Cause & Effect Essay Process describes how something happens Cause and Effect analyzes why something happens. Cause and Effect essays examine causes and describe effects.

Like Narrative Essays Links situations and events together in time Causes precedes effects It is more than a sequence It explains why something happened or is happening Predicts what probably will happen

Sometime Many Causes Can Be Responsible for One Effect FOR EXAMPLE: WHAT ARE THE CAUSES FOR IMMIGRATION POLTICAL REPRESSION DESIRE TO FURETER EDUCATION DESIRE TO JOIN FAMILY MEMEBERS DESIRE FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY DESIRE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM EFFECT: IMMIGRANTS COME TO THE UNITED STATES

Sometimes, a Single Cause Can Produce Many Effect. Immigrants come to the United States Effect More diverse culture Demand for new goods and services Increased competition for jobs Challenges to educational system New political agendas

Causes and Effects are Rarely Simple Many points to consider Research a credible source Opinion must be provable

Main Causes versus Contributory Causes Main cause is the MORE IMPORTANT IDENTIFY IT FIRST RESEARCH FACT BASED Contributory is LESS IMPORTANT but still contributes to the effect

Case of Hartford Roof Collapse During one winter several years ago, an unusually large amount of snow accumulated on the roof of the Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut, and the roof fell in. Newspapers reported that the weight of the snow had caused the collapse, and they were partly right. Other buildings, however, had not been flattened by the snow, so the main cause seemed to lie elsewhere. Insurance investigators eventually determined that the roof design, not the weight of the snow was the main cause of the collapse MAIN CAUSE Roof Design EFFECT Roof Collapse CONTRIBUTORY CAUSE Weight of snow

Immediate and Remote Causes Immediate cause closely precedes an effect and is usually easy to Remote cause is less obvious because it occurred in the past or far away Assuming that the most obvious cause is always the most important one can be dangerous and ill-advised. POSSIBLE REMOTE CAUSES Roof design Roof materials Improper maintenance Repairs not made IMMEDIATE CAUSE Weight of Snow EFFECT Roof Collapse

Causal Chains The result of one action is the cause of another Leaving out any link in the chain, or failing to place any link in its proper orders, destroys the logic and the continuity of the chain. Global warming might be a threat to US national security A CAUSE Global Warming Could cause worldwide climate changes, such as droughts C EFFECT (CAUSE) Could create an atmosphere For terrorists E EFFECT These terrorists threaten US security B EFFECT (CAUSE) Could create a refugee crisis as people leave their homelands in search of clean water.

AVOIDING POST HOC REASONING Post hoc reasoning is assuming just because event A precedes (comes before ) event B, event A has caused event B It equates a chronological sequence with causality It is an ILLOGICAL assumption For Example: Mary failed an exam because a black cat crosser her path the day before. You are assuming that the because A (the black cat) precedes Event B (her failing the exam), that the black cat has caused her failing the exam.

Strong Evidence Strong, clear evidence supports the connection Don’t confuse words because, therefore, consequently with words like then, next, subsequently, later, and aftewrd. When you use the word BECAUSE, you are signaling to readers that you are telling WHY something happened; when you use a word like THEN, you are only showing WHEN it happened

Planning a Cause and Effect Essay Three options Focus on FINDING CAUSES Focus on describing or predicting EFFECTS Focus on both CAUSES AND EFFECT. WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON BOTH CAUSES AND EFFECTS.

Using previous Writing Process Skills Begin Select prompt Conduct an informal internet search noting citations Brainstorm using a cluster Formulate a strong thesis with subject, opinion, three points Outline 1st body paragraph addresses two causes (main then contributory) 2nd body paragraph addresses two effects (main then contributory) 3rd body paragraph addresses potential changes 1st draft SE PE TE

EXAMPLE--Prompt: What are the causes and effects of anorexia nervosa? Anorexia Nervosa can be caused by distorted role modeling and biased advertising resulting in the effects of poor health conditions and stressful situations, however, possible solutions may include public education as well as psychological counseling. Anorexia Nervosa can be caused by distorted role modeling and biased advertising resulting in the effects of poor health conditions and stressful situations. Possible solutions to this tragic malady may include public education as well as psychological counseling. Anorexia Nervosa can be caused by distorted role modeling and biased advertising resulting in the effects of poor health conditions and stressful situations.

EFFECTS ANOREXIA SOLUTIONS CAUSES Poor health conditions Stressful Situations ANOREXIA Education Advertising SOLUTIONS CAUSES Therapy Role Models

TIMELINE FOR CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY 10/3 : Lecture Video Cause and Effect part 1 & selecting a topic 10/4: Brainstorming 10/5: Thesis 10/7: Outline 10/9: 1st Draft 10/10: Lecture Video Cause and Effect part 2 10/11: 1st Draft/SE 10/13: PE/Revision 10/15: TE