use of cars is a worsening of pollution levels in cities.
• The first effect of (X) is (Y)
• Another result of (X) is (Y)
• As a result, (Y)
• As a consequence, (Y)
• Consequently (Y)
• Therefore, (Y)
• (X) causes (Y)
• (X) has an effect on (Y)
• (X) affects (Y)
• (X) is one of the causes of (Y)
• (X) is the reason for (Y)
• Cars are used increasingly for urban transport. As a consequence , pollution levels in cities are worsening.
• Increased use of cars for urban transport adversely affects pollution levels in cities.
• Increased use of cars for urban transport is one of the causes of worsening pollution levels in cities.

Example essay

Below is a cause and effect essay. This essay uses the block structure . Click on the different areas (in the shaded boxes to the right) to highlight the different structural aspects in this essay, i.e. Causes, Effects, and structure words. This will highlight not simply the paragraphs, but also the thesis statement and summary , as these repeat the causes and effects contained in the main body.

Title: More and more women are now going out to work and some women are now the major salary earner in the family. What are the causes of this, and what effect is this having on families and society?

In the past, most women stayed at home to take care of domestic chores such as cooking or cleaning. Women's liberation and feminism have meant that this situation has been transformed and in contemporary society women are playing an almost equal role to men in terms of work. This has had significant consequences , both in terms of the family , for example by improving quality of life and increasing children's sense of independence , and also for society itself with greater gender equality . The main reasons behind the increase of women in the workplace are women's liberation and feminism. The women's liberation movement originated in the 1960s and was popularised by authors such as Simone de Beauvoir. As a consequence of this, new legislation emerged, granting women equal rights to men in many fields, in particular employment. Because of feminist ideas, men have taken up roles which were previously seen as being for women only, most importantly those related to child rearing. As a result of this, women have more time to pursue their own careers and interests. These have led to some significant effects, both to family life and to society as a whole. Although the earning capacity of a woman in her lifetime is generally much less than that of a man, she can nevertheless make a significant contribution to the family income. The most important consequence of this is an improved quality of life. By helping to maintain a steady income for the family, the pressure on the husband is considerably reduced, hence improving both the husband's and the wife's emotional wellbeing. Additionally, the purchasing power of the family will also be raised. This means that the family can afford more luxuries such as foreign travel and a family car. A further effect on the family is the promotion of independence in the children. Some might argue that having both parents working might be damaging to the children because of a lack of parental attention. However, such children have to learn to look after themselves at an earlier age, and their parents often rely on them to help with the housework. This therefore teaches them important life skills. As regards society, the most significant impact of women going to work is greater gender equality. There are an increasing number of women who are becoming politicians, lawyers, and even CEOs and company managers. This in turn has led to greater equality for women in all areas of life, not just employment. For example, women today have much stronger legal rights to protect themselves against domestic violence and sexual discrimination in the workplace. In conclusion, the increasing number of women at work has brought about some important changes to family life, including improved quality of life and increased independence for children, as well as affecting society itself. It is clear that the sexes are still a long way from being equal in all areas of life, however, and perhaps the challenge for the present century is to ensure that this takes place.

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Below is a checklist for cause and effect essays. Use it to check your own writing, or get a peer (another student) to help you.

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Author: Sheldon Smith    ‖    Last modified: 16 January 2022.

Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .

Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.

Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).

Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.

Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).

Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.

Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.

Cause And Effect Essay Guide

Cause And Effect Essay Outline

How to Create a Cause and Effect Outline - An Easy Guide

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In academic paper writing, students often tackle diverse essay types, including cause and effect essays. 

Cause and effect essays act as a gauge for how well students can use logical reasoning to understand the outcomes of different actions.

However, the most crucial element while writing this type of essay is to create an outline. 

Many students skip outlining, thinking it's time-consuming. While creating a cause and effect paper outline does take time, it actually saves more time during writing. Following a detailed plan makes the writing process easier, ensuring you don't miss key details and can draft a logical, organized essay. 

Follow the steps given in this blog for a perfect outline.

• 1. What is a Cause and Effect Essay Outline?
• 2. Cause and Effect Essay Outline Format
• 3. How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay Outline?
• 4. Cause and Effect Essay Outline Examples

What is a Cause and Effect Essay Outline?

A cause and effect essay outline is a detailed plan of action that students follow throughout the writing process. It is the key factor in writing a successful essay as it provides help in the following ways:

• It is used to organize thoughts logically.
• It makes the writing process easier and saves enough time to proofread.
• It helps the writer concentrate on the main points that need to be described in the essay.

