CAUSE & EFFECT

ESSAYS
Distinguish between cause and effect
To determine causes, ask,
Why did this (situation/ phenomenon)
happen?

To identify effects, ask,

What happened or might happen because of
this (situation/ phenomenon)?
INTRODUCTION SEGMENT

Opening Statement (rhetorical question,

definition, etc)
Development (brief background, elaboration
of opening statement, etc)

Thesis statement

Thesis statement= Topic + Controlling ideas (causes) or

Thesis statement= Topic + Controlling ideas (effects)

Many causes may contribute to a single effect

CAUSES (various) EFFECT

(the phenomenon)
Malnutrition
Children
Exposure to toxins
with
Lack of mental stimulation
Low IQ

Example : The thesis statement

Low IQ in children is generally caused by the
three critical factors, which are malnutrition in
childhood, exposure to toxins and lack of a
mentally stimulating environment.
MANY EFFECTS MAY RESULT FROM A
SINGLE CAUSE
Cause
(the phenomenon) Effects (various)
Restlessness
Addiction to Insomnia
Caffeine Heartbeat irregularities

Example : Thesis statement

Addition to caffeine brings negative effects, namely
restlessness, insomnia and heartbeat irregularities.
 basic paragraph format
BODY SEGMENT

begin with ONE topic sentence

followed by specific supporting

sentences

enhanced with specific supporting

details.
 Restate thesis (paraphrase thesis)
CONCLUDING SEGMENT

Summarize main points

Make BRIEF recommendation/s

List BRIEF effects/implications of the

phenomenon (only do this if the body
covers CAUSES)
PATTERN OF ORGANISATION

1.BLOCK ORGANISATION
Discuss all the causes/effects part by part

2. CHAIN ORGANISATION
Discuss a first cause and then its effect (linked
together), a second cause and its effect, a third
cause and its effect and so on.
BLOCK ORGANSATION
(FOCUS ONLY ON CAUSES)

INTRODUCTION
1st CAUSE
2nd CAUSE
3rd CAUSE
CONCLUSION (briefly
mention effect(s))
 BLOCK ORGANSATION
(FOCUS ONLY ON EFFECTS)

INTRODUCTION
(briefly mention cause(s)

1st EFFECT
2nd EFFECT
3rd EFFECT

CONCLUSION
 BLOCK ORGANISATION (CAUSES +
EFFECT)
INTRODUCTION

1st CAUSE

2nd CAUSE

1 EFFECT/

CONCLUSION

Note: Refer to Supplementary Material The Cause and Effect Essay

 BLOCK ORGANSATION (CAUSE +
EFFECTS)

INTRODUCTION

1 CAUSE

1st EFFECT

2nd EFFECT

CONCLUSION
Note: Refer to Supplementary Material The Cause and Effect Essay
 THE CAUSAL CHAIN ORGANISATION
Cause and effect are linked to each other

One event causes a second event, which in turn

causes a third event, which in turn causes a
fourth event, and so on.

Depending on the complexity of the ideas in

each link, you can devote an entire paragraph
to one link or you may describe the entire link
in one paragraph.
 CAUSAL CHAIN ORGANISATION
INTRODUCTION

1st CAUSE
1st EFFECT

2nd CAUSE
2nd EFFECT

3rd CAUSE
3rd EFFECT

CONCLUSION

Note: Refer to Supplementary Material The Cause and Effect Essay

READ THE FOLLOWING
PASSAGE.

1. What are the causes?

2. What is the effect?
 In recent decades, cities have grown so large that now about
50% of the Earth's population lives in urban areas. There are
several reasons for this occurrence.
First, the increasing industrialization of the nineteenth century
resulted in the creation of many factory jobs, which tended to be
located in cities. These jobs, with their promise of a better
material life, attracted many people from rural areas.
Second, there were many schools established to educate the
children of the new factory laborers. The promise of a better
education persuaded many families to leave farming
communities and move to the cities.
Finally, as the cities grew, people established places of leisure,
entertainment, and culture, such as sports stadiums, theaters, and
museums. For many people, these facilities made city life appear
more interesting than life on the farm, and therefore drew them
away from rural communities.
 In recent decades, cities have grown so large that now about
50% of the Earth's population lives in urban areas. There are
several reasons for this occurrence.

First, the increasing industrialization of the nineteenth century

resulted in the creation of many factory jobs, which tended to be
located in cities. These jobs, with their promise of a better
material life, attracted many people from rural areas.

Second, there were many schools established to educate the

children of the new factory laborers. The promise of a better
education persuaded many families to leave farming communities
and move to the cities.

Finally, as the cities grew, people established places of leisure,

entertainment, and culture, such as sports stadiums, theaters, and
museums. For many people, these facilities made city life appear
more interesting than life on the farm, and therefore drew them
away from rural communities.
TRANSITIONAL WORDS / PHRASES
TO SHOW CAUSE
because (of) as through

now (that) causes results in

as a result of leads to produces

caused by due to since

on account of as a result of

Note: Refer to Supplementary Material The Cause

and Effect Essay
 TRANSITIONAL WORDS / PHRASES
TO SHOW EFFECT

effect consequence because of this

so as a result as a consequence

thus accordingly consequently

now therefore for this reason

Note: Refer to Supplementary Material The Cause and

Effect Essay
 Task: As quickly as you can, come up
with some causes and effects for the
following phenomenon

Cheating among university students

during examinations

Causes:

Effects: