Cause and Effect
Purpose of Cause and Effect Purpose
Predict, explain causes Predict, explain effects Predict, explain causes and effects Doing this to inform or persuade your audience
Causal Relationships Be sure that a cause leads to an effect Experiments are truest way to identify cause
and effect relationship
CauseEffect Child misbehavesparent grounds child Eat high-fat foodgain weight, become ill Get a headachetake medicinerelieve headache
(CauseEffect/CauseEffect)
Questions for Cause/Effect Essays To identify causes in support of essay:
Explain why… List contributing factors… Tell what caused…
To identify effects in support section of essay: Predict the outcomes… Explain the results… Explain the effects… Discuss the consequences…
Discussing Causes in Support of Essay Given an effect
List the factors that contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle.
Ask… “What causes can lead to…?” “What happened before ________ that could be
linked to causing this event?” Prewrite Causes
Effect
What Behaviors Lead to Bad Health?
Discussing Causes: Develop Thesis Generate a main idea about your discussion of
causes What overall point do you want to make? Divided thesis option
What three main causes will essay focus on?
Use clear wording Identify the topic Use language that shows discussing causes
Unhealthy lifestyles are caused primarily by sedentary habits, high-fat and high-sugar food intake, and drug abuse.
Discussing Causes: Essay StructureI. Introduction
A. Opening RemarksB. Thesis
II. BodyA. First cause
1. Support with specifics, examples, and details
B. Second cause1. Support with
specifics, examples, and details
C. Third cause1. Support with
specifics, examples, and details
III. ConclusionA. Concluding
StatementB. Closing Remarks
1. Story2. Quote3. Present call for
action
Discussing Effects in Support of Essay Given a cause
Discuss the consequences of not living a healthy lifestyle.
Ask… What results from…? What effects or consequences are observed after
_______ happens? Prewrite Effects
Cause
What are the Effects of Unhealthy Living?
Discussing Effects: Develop Thesis Generate a main idea about your discussion of
effects What overall impression do you want to give about
those effects? Divided thesis option
What three main effects will essay focus on?
Use clear wording Identify the topic Use language that shows discussing effects
By choosing to live an unhealthy lifestyle, individuals’ bodies suffer the harmful consequences.
Discussing Effects: Essay Structure
I. IntroductionA. Opening RemarksB. Thesis
II. BodyA. First effect
1. Support with specifics, examples, and details
B. Second effect1. Support with
specifics, examples, and details
C. Third effect1. Support with
specifics, examples, and details
III. ConclusionA. Concluding
StatementB. Closing Remarks
1. Story2. Quote3. Present call for
action
Sample Essay (212 in Text) What is the cause? What effects does writer discuss?
Changes to Halloween (with anecdotes) Other holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Specific examples of what changed Disrupted daily lives (dinner) Changed routine (split visitation)
Discussing Causes AND Effects First, carefully read question
Does assignment present limitations? Organize logically
Discussing Both Causes and Effects: Essay StructureFrom Effects to Causes
From Causes to Effects
I. IntroductionA. Opening RemarksB. Thesis
II. BodyA. First effect with supportB. Second effect with supportC. First cause with support
(Be sure to use clear transition)
D. Second cause with support
III. ConclusionA. Concluding StatementB. Closing Remarks
I. IntroductionA. Opening RemarksB. Thesis
II. BodyA. First cause with supportB. Second cause with supportC. First effect with support
(Be sure to use clear transition)
D. Second effect with support
III. ConclusionA. Concluding StatementB. Closing Remarks
Discussing Causes or Effects or Both: Coherency Logical order
Least important/weakest to most important/ strongest cause or effect
Group specific details that are related Time order
Causes may happen in a specific order Remember causal relationships must exist
Thesis Statement At end of introduction (last sentence) Identifies the topic Identifies whether writer will discuss causes or
effects or both
Journal What reasons would compel someone to
attend college? What effect has technology had on society?
Write for 20 minutes, and revise and edit your work.