The
Cause-Effect
Essay
St. Robert
Catholic High School
Information taken from: http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html
Information taken from: http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/writing/essay.html
The Cause/Effect Essay
The cause/effect essay explains
why or how some event happened,
and what resulted from the event.
This essay is a study of the
relationship between two or more
events or experiences.
The essay could discuss both
causes and effects, or it could
simply address one or the other.
A cause essay usually discusses
the reasons why something
happened.
An effect essay discusses what
happens after a specific event or
circumstance.
Information taken from: http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/writing/essay.html
1. Cause-and-effect writing gives reasons and
explanations for events, conditions, or
behavior.
2. It answers the need most of us have to
understand the world around us.
3. When planning a cause-and-effect essay,
begin by listing the event or condition you
want to address.
4. Then brainstorm to generate ideas about
either its causes or its effects.
5. Think carefully about the causes and effects
you have listed.
6. As part of prewriting you may find it helpful to
diagram or demonstrate these relationships
graphically.
7. Check to be sure you have not drawn any
faulty conclusions.
8. Your conclusions are faulty if the cause-andeffect relationship does not exist or if it is
unreasonable or not clearly established. Ask
yourself :Have I assumed a cause-effect
relationship when there is none?
Information taken from: http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html
Causal Relation:
Necessary Cause - one that must
be present for the effect to
occur.

Ex. Combustion is necessary to
drive a gasoline engine.
Sufficient Cause - one that can
produce an effect unaided,
though there may be more than
one sufficient cause of a given
effect.

Ex. A dead battery is enough to
keep a car from starting--but faulty
spark plugs or an empty gas tank
will have the same effect.
Contributory Cause - one that
helps to produce an effect but
cannot do so by itself.

