Cause and EffectCause and Effect

A cause-and-effect essay may focus on causes of an event, effects of an event, or both.

It is formatted much like an expository essay.

Thesis• Thesis- your thesis is not your topic, but what you want to say

about it. • The thesis statement, which is usually a one-sentence

summary, should indicate the focus.

• The following thesis sentences show three different focuses on the same situation:

• Causes:  Three major factors prompt teenagers to sign up for volunteer work in the community.

• Effects:  While the number of teenage volunteers may be small the impact of their service is large.

• Causes and Effects:  Teenagers have different reasons for doing volunteer work, but the effects of their work are generally significant.

Causes

• Ask the question Why did this Happen? and list every likely cause that you uncover.  Later when you have completed your investigation, you can select the causes you think merit discussion.  The following questions might help you investigate causes.

 • What are the obvious causes?• Is there a main, or most important, cause?  What is it?• What is the most recent cause?• What causes occurred in the distant past?

Effects

• When you investigate effects, ask yourself, What are the results?  And list every possible effect you can think of.  As with causes, wait until you have completed you investigation, then select the effects you think merit discussion. The following questions might help you investigate causes.

• What are the most obvious effects?• Are there any hidden effects?  What are they?• What was (or will be) the first effect?• What might be the future effects?

Cause-and-Effect Chains

• During your investigation of the situation, you also need to look for a possible cause-and-effect chain. In such a chain one event or situation causes an effect, then the effect becomes a cause for an additional effect, and so on.

• For example, a fire produces dangerous gases that cause health problems.  The health problems cause people to move away, and their moving in turn cause a recession in the local economy. 

• If such a chain exists, it may become an important part of you explanation.

False Cause and Effect (avoid this!)

• You can’t assume that a cause-and-effect relationship exists just because one thing precedes another; there must be a valid connection between them.

• Example:

• My computer broke the day after I bought those new disks.  The disks must have caused the problem.

Believable Support

• Sufficient Evidence- Whatever it takes to prove your point. Your task is to be sensitive to your audience, with evidence that consists of facts, statistics, examples, or anecdotes.

• Accurate Evidence- Take notes accurately, and be sure you get both the numbers and the words right.

• Reliable Evidence- Reliable evidence comes from a “trustworthy” source.  Don’t assume everything that is printed is reliable. Make sure that your source has a reputation for being reliable.

Outline for Cause-Effect • Introduction• Attention grabber• Background info• Controlling Idea• Thesis• Body Paragraph #1- Causes (or effects)• Major - one cause• minors (2) - specific details or quotes• Commentary - discuss significance and relationship

to event• Major- second cause• minors (2)• Commentary• Body Paragraph #2- Effects (or causes) (same format as above)• Conclusion• Restate Thesis• Sum up best points• Satisfying concluding sentence

Effect #1 + reason (and quotes)

Effect #2 + reason (and quotes)

Effect #3 + reason (and quotes)

Effect #4 + reason (and quotes)

Cause #1 + reason (and quotes)

Cause #2 + reason (and quotes)

Cause #3 + reason (and quotes)

Cause #4 + reason (and quotes)

Event

Cause-Effect graphic organizer

Homework:

• Write an essay of causes and effects of Macbeth becoming king.

• 4 paragraphs

• Use specific examples from the play

• Commentary should examine causes’ and effects’ significance

• Due 11-27/28 (but you can turn it in sooner)