A Cause & Effect Essay explains or analyzes reasons/results of something.
REASONS/CAU
SES
EFFECTS
BRAINSTORMING
HIGH SCHOOL
DROPOUTS
CAUSES
EFFECTS
family problems
uneducated society
can't afford school fees
negative impact on the
economy
need to make money
can't cope with new
technology
GLOBAL WARMING
CAUSES
EFFECTS
overpopulation
climate change
deforestation
sea level rise
modern/changing lifestyle
acid rain
DIVORCE
CAUSES
communication problems
lack of money
cheating
EFFECTS
broken hearts and broken
homes
children may become
violent or depressed
difficult to remarry
OBESITY
CAUSES
EFFECTS
hereditary factors
poor health
lack of exercise
lower self-esteem
poor eating habit
limited employment
INTRODUCTION
AGAIN YOU HAVE THREE PARTS 
HOOK
BACKGROUND INFORMATION (If you are writing about the causes, talk about the
effects. However, talk about the causes if you are writing about the causes.)
THESIS STATEMENT
A good thesis statement both names the topic and reveals the writer’s opinion about the topic. FOR
EXAMPLE;

India has a lot of interesting festivals.
(The statement is too broad. Even though it does state the writer’s opinion, the statement is not clear:
It doesn’t explain why the festivals are interesting.

Diwali is an important festival for Indians because they celebrate, remember traditional legends, and
enjoy time with their families.
o
(The topic is specific enough, and clearly gives the writer’s opinion. In addition, it lists the supporting
ideas.)
SPECIFIC VOCABULARY
IN THESIS STATEMENT;
For causes;
use words or phrases like:
Cause, reason, because, due to, since, for, owing to, because of
For effects;
use words or phrases like:
Effect, affect(v), outcome (n), result, lead to, result in, consequence
















The reasons of obesity are poor eating habit, genetic factors, and lack of exercise.
The causes of obesity are poor eating habit, genetic factors, and lack of exercise.
Poor eating habit, genetic factors, and lack of exercise cause obesity.
Poor eating habit, genetic factors, and lack of exercise result in obesity.
There are many obese people because/since/as/for people have poor eating habit,
they have genetic problems, and they don't exercise.
Because/since/as/for people have poor eating habit, they have genetic problems, and
they don't exercise, there are many obese people.
Because of/due to/owing to poor eating habit, genetic factors, and lack of exercise
people become obese
People become obese because of/due to/owing to poor eating habit, genetic factors,
and lack of exercise
The consequences of obesity include poor health, lower self-esteem, and limited
employment.
The results of obesity are poor health, lower self-esteem, and limited employment.
The outcomes of obesity are poor health, lower self-esteem, and limited employment.
Poor health, lower self-esteem, and limited employment are the results of obesity.
Poor health, lower self-esteem, and limited employment are the effects of obesity.
Poor health, lower self-esteem, and limited employment are the outcomes of obesity.
Obesity results in poor health, lower self-esteem, and limited employment.
Obesity leads in poor health, lower self-esteem, and limited employment.
Body paragraphs

In each body paragraph, tell a
reason or effect. Try to make
a connection among the
paragraphs by reminding the
previous one.
 Start with a transition and
topic sentence,
 Support with explanations,
examples, details, or other
information
1st CAUSE/EFFECT
TRANSITION+TOPIC SENTENCE
2nd CAUSE/EFFECT
TRANSITION+TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING SENTENCES
3rd CAUSE/EFFECT
TRANSITION+TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING SENTENCES
BODY
PARAGRAPHS
SUPPORTING SENTENCES
1st
BODY
The first reason(cause)/effect of ….. is ….
The first reason(cause)/effect of ….. Is that… (S+V)
First,…
First of all, …
2nd BODY
The second reason(cause)/effect of …. is that… (S+V)
Another reason(cause)/effect of ….. is ….
Another reason(cause)/effect of …. is that… (S+V)
In addition to ….(1st cause/effect) NOUN PHRASE), S+V
Besides ….(1st cause/effect) NOUN PHRASE), S+V
The last/third reason(cause)/effect of ….. is ….
The last/third reason(cause)/effect of ... is that… (S+V)
3rd BODY
In addition to ….(1st &2nd cause/effect) NOUN PHRASE), S+V
Besides ….(1st&2nd cause/effect) NOUN PHRASE), S+V
The last but not the least, …S+V
The last but not cause(reason)/effect of … is …(NOUN PHRASE)
the least cause(reason)/effect of … is (that …. S+V
TRANSITIONS
The second reason(cause)/effect of ….. is ….
The main parts in an essay are often organized
according to their importance. Often, less important
points are given first More important points are given
later, with the most important point coning last. This
is called EMPHATIC ORDER. It draws attention to
the last, most important one.
1st Body Paragraph: LESS IMPORTANT POINT
2nd Body Paragraph: MORE IMPORTANT POINT
3rd Body Paragraph: MOST IMPORTANT POINT
ORDER IDEAS
EMPHATIC ORDER
CONCLUSION
 TRANSITION,
 RESTATEMENT,
 SUMMARY,
 CLOSURE
The conclusion is the last paragraph in your essay. A
conclusion completes the essay and reemphasizes your thesis
statement or main ideas. Look at the example thesis statement
and conclusion below.
A Conclusion
Useful Transitions
It is sometimes helpful to have a transition at the
beginning of your conclusion to signal the end of your
essay. Some common transitions used in conclusions
are listed below. Remember to use a comma after your
transitions.