It is not required to write full sentences at this step. Instead, state the ideas and structure them in the right order.

Furthermore, it is important to choose a unique topic before developing an outline. Check out our compiled list of good  cause and effect essay topics  to grab the reader’s interest.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline Format

Cause and effect essay outline generally follows a five-paragraph format. However, the number of body paragraphs may vary according to the topic and scope of the essay. Typically, the cause and effect essay layout contains an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Here is the complete outline format structure of a cause and effect writing:

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How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay Outline?

Follow the steps below to write an effective cause and effect essay outline.

• Introduction
• Body paragraphs
• Antithesis paragraph

The following is a detailed description of the steps to writing an outline.

Step 1: Cause and Effect Essay Introduction

The introduction is the first section written to give an idea of what your essay is about. It provides background information about the topic under discussion. Similarly, it also discusses the issues and focus of the essay’s main argument, along with its purpose.

Thus, try to give a general idea to the reader with the help of a  thesis statement . It is crucial to emphasize how and why the chosen event is relevant to modern life.

For example, if you are writing about the Cold War, state how it is still apparent in global politics.

Furthermore, the  essay introduction  paragraph includes the following elements.

Start With an Attention Grabber

Start your essay with a relevant, attention-grabbing hook statement. It can be in the form of a sentence, quote, anecdote, rhetorical question, or fact. The primary purpose of such a hook is to attract the audience at the beginning of the paper.

Basic Background Information

Mention some background information on the topic to get a clear picture. It will help readers understand the event and connect with the major argument. Similarly, this element is also used to understand the cause and effect before you start writing.

Thesis Statement

It is the central element while writing an introduction. Its absence will indicate that the essay lacks a focus. It is a statement of 1-2 sentences that briefly describes the major argument of the essay.

Moreover, a writer needs to discuss this idea through all the body paragraphs. Thus, make sure to craft a strong thesis statement that correlates with the outline.

Step 2: Cause and Effect Essay Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs provide enough details and facts about the causes that led to the effects.

• Begin with  topic sentences  that indicate the first cause or effect of your topic. Also, brainstorm to describe their importance.
• Each paragraph should discuss a single cause and a single effect. Furthermore, the information must be organized in chronological or reverse order.
• Moreover, it is better to start the body paragraphs by describing causes and presenting the effects later. Analyze both the elements by explaining how and why an effect influenced the events or actions. Make sure that the content relates to the thesis statement and the overall topic.
• Use  transitional words  to connect the ideas and give relevant examples. Most writers made a common mistake of adding weak and unconvincing causes to reach the word count. As a result, it affects the essay’s credibility.
• Discuss the below elements while writing the body of your cause and effect essay.

Description of the Cause

This part requires the writer to explain the current situation clearly. It will help the reader to understand the primary argument. Thus, it is important to describe the situation in a way that prepares the reader for effect.

For example, if you are writing about the loss of privacy, that will lead to individual freedom. The focus should be on the technologies that affect freedom.

Description of the Effect

It explains to the reader the logical steps that move from cause to effect. It focuses on explaining what the multiple effects are and how we move from cause to effect.

Following the above example, the writer will explain the connection between privacy and freedom.

Explain the Cause and Effect Relationship

Here, a writer must discuss the importance of the findings. It is used to describe the short and long-term results of the effects. Also, suggest the recommendations to tackle the situation along with future prospects.

Step 3: Cause and Effect Essay Antithesis Paragraph

This paragraph will discuss the other side of the issue by identifying the major causes and effects. Also, explain the causes behind choosing a topic and how it will be relevant to modern life. 

This way, you can show the logic behind the occurrence of the two variables and their possible causes and effects.

Step 4: Cause and Effect Essay Conclusion

The conclusion paragraph aims to provide a brief summary of your essay. Thus, it should leave the audience with the feeling of completeness and make a final emphasis on the major ideas.

This section requires the writer to show how their perspective of the issue has changed by the following analysis. Also, it should further describe the positive and negative effects of the situation.

The conclusion includes the elements discussed below:

Restate the Thesis Statement

Write a few sentences that connect the body paragraphs with the thesis statement. It must also indicate how this statement has helped in proving the main argument of the essay.

Remind the Audience about the Main Points

Here you describe your general outline in strong and precise sentences. Avoid adding any new information. In case you are writing about a major event that influenced the world, such as global warming.

