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  Cause  Effect  Child misbehaves  parent grounds child  Eat high-fat food  gain weight, become ill  Get a headache  take medicine  relieve headache (Cause  Effect/Cause  Effect)

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 Structure I. Introduction A. Opening Remarks B. Thesis II. Body A. First cause 1. Support with specifics, examples, and details B. Second cause 1. Support with specifics, examples, and details C. Third cause 1. Support with specifics, examples, and details III. Conclusion A. Concluding Statement B. Closing Remarks 1. Story 2. Quote 3. 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. Introduction A. Opening Remarks B. Thesis II. Body A. First effect 1. Support with specifics, examples, and details B. Second effect 1. Support with specifics, examples, and details C. Third effect 1. Support with specifics, examples, and details III. Conclusion A. Concluding Statement B. Closing Remarks 1. Story 2. Quote 3. 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 Structure From Effects to Causes From Causes to Effects I. Introduction A. Opening Remarks B. Thesis II. Body A. First effect with support B. Second effect with support C. First cause with support  (Be sure to use clear transition) D. Second cause with support III. Conclusion A. Concluding Statement B. Closing Remarks I. Introduction A. Opening Remarks B. Thesis II. Body A. First cause with support B. Second cause with support C. First effect with support  (Be sure to use clear transition) D. Second effect with support III. Conclusion A. Concluding Statement B. 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.