In conclusion,

Therefore,

In summary,

To conclude,

Thus,

In short,
RESTATEMENT
Thesis Statement
When I first found out that I was diagnosed with cancer, I took
two important steps to fight the disease.
First sentence in conclusion reemphasizes ideas in thesis statement.
First Sentence of Conclusion
Ultimately, because of the steps I took, I was successful in
fighting the disease…
SUMMARY
So What?
In addition to referring back to your main idea, your
conclusion needs to show your reader the significance of
your thesis. When discussing the importance of your
thesis, try to address questions such as…

How and why is this topic important?

How might this topic affect me or other people?

What can be learned from this topic?
Example #1
So What?
Look at the example below of a conclusion
that shows the reader the importance of the
main idea of the essay.
Example #1
Conclusion Paragraph Draft
Ultimately, because of the steps I took, I was successful in fighting the disease. I
was able to become healthy enough to attend my daughter’s wedding, and I no longer
worried about dying. Others suffering with cancer can learn an important lesson from
my experience: Don’t give up no matter how hopeless things may seem and always
get a second opinion from another doctor!
The writer points
out how the steps
she took to fight
cancer affected
her and other
people.
The writer
discusses the
importance of her
topic by writing
about the lessons
that can be learned.
Example #2
Conclusion
Look at the example below of a conclusion
that refers back to the thesis statement and
shows the reader the importance of the main
idea of the essay.
Example #2
Thesis Statement
There were several factors that caused my family to make the difficult decision
to immigrate to the United States.
Conclusion Paragraph
The decision to move to the United States was a difficult one for my parents to
make. Though I was angry with their decision at the time, I understand now that the
poor economy and political instability of my country forced them to immigrate.
Through this experience I learned that one simply cannot control all of life’s
circumstances. One must learn to deal with tough situations as they come and work
to be successful regardless of one’s location.
The first two sentences
reemphasize the thesis
statement.
The writer concludes by
discussing the lessons
learned from his
experience.
Concluding an Essay
Techniques
Some ways to enhance a conclusion are to
include a…

Prediction

Recommendation

Quotation
Concluding an Essay
A Prediction
A prediction talks about what might happen in the future. A prediction
can be a good way to finish your essay. It can make your reader think
about the possible results of your thesis statement.
Thesis
Statement
Prediction
Example
A program to reforest parts of Haiti is urgently needed.
Finally, the importance of beginning a program to re
forest parts of Haiti will be an important step in making this
country more economically self-sufficient. Without such a
program in place, the people of this country will continue to
destroy their natural resources for fuel in order to salvage their
present state of survival.
A prediction is used to make the
reader think about possible results of
the thesis.
Concluding an Essay
A Recommendation
A recommendation is often used by a writer after he/she has discussed
a problem in an essay. A recommendation can be used to suggest a
solution or call the readers to do something about the problem in the
essay.
Recommendation
Example
As we have seen, international students face a number
of difficulties when coming to a new country to study.
However, problems such as culture-shock and the language
barrier can be lessened before a student comes to the new
country through preparation. If you are considering going to
school in another country, you should begin learning about the
culture, customs, and history of your host nation. Also, you
should be sure that you are proficient in the national language
or be sure to sign up for language classes once you are there.
A recommendation is used to suggest
a solution to a problem.
Concluding an Essay
“A Quotation”
A relevant quotation can bring good closure to your essay, especially
if the quotation is from an expert on the topic in your composition.
Quotation
Example
David Werner, author of, Where There Is No Doctor,
notes that, “Only when the people themselves become actively
responsible for their own and their community’s health, can
important changes take place.” This should be the mantra of
every public health agency when looking at making
improvements in common health problems. Unless a
community understands the importance of the intervention and
takes responsibility for transformation, no long-lasting changes
will be made.
A quotation from an expert can be
used to add credibility to a writer’s
position.