NROC Developmental English Foundations

Writing an Essay Showing Cause and Effect Pattern

Learning Objective:

Write a multi-paragraph cause and effect essay.

LESSON
Cause and effect essaysAn essay that covers why and/or how something happened. This type of essay requires that an event or action led to one or more consequences. will be among the most common writing assignments you come across in college. You may be asked to examine a cause, in other words, a thing or person that is the source or origin of certain effects. For instance, you may be asked to write an essayA short piece of writing that focuses on at least one main idea. Some essays are also focused on the author's unique point of view, making them personal or autobiographical, while others are focused on a particular literary, scientific, or political subject. describing how World War II affected the stature of the United States as a world leader in the twentieth century.

Effects can take the form of actionsA thing that is done, or the process of doing it., phenomenaHappenings or facts that can be observed. , statesThe condition that something is in., problems, illnesses, environments, and so forth. Cause and effect essays are important examinationsTo observe closely and carefully. of what are often complex issues. They can challenge preconceived notionsAn opinion formed ahead of time, without benefit of facts and experiences. about ideasA thought, opinion, or impression. and opinionsPoint of view that shows a personal belief or bias and cannot be proven to be completely true.. Cause and effect essays also help the writer and the reader better understand the "whys" and "hows" behind their thinking.

Further, these assignments require you to closely examine the relationship(s) between cause(s) and effect(s). What is "cause" and what is "effect" is not always obvious. Keep in mind causal chainsA series of events, each triggered by the one before. Causal chains have three parts: the initial cause, the final consequence, and all the steps that link the cause to the effect. Also called "the domino effect.", where what may begin as a cause becomes one of many further effects, and that what starts out as an effect may cause additional effects.

For example, showing how driving a car increases global warming is an example of a causal chain:

Driving a car has the effect of releasing carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide has the effect of trapping the sun's energy.
The energy of the sun has the effect of raising the average global temperature.

So, driving a car leads to an increase in global warming.

In this lesson, you will learn eight steps to writing a cause and effect essay:

Understand your assignment.
Gather ideas.
Create a working thesis.
Develop an outline.
Develop paragraphs that support your thesis.
Write a conclusion.
Write an introduction.
Revise your essay.

Step 1: Understand your assignment.

When approaching an assignment, it is essential to understand what you are being asked to write. It is helpful to read any guidelines and instructions provided to you. Examine the essay promptInstructions for a writing assignment given by an instructor. carefully. Do you need to address causes or effects? Are you being asked to write an essay in which you are looking at an issue where many effects stem from one cause? Or are you tasked with writing about a situation where many causes lead to one effect? KeywordsWords that are important to understanding the meaning of a passage or reading., also called signal wordsWords or phrases that connect ideas and alert a reader to important relationships between subjects. For example, signal words in a cause and effect essay could include first, second, then, next, later, because, after, and due to. Signal words in a compare/contrast essay could include also, but, similarly, in contrast, unlike, in the same way, as well as, or on the other hand., such as why, factors, causes, effects, results, reasons, influences, consequences, and outcomes indicate that you need to write a cause and effect essay.

Example 1:

Cause: childhood obesity

Effects: A number of immediate and long-term health and psychosocial effects.

Example 2:

Effect: childhood obesity

Causes: cost and availability of healthy foods, changes in the education system (increased seat time and decreased recess/gym), changes in family structure, and perception of decreased safety.

Step 2: Gather ideas.

There are a number of idea-gathering strategies that may be helpful to you here. For example, a cause and effect graphic organizerPictorial tools used to brainstorm and arrange ideas before writing, such as webbing diagrams, flow charts, story maps, and Venn diagrams. could work. Draw a circle. Place the one cause in that circle. Then put all of the effects around it. It essentially becomes a webbingA prewriting technique where the author creates an informal visual layout of possible ideas and then draws lines to connect them into a type of "web." The objective is to see connections between events and characters. or clusterA prewriting technique where the author creates an informal visual layout of possible ideas, grouping them together. The objective is to create visual clusters of information on which to base a writing..

Conversely, you could place the effect in the circle and put all of the causes around it.

