When the student is ready, the master appears. Buddhist proverb

What is Cause and Effect? Cause and effect explains the CAUSES (reasons) of the event OR interprets the EFFECTS (consequences) of the event.

What is a cause? What is an effect? Cause and effect depend on each other. You can’t have one without the other. A plane crashed. That is the effect. A mechanical error, pilot error, the weather. Possible causes.

How to write a cause and effect essay. A cause and effect essay answers the question “Why?” It shows how one event brought about another. Cause and effect relationships are useful in writing that is meant to inform, to explain, or to persuade.

Follow these steps when writing a cause and effect essay. Choose a topic which involves both causes and effects. Distinguish between the causes and effects. To determine causes, ask, "Why did this happen?“ To identify effects, ask, "What happened as a result of this?"

Cause and Effect Examples Cause: Because the student chose to major in accounting (the results are…) Effects: Acquired a high-paying job Able to use math skills daily Works at parent’s firm Effect: A student will chooses to major in accounting (because…) Causes: Salaries in the field are high The student has a parent who is an accountant. The student has strong mathematical skills.

Consider your topic… Decide whether you want to examine the causes OR effects—you will not use both. Examine each cause and effect thoroughly, locating sufficient evidence to prove your points.

Drafting your essay… 1. Clearly state both cause and effect. 2. Be sure to show how the cause and the effect relate to one another. 3. Use words that express cause and effect, such as why, when, because, as a result, so, and therefore.

The Thesis Develop your thesis statement. State clearly whether you are discussing causes, effects, or both. Introduce your main idea, using the terms "cause" and/or "effect." Example of cause and effect thesis: Smoking, environmental hazards, and genetic factors (causes) often cause lung cancer (effect). Example of effect and causes thesis: Teenagers often become anxious and stressed (effect) because of academic pressures, sports schedules, and demands of a job (causes).

Next… Find and organize relevant and sufficient supporting details to back up your thesis.

Use appropriate transitions to blend details smoothly in cause and effect essays. Use the transitional words and phrases listed below. For Causes: because, due to, one cause is, another is, since, for, first, second, etc. For Effects: consequently, as a result, thus, resulted in, one result is, another is, therefore, etc.

The patterns of cause and effect essays are the following Cause-to-Effect Pattern Introduction, Thesis Effect 1 Effect 2 Effect 3 Conclusion Effect-to-Cause Pattern Introduction, Thesis Cause 1 Cause 2 Cause 3 Conclusion

Introduction Attention-getting device Pertinent background information Thesis Statement: Present your theory about the causes or effects of the topic (at least three causes or effects)

Essay Format Introductory Paragraph Body Paragraph 1 1. Topic Sentence: Present the first cause or the first effect. S 2. Supporting Details: Explain and provide concrete examples. EX 3. Closing Remarks: Link the examples back to the topic sentence. I Body Paragraph 2 1. Topic Sentence: Present the second cause or the second effect. S 2. Supporting Details: Explain and provide concrete examples. EX 3. Closing Remarks: Link the examples back to the topic sentence. I Body Paragraph 3 1. Topic Sentence: Present the third cause or the third effect. S 2. Supporting Details: Explain and provide concrete examples. EX 3. Closing Remarks: Link the examples back to the topic sentence. I

Conclusion 1. Restate the thesis statement. 2. Offer a solution or share insight IN ORDER TO BROADEN THE SCOPE OF YOUR ESSAY.