The CauseEffect Essay

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The Cause-Effect Essay

• Explaining why things happen

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How do we organize multiple causes?

• Depending on the topic, there may be three
  organization patterns
• The first pattern is when multiple causes lead to
  an effect
• In this pattern, the organization is
• Thesis statement
• Air pollution is caused by exhaust gases from
  cars, uncontrolled factory releases, and burning
  low-quality coal for heating.

I. Exhaust gases from cars A. government lacks
control B. citizens not careful II. Uncontrolled
factory gases A. no regular checks on gases
released B. factories in residential areas III.
Dirty coal for heat A. no governmental
control B. other energy expensive
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How do we organize multiple effects?

• The second pattern is for multiple effects.
• In this pattern, the effects of a certain
  situation  are then explained in separate
  paragraphs, with the following organization
• Thesis statement Watching too much TV is a major
  sociological issue of this century that leads to
  eating disorders, problems in communication, and
  relationship issues.

I. Eating disorders A. TV meals B. obesity II.
Communication problems A. fewer family
talks B. fewer friend talks III. Relationship
issues A. less understanding B. more
violence C. more break ups
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How do we organize causal chains?

• The third pattern is causal chain.
• In this pattern, one event leads to another, as
  in a chain reaction.
• Thesis statement Using deodorants with
  chlorofluorocarbon gas can ruin the ozone layer,
  overheat polar icecaps, and then flood the entire
  world.

• I. Gases in most deodorants released by
  factories  into air.
• II. Gases thin earths protective ozone layer.
• III. Sun overheats poles so that icebergs melt.
• IV. Water released from the poles raises sea
  levels.
• V. Rising seas flood earth, ruining most coastal
  cities.

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Can you identify causal types?

• Based on the introductory paragraph provided at
  the right, which type of cause-effect essay will
  most probably follow?
• A. Multiple causes
• B. Multiple effects
• C. Causal chain

__1. Have you ever felt afraid of gaining weight?
If the answer is affirmative, just be careful.
Wishing for a perfect body can cause anorexia, an
eating disorder with low body weight and fear of
becoming fat. The real causes of anorexia are
related to an individuals emotionality. The main
causes of anorexia are worthless personal
feelings, stressful events in life, and the
cultural influence of the country where the
person is living.
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Can you identify causal types?

• Based on the introductory paragraph provided at
  the right, which type of cause-effect essay will
  most probably follow?
• A. Multiple causes
• B. Multiple effects
• C. Causal chain

A. 1. Have you ever felt afraid of gaining
weight? If the answer is affirmative, just be
careful. Wishing for a perfect body can cause
anorexia, an eating disorder with low body weight
and fear of becoming fat. The real causes of
anorexia are related to an individuals
emotionality. The main causes of anorexia are
worthless personal feelings, stressful events in
life, and the cultural influence of the country
where the person is living.
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Can you identify causal types?

• Based on the introductory paragraph provided at
  the right, which type of cause-effect essay will
  most probably follow?
• A. Multiple causes
• B. Multiple effects
• C. Causal chain

__1. There have been numerous campaigns against
cigarette smoking communicating that this vice
causes death. But threat to health doesnt seem
to be a good reason. People block themselves and
ignore all the information that is given to them.
There are three basic effects of cigarette
smoking, besides the broadly mentioned
possibility of developing cancer or dying, which
are the smell of the smoke, the stained teeth,
and the cost of doing it.
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Can you identify causal types?

• Based on the introductory paragraph provided at
  the right, which type of cause-effect essay will
  most probably follow?
• A. Multiple causes
• B. Multiple effects
• C. Causal chain

__1. There have been numerous campaigns against
cigarette smoking communicating that this vice
causes death. But threat to health doesnt seem
to be a good reason. People block themselves and
ignore all the information that is given to them.
There are three basic effects of cigarette
smoking, besides the broadly mentioned
possibility of developing cancer or dying, which
are the smell of the smoke, the stained teeth,
and the cost of doing it.
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Can you identify causal types?