Other ideas could include creating a brainstormingA prewriting technique where the author lists multiple ideas as he or she thinks of them, not considering one more than another until all ideas are captured. The objective is to create one great idea, or many ideas, on which to base a writing. list. If you are working with a many causes lead to one effect essay, begin by writing the effect at the top of a piece of paper. Then spend some time freewritingA prewriting technique where the author begins writing without regard to spelling or grammar about ideas, topics, or even characters, descriptions of events, and settings. Often the writer will freewrite for a set period of time. The objective is to develop a storyline through the writing process itself. ideas about potential causes. You may find that additional causes branch off of other causes. The same can be done for a many effects stem from one cause essay.

Step 3: Create a working thesis.

Creating a working or tentative thesis statementAn early form of a thesis statement that can be developed into a more formal thesis statement by creating supporting details. is vital to the development and organization of your ideas and your essay. Your thesisAn overall argument, idea, or belief that a writer uses as the basis for a work. is what you are setting out to demonstrate through your writing. A working thesis is one that may need to be revised somewhat later as you develop the sound reasoning, examples, and illustrations to support it.

Your working thesis should fit the characteristics of a good thesis in general: it must be specific, clearly state your main ideaThe most important or central thought of a reading selection. It also includes what the author wants the reader to understand about the topic he or she has chosen to write about., and demonstrate for your reader why the topic is important. For a cause and effect essay, your thesis also needs to alert your reader that he or she will learn about the causes OR the effects.

Example 1:

Many effects stem from one cause:

Thesis statement: Today's parents have an obligation to help their children maintain a healthy weight because childhood obesity presents a number of negative health and psychosocial effects, both immediately and in the future.

Example 2:

Many causes lead to one effect:

Thesis statement: While many are quick to blame fast food and television for juvenile obesity, the actual causes are more varied and complex.

Step 4: Develop an outline.

Sometimes it is useful to simply sketch a rough outlineA preliminary plan for a piece of a writing, often in the form of a list. It should include a topic, audience, purpose, thesis statement, and main and supporting points. listing the causes or effects you plan on incorporating into your essay and create a more detailed outline after you have written the rough draftThe first version of a writing that will undergo rewriting, additions, and editing before it becomes the final draft.. This allows the outline to be used as a way of developing your essay and organizing your ideas as well as a revision tool that helps you check whether or not your organizational strategy makes sense.

Here is an example of a rough outline developed for this purpose on the topic of childhood obesity.

Cause: Childhood obesity

Effects: A number of immediate and long-term health and psychosocial effects

Outline:

Introductory ParagraphThe first paragraph of an essay. It must engage the reader, set the tone, provide background information, and present the thesis.
1. Thesis statementA brief statement that identifies a writer's thoughts, opinions, or conclusions about a topic. Thesis statements bring unity to a piece of writing, giving it a focus and a purpose. You can use three questions to help form a thesis statement: What is my topic? What am I trying to say about that topic? Why is this important to me or my reader?: Today’s parents have an obligation to help their children maintain a healthy weight because childhood obesity presents a number of negative health and psychosocial effects, both immediately and in the future.
Body ParagraphsThe part of an essay that comes after the introduction and before the conclusion. Body paragraphs lay out the main ideas of an argument and provide the support for the thesis. All body paragraphs should include these elements: a topic sentence, major and minor details, and a concluding statement. Each body paragraph should stand on its own but also fit into the context of the entire essay, as well as support the thesis and work with the other supporting paragraphs. (Effects)
1. Immediate Effects
  1. High blood pressure
  2. Diabetes
  3. Depression
  4. Bullying
2. Long-term Effects
  1. Heart disease and stroke
  2. Diabetes
  3. Depression and loneliness
Concluding ParagraphThe end portion of a writing that contains a summary or synthesis of the ideas in the work. This includes a recap of key points and reminders of the author's purpose and thesis statement.
1. Childhood obesity contributes to a number of dangerous, damaging, and potentially unavoidable short- and long-term physical and psychosocial effects. Parents have the opportunity to encourage and foster healthful eating and exercise habits in their children so they can avoid the devastating consequences of childhood obesity.

