Cause and Effect Essay

What are the salient points in a cause and effect essay?

The cause and effect essay explains why something happened (cause) and what happens as a result (effect).A cause and effect essay is a good way to organize ideas.

The cause and effect relationships may be presented in the following way:

Depending on the topic there are three patterns of organization:

1. Multiple causes- single effect

E.g. Air pollution is caused by the following factors-

• Exhaust from cars

• Uncontrolled factory emissions

• Burning of low quality coal

Here each developmental paragraph is devoted to one of the causes of pollution.

2. Single cause- Multiple Effects

E.g. Watching TV has following adverse effects

• Eating disorders

• Communication problems

Each developmental para is devoted to the results.

3. Chain or domino effect:

E.g. Using deodorants-releases Chloro fluoro Carbons- causes thinning of Ozone layer-Harmful UV rays penetrate the atmosphere and cause melting of icecaps-rise in sea level-end of the world

A chain or domino effect of cause and result is established.

After identifying your cause and effect, develop your thesis statement. State clearly whether you will be dealing with causes, effects or both.

Next, for your cause and effect essay, you must search and organize supporting facts and details. Back up your thesis with necessary and relevant details that are organized properly. Data can be organized in the following ways:

• Chronologically- According to the date of their happening

• Order of importance- Can be arranged for most important to least or vice versa.

• Categorical- Data can be divided into categories and arranged accordingly.

You must pay attention to transition words that blend details smoothly in cause and effect essay.

Some of the Cause words of transition are: Because, one cause is, another is, since, for, first, due to, second etc.

Some of the Effect words are: Consequently, thus, resulted in, one result is, as a result another is, therefore.

While writing your cause and effect essay, keep following points in mind:

• What is your aim- Is it to inform or to persuade

• Focus on direct and immediate effects and causes. Avoid dwelling on remote or indirect causes/effects.

• Support your essay with statistics, facts, quotations, personal observation etc.

• Qualify your statements of cause and effect. Unless there is clear factual support to your statements, attach the words, “It seems likely” or ‘as evidence suggests’ before your cause or effect statements.

• Limit your major points: Too many points of cause and effect will confuse the reader

• Organize your essay efficiently: You must begin with a thesis statement explaining your main event or trend. Each subsequent para must discuss the cause or effect under discussion.

• End with a recap of the causes and effects discussed in the essay.

In sum, you must begin with the presentation of event, trend or phenomenon. You must give a through background about essay topic. The size of explanation depends upon the complexity of the issue. Then you must present a convincing argument about the various cause and effect relationships. Facts, sources and anecdotes must be used. You must come to a conclusion after arguing in a reasonable, professional and modulated voice.

For online sources of cause and effect essays, consult Coursework-writing.co.uk

This is the way in which you can write a hard hitting cause and effect essay.

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