Composing your Cause/Effect Essay

Goal of Cause/Effect Writing To introduce to your reader the causes or effects (reasons, results, or explanations) for behaviors, events, or circumstances.

Cause/Effect Essays: Explore the reasons, outcomes, or both, of a subject Give examples, quotes, or arguments to support causes/effects

Most Important Aspects of Cause/Effect Writing Relationship The essay must: ◦ clearly state the connection and relationship of causes or effects ◦ be able to decide between the causes or effects that are essential, or contributing factors, and those that are minor, or supporting (often, residual) factors ◦ be strongly expressed with logical reasoning ◦

Purpose ◦ Decide whether you are trying to inform or persuade your audience. Choose appropriate wording to reflect your purpose.

Take a look at the following chain- reaction scenario : Because I did not study, I failed the final exam, failed my Government class, was short credits, and was not able to graduate with the rest of my class. (emphasis on effect) An important “why” question remains...

Why didn’t I study? Because I decided to go out on a school night, locked my keys in the car, had to call a tow truck, got home after 3:00 a.m., and was too tired to study, I failed my final exam. (emphasis on cause) THIS IS A CAUSAL ANALYSIS

Thesis statement (enhanced by causal analysis) Because I chose to go out on a school night rather than study for finals, I failed a course that was necessary for graduation.

Improve your thesis statement by doing a causal analysis Because she was afraid, Annie ran from Miss White. ◦ Trace the chain of a causal situation : contributing cause Annie ran from Miss White because she received a burn on her hand from the magnifying glass. But then, as an adult, essential cause she felt guilty for that running. Guilt gave her a deeper understanding of her relationship with God. Improved thesis: Because, as a child, she fled from Miss White, Annie Dillard felt guilt as an adult, which led to a deeper understanding of her relationship to God.

Good Cause/Effect Transition Words Be sure to use bridges from cause to effect, or effect to cause. ◦ accordingly as a result of because because of brought about caused by consequently due to for the reason if…then in effect is responsible for leads to otherwise since so therefore thus when whenever