If you choose to organize your essay in this manner, it is important to clarify for your reader that while there could be multiple causes for the topic, in this case, childhood obesity, your essay is focused on the effects of that condition.

Step 5: Develop paragraphs that support your thesis

Once you have developed your thesis and sketched an outline, you can begin writing body paragraphsThe part of an essay that comes after the introduction and before the conclusion. Body paragraphs lay out the main ideas of an argument and provide the support for the thesis. All body paragraphs should include these elements: a topic sentence, major and minor details, and a concluding statement. Each body paragraph should stand on its own but also fit into the context of the entire essay, as well as support the thesis and work with the other supporting paragraphs. that support your thesis. Paragraphs should adhere to the MEAL conceptAn acronym that describes a method of organizing the paragraphs in an essay. Under this plan, each paragraph should have a Main point, Evidence, Analysis, and a Link to the next paragraph.:

Main IdeaThe most important or central thought of a reading selection. It also includes what the author wants the reader to understand about the topic he or she has chosen to write about.: your topic sentence, identifying one of the many causes (or effects) supporting the thesis.

EvidenceFacts, statistics, or expert testimony that supports a claim.: facts, expert opinion, or anecdotal evidence proving the causal relationship described in the topic sentence.

AnalysisTo analyze is to make a thoughtful and detailed study of something. An analysis is the end result of analyzing.: explaining how the evidence supports the topic sentence.

LinkTo connect ideas together within a paragraph or to create a transition from one paragraph to the next, as well as back to the thesis.: a transitionTying two events, passages, or pieces of information together in a smooth way. In writing, transitions are sometimes called links. from one paragraph to the next, as well as back to the thesis.

Step 6: Write a conclusion

The conclusionThe end portion of a writing that contains a summary or synthesis of the idea in the work. This includes a recap of key points and reminders of the author's purpose and thesis statement. needs to summarizeTo give a short version of the main points of a text. and synthesizeTo combine ideas, as in the writing at the end of an essay that ties all the discussion and evidence together into a unified concept. , or bring together, the most important detailsIndividual items or ideas that are part of a larger whole. of your essay. It should also give your reader a new way of looking at your main idea. It reminds the reader of your thesis and reinforces the main points you have made.

Step 7: Write an introduction

There are four elements of an effective introductionThe first paragraph of an essay. It must engage the reader, set the tone, provide background information, and present the thesis.:

HookIn writing, a device used to grab a readers' attention, often in the form of interesting, surprising, or provocative information.
ToneThe feeling or attitude that a writer expresses toward a topic. The words the writer chooses express this tone. Examples of tones can include: objective, biased, humorous, optimistic, and cynical, among many others.
BackgroundInformation that describes the history or circumstances of a topic.
ThesisAn overall argument, idea, or belief that a writer uses as the basis for a work.

An effective introduction hooks the reader with a compelling idea, sets the tone for the rest of the essay, provides any necessary background or context for the reader, and presents the thesis.

Step 8: Revise your essay.

When you have a draft of your essay, reviseThe process of making changes to a work by editing and proofreading it to improve, correct, and increase clarity. it by asking yourself these questions:

Have I followed the assignment?
Is this a many effects stem from one cause essay or a many causes lead to one effect essay? What is my main cause or what is my main effect?
Do my body paragraphs support my thesis?
Is all my support relevant?
Do I need more or less support?
Have I included the transitions necessary to guide the reader from point to point?
Does my conclusion summarize and synthesize the most important details?
Does my introduction hook the reader and provide adequate background/introduction to my topic?

This is also where developing a more formal outlineAn outline that is traditional and structured, follows a set pattern, and uses a combination of Roman numerals, letters, and numbers to show a hierarchy of information based on the major and minor details or ideas. based on what you actually have written in the draft can help you discover weaknesses or areas in need of more detail and support.

