Cause and Effect Essays 1 Cause and Effect

Cause and Effect Essays 1

Cause and Effect Essays “Cause-effect interpretation tasks deal with establishing causal relationships and are based on causal reasoning. Most assignments of this type include a discussion or an explanation of a cause-effect relationship among events or problems, identification of causes or effects” (Hinkel, 2004, p. 28) 2

Cause and Effect A cause is the reason something happens An effect is the result of the cause. 3

Cause and Effect There could be many causes Becoming ill Lack of sleep, too much stress, poor nutrition, exposure to a virus There could be many effects A violent storm Destroy trees, flood streets, tear roofs of houses, knock down power lines 4

Essay Outline Most cause and effect essays follow two basic organizational patterns. Block pattern Discusses causes and/or effects separately in ‘blocks’ Two variations Both causes and effects Only causes or effects Linking Pattern A series of one cause/one effect paragraphs Each cause is ‘linked’ to one effect. The next two slides have some sample organizational patterns. 5

• Introduction • Thesis • Causes or Effects • Conclusion 3 • Introduction • Thesis • Causes • Effects • Conclusion 2 1 Block or Linking Pattern • Introduction • Thesis • Causes Effects • Causes – Effects • Causes Effects • Conclusion 6

• Introduction • Thesis • 1 st cause • Transition paragraph • 2 nd cause • 3 rd cause • 4 th cause • Effects • Conclusion 3 • Introduction • Thesis • 1 st cause • 2 nd cause • 3 rd cause • Transition paragraph • 1 st effect • 2 nd effect • Conclusion 2 1 Transition Paragraphs • Introduction • Thesis • Effects • Transition paragraph • 1 st cause • 2 nd cause • 3 rd cause • Conclusion 7

Causal Words Subordinators Because Since As Coordinators For Phrases and Other Expressions To result from To be the result of Due to Because of The effect of The consequence of As a result of As a consequence of 8

Effect Words Transition Words and Phrases As a result As a consequence Therefore thus Consequently Hence Coordinators So Phrases and Other Expressions To result in To cause To have an effect on To affect The cause of The reason of thereby 9

References Boardman, C. (2009). Writing to communicate: Essays and the short research paper. White Plains, NY: Pearson. Hinkel, E. (2004). Teaching academic ESL writing: Practical tips in vocabulary and grammar. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc. Oshima, A. & Hogue, A. (2014). Longman academic writing series 4: 5 th edition. White Plains, NY: Pearson. 10