CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY

CAUSE AND
EFFECT ESSAY
1. Definition
2. Organization
3. Sentence patterns and language
materials


DEFINITION
 Causes are the reasons why an event
happened. Most events result from a number
of causes, which do not necessary related.

In cause paper, just develop only those causes
that are closely related in time to the event.
It means that you should not cite a cause that
happened 12 years earlier.
Also beware of false causal relationship.
Ex: You should not mention that the cause of
your obesity is the hobby of collecting stamps.


example
Countless bills to pay for …
Needs a professional care …
My father’s welfare ……
-> Putting my mother in the nursing home


 Effects are the results of a particular
occurrence. The effects should be

distinct and separate from one
another. Furthermore, the effects
should not be too distant in time, too.
Example:
----> Have little privacy
Being a Celebrity ------> Be under constant
pressure
------> Have no safety



Distinguish Between Cause
and Effect

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To determine causes, ask, "Why did this
happen?"
To identify effects, ask, "What happened
because of this?“
- example of one cause producing one effect:
CAUSE
You are out of gas.
EFFECT
Your car won't start.
CAUSE
People clear land for agriculture

by cutting down tree.
EFFECT
The topsoil washes away.


- Sometimes, many causes contribute to a
single effect
CAUSES

like business in high school
salary in the field is high
my aunt is an accountant
good with numbers
EFFECT
Choose major in accounting
- Many effects may result from a single cause
CAUSE Reduce work hours
EFFECTS
Less income
Employer is irritated
More time to study
More time for family and friends


chain of cause and effect
- an effect becomes the cause of another effect - that effect becomes the cause of still another effect,
and so on ...
Example of a chain reaction:
CAUSE
EFFECT

People move into new areas and clear land for
agriculture by cutting down trees.
The tree roots no longer hold the soil in place.

CAUSE
EFFECT

The tree roots don’t hold the soil in place.
The topsoil washes away during heavy rains.

CAUSE
EFFECT

The topsoil washes away during heavy rains.
There is no good soil to grow crops in.

CAUSE
EFFECT

There is no good soil to grow crops in.
People move to new areas and clear land by cutting
down trees.


HOW TO WRITE


Thesis statement
* Make it clear to the readers whether the essay is

being developed by cause or by effect. It does not
have to be persuasive.
*
A paper for a causal analysis
- states briefly the causes to be discussed.
- key question: “What caused this?”
Ex: Child violence is caused by lack of parental
attention, parental abuse and parental immaturity
* A paper for an effect analysis
- states the central idea.
- key question: “What effects result from this
cause?”
Ex: Watching violent films has a great impact on
the child’s psychological and physiological
condition.


body

 Warning
* immediate (called direct) causes/effects
Ex: The causes for my fear of the water
- I can not swim (immediate cause).
-My mother had an unreasonable fear of the water (remote cause).
* remote (called indirect) causes/effects
Ex: The effects of watching TV
- More people get eyestrain (immediate effect).
-People get fat (remote effect).

 Organization

* spend one body paragraph on each
of the causes/effects
- this paragraph provides
explanation, facts … any evidences
that show how it contributes to the
effect.
- this paragraph provides explanation
that shows the relationship between
the cause and the effect.


 * the body paragraphs can be arranged:
- order of importance (the most important last)
- order of interest (less interesting to more interesting)
- order of familiarity (obvious to less obvious)
- order of time (Chronological order) Details are arranged in the
order in which the events occurred.
- categorical: details are arranged by dividing the topic into parts
or categories


Examples
Thesis statement: Air pollution is caused by the following
factors: exhaust gases from cars, uncontrolled
factory releases, and burning of low-quality coal for
heating.
Body:
P1: Exhausts Gases From Car

A. government does not have enough control
B. citizens are not conscientious
P2. Uncontrolled Factory Gases
A. no regular checks on gases released
B. factories are inside the borders of residential areas
P3. Burning of Low- Quality Coal for Heating
A. no governmental control
B. other forms of energy too expensive
Conclusion:


Sentence patterns and
language materials

 Words and phrases that show the cause:
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- Because

- Because of
- Due to
- One cause is
- Another is
- Since
- As
- For
- To result from
- To be the result of
- The effect of
- The consequence of
- As a result of
- As a consequence of


Words and phrases that show the effects:
- Consequently

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- As a result
- As a consequence
- Thus
- Hence
- Resulted in
- One result is
- Another is
- Therefore
- So
- To result in
- To cause
- To have an effect on
- To affect
- The cause of
- The reason for


 Structures showing cause and effect
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leads to
results in (daãn ñeán kquaû)
NOUN
results from (do bôûi)
causes
has an effect on
 Ex: Smoking causes lung cancer.

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NOUN

Lack of exercise can lead to poor health


 THANK YOU FOR LISTENING