A more detailed outline of this essay on childhood obesity might look something like this:

Formal Outline

Introductory Paragraph
1. Thesis statement: Today’s parents have an obligation to help their children maintain a healthy weight because childhood obesity presents a number of negative health and psychosocial effects, both immediately and in the future.
Body Paragraphs (Effects)
1. Immediate Effects
  1. Health Effects
    1. Obesity can result in the development of cardiovascular diseases, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
    2. Obesity can put children in danger of pre-diabetes, a condition linked to increased potential for development of diabetes.
    3. Obesity is linked to sleep apnea, a condition that contributes to insomnia, fatigue, and mental illness.
    4. Obesity is known to negatively impact bones and joints.
    5. Obesity contributes to a child’s inability to participate in vital physical activities.
  2. Psychosocial Effects
    1. Obesity has the potential to bring on sadness, low self-esteem, and depression.
    2. Obesity (and its related effects of hypertension and sleep apnea) can lead to anxiety.
    3. Obesity may influence and impact the forming of essential peer groups and a difficulty forming friendships.
    4. Obesity may give rise to feelings of isolation due to inability to participate in vital physical activities with schoolmates or peers.
    5. Obese children are more likely to be bullied by their schoolmates or peers.
2. Long-term Effects
  1. Health Effects
    1. Obesity is associated with higher rates of heart disease later in life.
    2. Obese children are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes as adults
    3. Obesity increases the likelihood of adult stroke.
    4. Obesity is linked to the adult development of osteoarthritis.
    5. Children who are obese are at greater risk for continued obesity as adults.
  2. Psychosocial Effects
    1. Obesity increases the risk of long-term depression.
    2. Obesity increases the risk for long-term anxiety.
    3. Obese individuals experience increased loneliness due to difficulty in forming and sustaining long-term relationships.
    4. Obese individuals are more likely to experience social isolation.
    5. Obesity often invites criticism and judgment from peers, coworkers, family members, and communities at large.
Concluding Paragraph
1. Childhood obesity contributes to a number of dangerous, damaging, and potentially unavoidable short- and long-term physical and psychosocial effects. Parents have the opportunity to encourage and foster healthful eating and exercise habits in their children so they can avoid the devastating consequences of childhood obesity.

Remember, you may need to add information, remove information, or reorganize your writing. Being a careful reviewer of your own work is key to a quality essay. When you have completed this step, be sure to go back one more time to verify that your grammarA set of rules about how words are used in a particular language., spelling, and punctuationMarks such as such as a comma (,), period (.), question mark (?), and exclamation mark (!), among others, that help break a writing into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Different types of punctuation marks give the reader different impressions of the writer’s purpose in that sentence. are correct.

+ PRACTICAL APPLICATION+ EXAMPLE

Using the eight-step process described in this lesson, here is an example of how to create a cause and effect essay.

Essay prompt: In a four- to six-paragraph essay, describe in detail the multiple causes of widespread panic around contagious influenza.

Step 1. Understand your assignment.

The assignment is to write a four- to six-paragraph essay examining the multiple causes of the widespread panic associated with contagious influenza.

Step 2. Gather ideas.

In this example, the writer has used a cause and effect graphic organizer to gather ideas and organize thoughts.

Step 3. Create a working thesis.

Here is a tentative thesis based on the ideas gathered: While fear of catching pandemic flu is certainly frightening, there are additional causes for the panic effect often triggered by public knowledge of a new flu strain.

Step 4. Develop an outline.

This rough outline lists a number of causes in a linear fashion.

Introductory Paragraph
1. Thesis statement: While fear of catching pandemic flu is certainly frightening, there are additional causes for the panic effect often triggered by public knowledge of a new flu strain.
Body Paragraphs (Causes)
1. Vaccinations are limited.
  1. Doctors and first responders get them first.
  2. Some cities and hospitals have them while others don’t.
2. Media sensationalizes all news.
  1. Risks of recent "pandemics" overstated.
  2. Movies and TV shows portray quarantines and other drastic measures.
Concluding Paragraph
1. When next faced with a pandemic situation, we should be mindful of these additional causes of potentially unreasonable panic.

Step 5. Develop paragraphs that support your thesis.

Using the framework of the outline and the MEAL concept, develop supporting paragraphs that make the body of your essay. Remember, you will write the conclusion and introduction later.