Ex. Running a red light might help
to cause an accident....though other
facts -- pedestrians or other cars in
the intersection -- must also be
present.
Information taken from: http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html
Multiple Causes-->Effect
In this pattern, the organization is as follows:
Thesis statement: Air pollution is
caused by a variety of imperceptible,
but controllable industries.
I. exhaust gases from cars
A. government does not take enough
control
B. citizens are not as conscientious as they
could be
II. uncontrolled factory gases
A. no regular checks on gases released that
need to be regulated
B. factories are inside the borders of
residential areas and should be moved
III. burning of low-quality coal for heating
A. government does not take enough
control
B. other forms of energy are too expensive,
but
Information taken from: http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html
Causal chain / Domino
In this pattern, the events lead to one
another, as in the following organization:
Thesis statement: Using deodorants with
chlorofluorocarbon gas will bring the end
of world.
I. Chlorofluorocarbon gases are contained
in most deodorants and released
by some factories into the air.
II. This gas causes the ozone layer to
become thinner and finally disappear in
patches.
III. The unfiltered ultraviolet rays of the sun
cause overheating in the poles of the
earth, where the icebergs start to melt.
IV. The huge amount of water released from
the poles leads to a rise in the sea-level.
V. The sea will cover the land and this will
be the end of the world.
Information taken from: http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html
Cause-->Multiple Effects
In this pattern, the effects of a certain situation are
explained in separate paragraphs, with the following
organization:
Thesis statement: Watching too
much TV is one of the major
sociological issues of this century,
which has many effects on the
physiology and psychology of
people.
I. eating disorders
A. TV meals
B. obesity
II. communication problems
A. more violence
B. no interpersonal talk
Information taken from: http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html
Outline
Cause with Multiple Effects
Introduction
General statement (past & present condition)
Thesis statement ______________________________________
Body
Paragraph 2 (Causes/Effect)
Cause 1 _____________________________________________
Effect 1A _____________________________________________
Example (supporting information) __________________________
Effect 1B _____________________________________________
Example (supporting information) __________________________
Paragraph 3 (Causes/Effect)
Cause 2 _____________________________________________
Effect 2A _____________________________________________
Example (supporting information) __________________________
Effect 2B _____________________________________________
Example (supporting information) __________________________
Paragraph 4 (Causes/Effect)
Cause 3 _____________________________________________
Effect 3A _____________________________________________
Example (supporting information) __________________________
Effect 3B _____________________________________________
Example (supporting information) __________________________
Conclusion
Re-state the thesis statement _____________________________
Summary ____________________________________________
Outline
Cause with Multiple Effects
Introduction
General statement (past & present condition)
Thesis statement: King Lear’s downfall is the result of both social
and emotional factors.
Body
Paragraph 2 (Causes/Effect)
Cause 1 His rash behavior
Effect 1A Makes decisions without thinking of the consequences
Example (supporting information) Give his kingdom to daughters
Effect 1B Banishes those who care most for him
Example (supporting information) Cordelia and Kent
Paragraph 3 (Causes/Effect)
Cause 2 Uncaring relatives
Effect 2A daughters
Example (supporting information) Goneril & Regan
Effect 2B Son-in-law
Example (supporting information) Duke of Cornwall
Paragraph 4 (Causes/Effect)
Cause 3 Mental deterioration
Effect 3A started to go crazy
Example (supporting information) held a trial for her daughters
using a stool and fake jury.
Effect 3B _____________________________________________
Example (supporting information) __________________________
Conclusion
Re-state the thesis statement _____________________________
Summary ____________________________________________
Questions to ask yourself:
Have I assumed only one cause when
many causes may be appropriate?
Have I incorrectly assumed a causal
relationship between two events that
immediately follow each other?
Did I distinguish between long-term
and short-term causes and effects.
A short-term cause or effect is a
single, immediately identifiable event;
a long-term cause or effect may be
less easy to pinpoint but in the long
run more important?
Did I distinguish between primary
(most important) and secondary
(ancillary) effects?
Information taken from: http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html
Compose a thesis statement that
clearly states your topic. Because
cause-and-effect essays need a readily
identifiable structure, you will almost
always write the essay in
chronological order.
Sometimes, however, you will use
reverse chronological order.
For example, you might begin with an
effect or a series of effects and trace
them back to their original cause.
Whatever organization you use, write
paragraphs with strong, clear topic
sentences and relevant supporting
details.
As you write, be careful not to
overstate your case.
Because many causal relationships
cannot be proven conclusively, you
may want to qualify your statements.
Information taken from: http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html
Transition Words
Cause and
Effect
Degrees of
Certainty
Levels of
Importance
as a result
certainly
above all
because
may
equally important
consequently
necessarily
finally
due to
perhaps
first
if....then
possibly
initially
leads to
probably
last
therefore
undoubtedly
primarily
thus
unquestionably
second
Information taken from: http://www.howard.k12.md.us/mth/english_dept/adv-comp/eng_effect.html
Works Cited
A double space
between
the heading
(Works Cited)
and the first line
is all
the spacing
necessary.
Dwyer 6
Works Cited
Coelho, P. The Alchemist. San Francisco:
Harper Collins, 1993.
Fitzgerald, F. The Great Gatsby. New York:
Ensure that all
entries are
entered in
alphabetical
order:
C, F, H, L, W
Penguin, 1976.
Hemingway, E. The Sun Also Rises. New York:
Harper Collins, 1992.
Remember to
remain
consistent in the
font choice
and size.
Lee, H. To Kill A Mockingbird. Philadelphia:
Warner Books, 1960.
Williams, T. The Glass Menagerie. New York:
Indent
every line
after the
first line by
one tab
Ensure that you
name
and number the
works cited page
as well.
New Directions Books, 1999.
Do NOT separate
entries
by categories:
Books, Internet,
Magazines’
The Works Cited
page
MUST be on a
separate page
General
Tips
1. Always introduce the author (by full
name the first time and by last
name thereafter) and the title of the
piece of literature near the
beginning of the piece.
2. When referencing a person after
the first time you may use their last
name only. NEVER refer to
him/her by his/her first name.
3. Their = possession They’re =
they are
There = a place
4. Avoid saying “in this quote”
5. When you indent quotes, drop the
quotation marks because they are
implied
6. Don’t be redundant (ie. it was fake
& fabricated)
General
Tips
7. Don’t repeat exact same lines or
ideas
8. Unless there are two novels
(pieces of literature), after you
introduce the title, do not continue
referring to it by name…say “the
novel”
9. Avoid double negatives (ie. “falsely
fabricated” or “she didn’t not like it”)
10.Don’t say “the society,” just say
“society”
11.Quotations should support the
topic sentence & thesis. (ie.
“Gatsby is better than Daisy” –
Your quote should be about what
makes Gatsby good, not about
what makes Daisy not as good.
General Tips
12.End paragraphs with a concluding
sentence that relates back to the
topic sentence/thesis. Then after
the concluding sentence, finish the
paragraph with a sentence that
links to the next paragraph.
13.Use transitional words within you
paragraphs.
14.Transitional words as the first
word of the sentence is almost
always followed by a comma.
15.Say “quotation” not “quote”
16.Do not use symbols for words “+”
or “&” for the word “and”
17.Do not abbreviate words or use
contractions.
General Tips
18.Do not put quotation marks around
something that is not being cited on
your works cited page. Use italics
if it is necessary to emphasize
something.
19.Your title should reflect your
essay’s thesis. Do not underline
the title of the essay.
20.Always underline the title of the
literary work (even in the title).
21.Do not state the obvious.
22.Quotations that are facts should be
embedded in a sentences, not
recorded as a separate sentence.
23.There is no such word as
“anyways.”
General
Tips
24.Do not put your
supports/arguments directly in the
thesis (they should be in the intro
paragraph but not in the thesis
statement).
25. Never begin or end a paragraph
with a quotation.
26.Never have two quotations back to
back.
27.Do not switch from past to present
tense
28. Always introduce a quotation:
1.
2.
3.
Fitzgerald writes, “------------------”
(Fitzgerald 20).
Nick explains with great seriousness,
“------------------------” (Fitzgerald 22).
Gatsby insists, “---------------------”
(Fitzgerald 26).
General Tips
29. I can’t say this enough…use transitional
words to create flow in your essay. It will
not only help with flow, but with
analysis/discussion. If you followed a
sentence with thus, or therefore, you will
be forced to explain the result of the
argument you have made.
30. Do not try to prove plot. (ie. “Tom’s got
some woman in the city” is not a good
support quote because it is strictly
fact…what else could you say about it? A
quote should add insight and depth.)
31. Do not use a coverpage. Remember that
your last name and page number will
begin on page 2 of the essay.
32. Remove any improper spacing. Use
double spacing and alignment to the left,
with 1 inch borders.
33. Use only Ariel or TNR, size 12 font