You should write a call to action and suggest what necessary steps need to be taken to overcome the issue.

Draft a Concluding Sentence

Like a convincing introduction; the conclusion should be catchy and compelling as well. Thus, pay attention to this section while writing a college or university essay.

Describe the research outcomes, along with the importance of the essay’s arguments.

Lastly, check out the examples available online. Consider the structure and vocabulary used by most authors to write a cause and effect essay conclusion.

Refer to the example below to better understand writing a cause and effect essay.

How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay Outline – Example

Cause and Effect Essay Outline Examples

Below are the cause and effect outline examples and samples for you to understand better.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline Template

5 Paragraph Cause and Effect Essay Outline

MLA Format Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Cause and Effect Essay Outline Sample

Cause and Effect Essay Outline on Divorce

Cause and Effect Essay Outline on Global Warming

Smoking Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Obesity Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Cause and Effect Essay Outline for College Students

Cause and Effect Essay Formal Outline

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To Sum it Up! This ultimate writing guide will help you write a perfect cause and effect paper outline.

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3.4: Cause and Effect Model Essay 3

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Read the following essay, fill in the blanks with suitable cause-effect signal words and phrases. Pay attention to the sentence structure to help you decide. There may be more than one correct sign word or phrase.

First Name Last Name

Professor Name

Course Name and Number

Month Day Year

The Effects of Dropping Out of High School

(1) Every year thousands of teenagers drop out of high school. Some of these teenagers are wage earners who need to contribute to the family income. For them, the immediate need of helping out financially overrides their need for a diploma. Some teenagers did not get a strong academic foundation in elementary and middle school, so the high school curriculum proves to be too challenging, which leads to frustration. They find it easier to leave school and start life as working adults. Still others become involved in illegal activities, which often includes drug use. Such a lifestyle is not compatible with regular attendance and study necessary for high school success. In spite of the efforts of parents, teachers, and counselors, these teens end up leaving school to face whatever “real life” brings them. In their situations, it is difficult for them to see that leaving school will have profound effects on their finances, their ability to function in society, and even their sense of self-worth.

(2) Clearly, leaving high school without a diploma will have a negative (a) ____________on a person’s finances. Though there are jobs that do not require a high school diploma, these are often not suitable for the long term. Most of these are minimum-wage paying jobs, paying hourly wages that barely cover basic living expenses. Such jobs are usually in the service industry and are often physically demanding. They typically do not offer a lot of job satisfaction. Though there are some better-paying jobs that do not require a high school diploma such as utility line installers, heavy equipment operators, and communications installers, these jobs rarely (b)______________ higher-level managerial positions without a high school diploma. (c) _____________, for the rest of his life, the high school dropout is locked in a job with little hope of significant pay increases to keep up with the cost of living or to provide for a family beyond life’s basics.

(3) Dropping out of high school can also negatively (d) ______________a person’s ability to function as a fully participating member of society. High school math skills, which go beyond the basics, are necessary to function as an informed consumer. These skills affect good decision making about everything from home mortgages to retirement plans. The advanced reading and critical thinking skills that are part of the high school curriculum are also necessary to make good choices, whether choosing a cell phone plan or voting in local and national elections. The ability to be a fully participating member of society is severely hindered if a person lacks the skills learned in high school.

(4) Finally, a less obvious (e) ________________ of dropping out of high school concerns the person’s sense of self-worth. A high school diploma is considered a measure of a basic level of learning for citizens in modern societies. The vast majority of people complete this educational milestone. A person who drops out, however, cannot claim this accomplishment. (f) _________________, he may feel that he is not as valuable to society as others or that other people are somehow better than he is. Though this is not necessarily always the case, the lack of a diploma can lead to a lack of confidence. This could affect his interaction with other people, whether during a casual conversation when meeting new people at a party or during a high stakes job interview. A person may even feel he does not belong to a group of people with more education than he has.

(5) In short, the knowledge and skills learned in high school form a foundation for full participation in our society. Without a diploma, a teen has limited opportunities financially and socially. For those who choose not to complete this degree, life will provide a series of unique challenges, so it is important that anyone thinking of dropping out really understands the consequences.

Questions about the Model 3

1. Highlight the thesis statement of this essay.

2. Does the writer focus on causes or effects?

3. Does the writer give any causes? If so, where? What are they?

4. Can you think of any additional effects?

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The New York Times; satellite image by Google Earth

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Erin Schaff/The New York Times

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