The dissemination of vaccinations is often a topic that causes not just fear, but anger. Typically, first responders, such as EMTs (emergency medical technicians), nurses, doctors, firefighters, police officers, military, and so forth, are also first in line for vaccinations. While it is a logical maneuver, as these are the people best suited to protect and treat individuals and provide large-scale public health initiatives, it often feels unfair to the average citizen. Furthermore, certain hospitals and cities get access to vaccines earlier than others, making people suspicious that those in charge are playing favorites. This perception of unfairness makes it difficult for people to trust the government to protect their interests. Neither of these issues is made better by the coverage they get in the media.

People also fear drastic measures often portrayed in films and television shows, giving the public the perception that they may be separated from their loved ones and never see them again. News media and popular entertainment do just as much as the actual pandemics to increase panic in populations facing the threat of a new flu strain.

Step 6. Write a conclusion.

Next, write the conclusion of your essay. Make sure it brings together your supporting points and reminds the reader of your thesis.

Therefore, while pandemic flu is frightening in and of itself, there are many reasons other than fear of contagion why the public panics: miscommunication, lack of control in decision making, potential threat of quarantine, and the possibility of not having access to vaccinations. When next faced with a pandemic situation, the authorities should be mindful of these additional causes of the well-known reaction of public panic.

Step 7. Write an introduction.

Finally, write the introduction, keeping in mind the four-step approach of hook, tone, background, and thesis.

Pandemic influenza is a flu virus that has either a) not circulated in the population before or b) has not been seen among the general public in a very long time. It is a flu strain for which people have no preexisting immunity. One recent example would be a recent pandemic scare involving the H1N1 flu strain. While fear of catching pandemic flu is certainly frightening, there are additional causes for the panic effect often triggered by public knowledge of a new flu strain.

Step 8. Revise your essay.

A good technique for revising your essay is to create a more formal outline at this time to make sure there are no weaknesses, especially in terms of missing evidence and/or analysis.

Formal Outline

Introductory Paragraph
1. Hook: While popular media may portray widespread panic among populations in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak, there are, in fact, other causes for the alarm, fear, and anger that people feel.
2. Tone: Persuasive/Informative
3. Background: There have been several historically significant pandemic influenzas throughout history.
4. Thesis: While fear of catching pandemic flu is certainly frightening, there are additional causes for the panic effect often triggered by public knowledge of a new flu strain.
Body Paragraphs
1. Distribution of vaccinations causes fear and anger.
  1. Doctors and first responders get them first, which can seem unfair.
  2. Some hospitals and cities get them before others, making it seem like government officials play favorites.
2. Dramatic media coverage creates panic.
  1. Coverage of H1N1 and bird flu created panic.
  2. Public perception is skewed due to television and film.
Concluding Paragraph
1. Therefore, while pandemic flu is frightening in and of itself, there are many reasons other than fear of contagion why the public panics: miscommunication, lack of control in decision making, potential threat of quarantine, and the possibility of not having access to vaccinations. When next faced with a pandemic situation, the authorities should be mindful of these additional causes of the well-known reaction of public panic.

Using the formal outline above, the revision below makes for a stronger draft of the essay.

Contagious Influenza and Widespread Panic

Even though popular media may portray that fear of getting sick is what causes widespread panic in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak, there are, in fact, other causes for the alarm, fear, and anger that people feel. This essay is focused on pandemic influenza, rather than the seasonal flu that most of us get at one time or another, and the media hysteria that accompanies these events. While fear of catching pandemic flu is certainly frightening, there are additional causes for the panic often experienced by people with the knowledge of a new flu strain.

The dissemination of vaccinations is often a topic that elicits not just fear, but anger. Typically, first responders, such as EMTs (emergency medical technicians), nurses, doctors, firefighters, police officers, military, and so forth, are also first in line for vaccinations. While it is a logical maneuver as these are the people best suited to protect and treat individuals and provide large-scale public health initiatives, it often feels unfair to the average citizen. Furthermore, certain hospitals and cities get access to vaccines earlier than others, making peoples suspicious that those in charge are playing favorites. This perception of unfairness makes it difficult for people to trust the government to protect their interests. Neither of these issues is made better by the coverage they get in the media.