• Based on the introductory paragraph provided at
  the right, which type of cause-effect essay will
  most probably follow?
• A. Multiple causes
• B. Multiple effects
• C. Causal chain

__1. Entering a university is a very important
and interesting experience in a persons life,
but at the same time it is an experience that
will change your lifestyle and personality in a
definite, step-by-step pattern. The three
sequential and causal effects of entering a
university are first missing old friends, second
learning how to survive during university, and
last developing the responsible behavior that
must accompany university studies.
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Can you identify causal types?

• Based on the introductory paragraph provided at
  the right, which type of cause-effect essay will
  most probably follow?
• A. Multiple causes
• B. Multiple effects
• C. Causal chain

__1. Entering a university is a very important
and interesting experience in a persons life,
but at the same time it is an experience that
will change your lifestyle and personality in a
definite, step-by-step pattern. The three
sequential and causal effects of entering a
university are first missing old friends, second
learning how to survive during university, and
last developing the responsible behavior that
must accompany university studies.
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What are the kinds of causes?

• A. Necessary cause is one that must be present
  for the effect to occur.
• B. Sufficient Cause is one that can produce an
  effect unaided, though there may be more than one
  sufficient cause of a given effect.
• C. Contributory Cause is one that helps to
  produce an effect but cannot do so by itself.

• What is each cause?
• __1. A dead battery is enough to keep a car from
  starting, but so can an empty gas tank.
• __2. Combustion is necessary to drive a
  gasoline engine.
• __3. Running a red light might help to cause an
  accident....though other cars in the intersection
  -- must also be present.

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What are the kinds of causes?

• A. Necessary cause is one that must be present
  for the effect to occur.
• B. Sufficient Cause is one that can produce an
  effect unaided, though there may be more than one
  sufficient cause of a given effect.
• C. Contributory Cause is one that helps to
  produce an effect but cannot do so by itself.

• What is each cause?
• B 1. A dead battery is enough to keep a car from
  starting, but so can an empty gas tank.
• A 2. Combustion is necessary to drive a
  gasoline engine.
• C 3. Running a red light might help to cause an
  accident....though other cars in the intersection
  -- must also be present.

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What is the first cause?

• To figure out whats going on in cause and effect
  relationships, we especially must discover the
  single primary cause.
• For example, if you are to write on why room
  mates fight, you have to sort out a lot of minor
  reasons from the major cause.

What are the cell mates arguing about?
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What are contributing causes?

• Off hand, we know that roommates argue over
• Sloppiness
• Bad music
• Staying up all night
• But these are not the basic reason at all!
• They are superficial and symptomatic of a much
  deeper, more fundamental reason why roommates
  fight.

What are the house mates arguing about?
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What is the real cause?

• A basic cause of the roommates arguing can be
  their differences
• Ones messy the other is neat.
• One likes Snoop Dog the other, Mozart.
• Ones a morning person the other is up all
  night.
• And that might be itbut can there still be
  something even deeper as to why people fight?

Do we already know that the couple will fight?
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What is sufficient cause?

• The differences between roommates are legally
  called sufficient cause.
• Sufficient cause means it was enough to make
  something happen.
• Yet it may not be the primary cause.
• Roomies can cooperate even with differences.
• What about toleration?

Then how old are we when we see our differences?
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What is the deep reason?

• On a deeper level, perhaps two people arent
  getting along just because they dont want to
• Cooperate
• Compromise
• Adjust
• Example Thesis Room mates can co-existif they
  can adjust to each others differences.

What are the house mates arguing about?
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How do we write on effects?

• Of course, not every cause-effect essay is about
  the causes.
• In fact, some may center on the effects of a
  single cause.
• Example Topic
• What are the results of air pollution?
• Example Thesis
• Air pollution negatively affects plants,
  animals, and humans.

What is the effect of extra caffeine?
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What kind of essay is it?

• In five-paragraph essays, we usually write about
  either the causes or the effects, not both.
• Its not so much a cause and effect essay as a
  cause or effect essay.
• Basic essays do not have the time or space to
  develop elaborate relationships.
• Then state it in the first paragraph if the essay
  is about causes or effects.

