Cause & Effect Essays

Questions... Why did Mary change jobs? How was the educational system affected by the new legislation? Why do so many people eat fast food? Why do people take up smoking? In what ways do advertisements affect people? The answers of all these questions lead us to think about either the causes or effects of events or actions. Analysing causes and effects helps us understand the nature of an event, the factors that lead up to it or its consequences.

Defining Cause & Effect A cause is the reason which makes an event or action happen. missing classes ignorance of the lesson student failure laziness causes (reasons)

An effect is the result of a certain event or action. psychological problems unemployment financial problems social problems results/effects

The Thesis Statement The thesis statement usually states the causes or effects to be discussed in the essay. Cause Essay A student’s failure in a lesson is generally caused by three main factors; missing classes, ignorance of the lesson and laziness. Effect Essay Unemployment can have several serious effects on people; psychological problems, financial problems and social problems.

Useful transitions for an essay on causes As Due to BecauseSince Because ofFor

Organizational pattern of a cause essay Introductory Paragraph General Statements + A thesis statement stating the situation and its causes Body-1 Explains the relationship between the subject and the 1st cause. Body-2 Explains the relationship between the subject and the 2nd cause. Body-3 Explains the relationship between the subject and the 3rd cause. Concluding Paragraph Either listing or paraphrasing the features mentioned in the body. + Final Comment

Useful transitions for an essay on effects As a result, Therefore, Because of this,...so... Consequently,Thus, For this/that reason,...so that...

Organizational pattern of a effect essay Introductory Paragraph General Statements + A thesis statement stating the situation and its effects Body-1 Explains the relationship between the subject and the 1st effect. Body-2 Explains the relationship between the subject and the 2nd effect. Body-3 Explains the relationship between the subject and the 3rd effect. Concluding Paragraph Either listing or paraphrasing the features mentioned in the body. + Final Comment

Your Turn Any questions so far?

Look at the topics below and decide on three causes for each. 1.Divorce2. Wars ________ ________________ 3. Migration4. Academic Success________________________

Look at the topics below and come up with three effects for each. 1.Keeping pets2. Being famous ________ ________________ 3. Using cell phones4. Telling lies________________________

Writing Task Using one of the topics from the previous exercises and your brainstormed ideas, write a complete cause analysis or effect analysis essay