Public knowledge of an impending or current pandemic is often gained through the media, which does not do a very good job of sharing information without frightening people. Just the knowledge of the H1N1 flu strain and bird flu was enough to send some into panic mode, but the sensationalistic reporting on the two pandemics added fuel to the fire. People also fear drastic measures often portrayed in films and television shows, giving the public the perception that they may be separated from their loved ones and never see them again. News media and popular entertainment do just as much as the actual pandemics to increase panic in populations facing the threat of a new flu strain.

Therefore, while pandemic flu is frightening in and of itself, there are many reasons other than fear of contagion that the public panics: miscommunication, lack of control of decision making, potential threat of quarantine, and the possibility of not having access to vaccinations. When next faced with a pandemic situation, the authorities should be mindful of these additional causes of the well-known reaction of public panic.

+ YOUR TURN

Follow the eight steps to write a cause and effect essay.

Essay Prompt:

Write a four- to six-paragraph essay on one of these topics:

A) Explain either the causes of the increased divorce rate in the United States or the effects of divorce on the children of divorced parents.

B) Describe the effects of an influential person in your life.

C) Describe either the causes of teens dropping out of high school or the effects of dropping out of high school on teens who choose to do so.

Step 1. Understand your assignment.

Sample Answer

Step 2. Gather ideas.

Sample Answer

Step 3: Create a working thesis.

Sample Answer

Step 4. Develop an outline.

Sample Answer

Step 5. Develop paragraphs that support your thesis.

Sample Answer

Step 6. Write a conclusion.

Sample Answer

Step 7. Write an introduction.

Sample Answer

Step 8. Revise your essay.

Sample Answer

The Difference One Teacher Can Make

School can be one of the most torturous experiences for many students, from being bullied and chastised for no reason to spending long hours in boring classes where the hands on the clock seem to move through molasses. Unfortunately, this bad experience can have a lasting impact on people's lives, closing doors of opportunity that are typically only opened through education. Sometimes, though, a certain class or special teacher can come along and change that experience, making at least part of a day or part of a year more bearable and even enjoyable. That person can even inspire students to work harder in other classes, graduate high school, and even go on to greater success in college. For me, this person was my ninth grade social studies teacher, Mr. Zola. Many teachers had an impact on my education as I went through school, but Mr. Zola had the greatest influence on my life, affecting everything from the type of I student I was to the career I have decided to pursue.

The immediate effect that Mr. Zola had on me was boosting my confidence as a student. This new confidence was apparent in my grades as I moved from being a "C" student to an "A" student. This was because I had always been somewhat disinterested in school up until I took his class, sometimes being engaged with a class or a topic, sometimes not. I didn't turn in all of my homework and didn't always participate in class discussions. After taking Mr. Zola's class, I learned that it wasn't the topic that made a class interesting, but my understanding and viewpoint on the topic. This immediately changed how I thought about homework assignments and participating in class. This increased confidence was also displayed in the types of classes I chose to take, moving from non-academic electives to eventually taking advanced placement (AP) classes in my senior year. Becoming an "A" student and taking AP classes were the direct result of Mr. Zola's influence on me as a student.

The more long-term effect that Mr. Zola had on me was my career choice. I want to become a teacher, just like him. To do this, I became the first person in my family to attend college. This was an extension of the confidence he inspired in my ability to do well in education. And when I obtain my degree, I eventually want to become a professor at a community college, teaching adult students instead of high school students, but still employing the same teaching strategies that he had modeled for me in my youth. In fact, his influence was so impactful on this career choice that I contacted him on Facebook to tell him what I was doing and why I had decided to become a professor.

Some influential people help change the course of your life in one particular moment, helping you through crisis and turmoil. Others transform your character, creating effects that last through the rest of your life. Mr. Zola had this latter impact on me. And even though there is always a certain individual fate involved in all of our lives, I feel fortunate to have had a teacher like Mr. Zola to help steer me in the direction my life is going.

+ METACOGNITIVE QUESTION