Why will the parents quit drugs?
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What then should be avoided?

• Dont lose focus by covering too many parts of an
  issue.
• You cant cover all of the effects of air
  pollution just pick three important ones to
  write about.
• For example, use air pollutions effect on
  plants, animals, and humans.

Is there also too much noise pollution?
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What is in the introduction?

• The introductory paragraph includes
• General background information on the topic.
• A lead-in to the thesis.
• The basic cause with contributing causes.
• Or a series of effects of a cause.

Do introductions vary this much?
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How much background information?

• In the five paragraph essay, how many back-ground
  sentences should be written typically?
• A. one
• B. two
• C. three
• D. four
• E. five

When I became a foreign student, my life
changed. I left my family, so I had to learn how
to live in harmony with others, how to do things
by myself, how to move to other places, etc.
Being a stranger made me learn a lot of things,
but at the beginning it was somewhat difficult,
as it happened to me. The three main effects of
my being a foreign student are my becoming more
independent, more organized, and more
resourceful.
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How much background information?

• In the five paragraph essay, how many back-ground
  sentences should be written typically?
• A. one
• B. two
• C. three
• D. four
• E. five

1. When I became a foreign student, my life
changed. 2. I left my family, so I had to learn
how to live in harmony with others, how to do
things by myself, how to move to other places,
etc. 3. Being a stranger made me learn a lot of
things, but at the beginning it was somewhat
difficult, as it happened to me. 4. The three
main effects of my being a foreign student are my
becoming more independent, more organized, and
more resourceful.
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What is in the body parts?

• Paragraph two tells the first cause or effect.
• Paragraph three explains the second cause or
  effect.
• Paragraph four is on the second cause or effect.
• We use transition words to analyze the process
  rather than describe it.
• The whole point of the essay is to explain
  something.

Can you see what Jake was thinking?
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Which body paragraph is this one?

• Which of the three effects of being a foreign
  student is the para-graph at the right about?
• 1. becoming more independent2. more organized,
  
• 3. or more resourceful.

__2. A foreign student must also learn to solve
his own problems. Start meeting people and making
friends. You will have new people with who to
hang with. Besides you wont have to be quiet all
the time in classes. Friends can also help you in
situations, like when you have problems running
out of money, when you need to go to your house
quickly but you dont have a car, or when you
need to find something. Most of all, with friends
you can have a great time and learn a lot of
things.
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This body paragraph is on resources.

• Which of the three effects of being a foreign
  student is the para-graph at the right about?
• 1. becoming more independent2. more organized,
  
• 3. or more resourceful.

__2. A foreign student must also learn to solve
his own problems. Start meeting people and making
friends. You will have new people with who to
hang with. Besides you wont have to be quiet all
the time in classes. Friends can also help you in
situations, like when you have problems running
out of money, when you need to go to your house
quickly but you dont have a car, or when you
need to find something. Most of all, with friends
you can have a great time and learn a lot of
things.
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What is in the conclusion?

• Reword the thesis with the basis for the cause or
  effects.
• Describe especially the primary cause or results.
• Speculate on the best solution to the problem, as
  with toleration solving roommate feuds.

What are the house mates arguing about?
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What type of conclusion is this one?

• After the usual sum-mary of the essays three
  points, what does this conclusion add?
• a. advice,
• b. resources,
• c. question,
• d. philosophy

__3. The effects of standing up a girl on a date
as you can notice are very dangerous affecting
your further possibilities of dating again, so
you better avoid it. Every time you are thinking
of dating someone, plan what you can to have a
good date, and never stand up just because you
want. Think a little bit of the consequences of
standing up before you do it.
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What type of conclusion is this one?

• After the usual sum-mary of the essays three
  points, what does this conclusion add?
• a. advice,
• b. resources,
• c. question,
• d. philosophy

__3. The effects of standing up a girl on a date
as you can notice are very dangerous affecting
your further possibilities of dating again, so
you better avoid it. Every time you are thinking
of dating someone, plan what you can to have a
good date, and never stand anyone up just because
you want. Think a little bit of the consequences
of standing up before you do it.