Cause and Effect Essays
Cause and Effect
It’s simple, just four paragraphs:
• Introduction
• Causes
• Effects
• Conclusion
First Paragraph
Introduction:
• One or two introductory sentences
• Thesis statement
Second Paragraph
Causes:
• Topic sentence introducing causes
• First cause
– Supporting info: one or more sentences
• Second cause
– Supporting info: one or more sentences
Third Paragraph
Effects:
• Topic sentence introducing effects
• First effect
– Supporting info: one or more sentences
• Second effect
– Supporting info: one or more sentences
Fourth Paragraph
Conclusion (at least two of the following):
• Restatement of causes
• Restatement of effects
• Proposed solutions
• Look to future
Let’s Put Together an Essay!
I’ll give you the pieces, you arrange
them into an essay
Sample Essay: Paragraph 1
Introduction
Past
In the past people used to eat healthy, freshly
prepared food with their families in the home.
Present
Today however, many people prefer to eat fast
food such as hamburgers, fried chicken, or pizza.
There are many reasons why this change has
occurred, but fast-food also has some serious
effects on individuals and society.
Sample Essay: Paragraph 2
Causes
Topic
There are many
reasons for the popularity of fast food.
Sentence
One of the main reasons is the change in lifestyle. Many people are
working long hours or extended school days. They don’t have time to
prepare good food. Women are now starting to work, and this can
Topicavailable for preparing meals.
result in less time being
Sentence
Supporting
Info
Another cause is the huge number of young, affluent people. The
rapid development of the country has meant that young people, have
more money to spend.
Supporting
Info
Sample Essay: Paragraph 3
Effects
However, this change in diet can have some serious
effects.
Topic
Sentence
One effect is on health. Many individuals are becoming
fat. These people will be less productive and have
conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
Topic
Sentence
Supporting
Info
Another result of fast food is the loss of the family
tradition of eating together. Children and adults rarely
eat together now, and thus get less opportunity to
talk.
Supporting
Info
Sample Essay: Paragraph 4
Conclusion
In conclusion, fast food, although it is
convenient, can have serious health and
social effects.
People should learn to choose fast food
carefully and remember the pleasure of
eating good food in good company.
Some Language …
from http://www.buowl.boun.edu.tr/students/types%20of%20essays/Cause%20and%20effect%20Essay.htm
• To explain reasons and results, we can use:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
As a result,
• So,
• Since
As a consequence,
• As,
Consequently,
• Because
One reason why ...
One of the most important reasons why ...
The main reasons why ...
There are other reasons, too,
Topics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Air pollution in China
The global economic crisis
Over population
Noise pollution
Computer revolution
Overuse of the internet
Growth of cities in China
Unaffordable housing in China
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
• Use the new template Essay Template.doc on
the essay-writing page of the TUSTCLASS2010
Essay Writing page
• Write in third person: use it, they, their, them
• Look at the sample essays
• Look at the IELTS Writing Problems-Key.pdf on
the TUSTCLASS2010 Better Writing page
Do’s and Don’ts
Don’t:
• Use first person: I, we
• Use second person: you
• Use “nowadays” or “In a word” and then write
more than 1-3 words
… and more Do’s
• Do check very carefully for Deadly Sins
• Do check grammar – I will be marking it more
carefully this time
Due Dates
• Classes 42 and 43: Wednesday, April 6
• Class 41: Thursday, April 7
• Class 44: Friday, April 8
Cause and Effect Rubric
Deadly Sins (-10 pts. each)
Spelling, capitalization, etc., errors
TUST standards errors
Late: -10 for each day
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Content (10 pts. each)
Intro: Intro. topic, Thesis Statement
Cause 1 & supporting info
Cause 2 & supporting info
Effect 1 & supporting info
Effect 2 & supporting info
Conclusion:
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Organization (10 pts. each)
Ideas follow logically
Statements are relevant to the topic
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Mechanics (20 pts.)
Grammar, usage, punctuation:
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