essay about cause and effect

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Cause and Effect Essay Examples

two tips for what to do with a cause and effect essay with one tip not to do, all from the article

When you eat a really good pizza, you say, “yum” and likely reach for another slice. That’s basic cause and effect. The pizza was good, so you responded and ate more. You’ve probably partaken in so many examples of cause and effect without even knowing it, so you already have the basic recipe to create an amazing piece of writing. But how do you turn all that into a zesty cause and effect essay?

What Is A Cause and Effect Essay?

Sometimes called reason and result essays , cause and effect essays are a type of essay that explores how an event or situation came into being (the cause) and what happens or transpires because of that event or situation (the effect). The purpose of these types of essays is to explore the “why” or “how” of a situation.

What Is the Basic Structure of a Cause and Effect Essay?

You might see some slight variations in the structure of a cause and effect essay, but for the most part, you’re looking at a pretty rigid outline .

A basic cause and effect essay structure would look like:

Structure of a Short Cause and Effect Essay

Shorter cause and effect essays (especially in timed essay situations ) tend more toward discussing just the cause or just the effect.

For example, a prompt might ask you to explain why cheeseburgers cost so much. In that case, you’d mostly be writing about the cause of that increased price, as the high cost is already the implied effect.

Alternatively, the prompt might ask you to discuss how high cheeseburger prices have affected society, which would have you writing mostly about the effect of high burger prices.

You have a really solid idea of what should go into a cause and effect essay, but it never hurts to see an example in action. Maybe it’ll help you generate new ideas for your own cause and effect essay.

labeled cause and effect essay from the article

Sample Cause and Effect Essay Introduction

As with other essays, the intro paragraph acts as the space for you to introduce your subject. With a cause and effect essay in particular, the intro is important for setting the stage. You can’t just launch into a discussion of cause and effect and expect the reader to get it.

The homeless epidemic is a serious problem in nearly every major city across the country. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there are over 500,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night. It’s a difficult challenge to tackle precisely because it is so multi-faceted, both in terms of its causes and its far-reaching effects. Homelessness affects not only the people who must struggle to survive on the street but also the business owners or residents in the neighborhoods. While many factors have contributed to the rise in homeless rates, one of the most profound is the lack of adequate social support services.

Sample Body Paragraphs for a Cause and Effect Essay

This is the real meat and potatoes of the article. Despite the structure mentioned above, you can go about the body paragraphs in a few different ways. Similar to compare and contrast essays , you can use a block structure (grouping all the causal information together before getting into the effects) or a point-by-point structure (considering one cause and effect at a time).

A lack of free or affordable housing could be considered an obvious cause of homelessness. On a purely practical level, if a city can provide enough homeless shelters and other forms of affordable housing, the people who would otherwise sleep on the streets can sleep far more safely with a consistent roof over their heads. Social support services, whether they are funded publicly or privately, would be able to tackle many of the immediate and long-term challenges that face people experiencing homelessness. The effects of homelessness are equally complex and can be mirror images of the root causes. Because the person is experiencing homelessness, this may put profound strain on personal relationships. Drug abuse can become an issue, as the person seeks some way of coping with the pain and hardship of living on the streets. This leads to a downward spiral that drives the person deeper and deeper into the depths of crippling poverty and isolation.

Sample Cause and Effect Essay Conclusion

Some people think conclusions can feel tacked on, so avoid doing that. Make your conclusion matter, whether that’s asking new questions or looking toward the future of your topic. What are ideas that you could see sprouting from your essay?

Every city, every neighborhood faces unique challenges when it comes to homelessness. While the specific root causes can vary between individuals, the lack of adequate social services is a leading contributor. The right social services can address, reduce, or even remove some of these other underlying causes. With powerful effects for both the individual and society at large, homelessness is a pressing issue and one that must be approached with tact and compassion.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Coming up with a topic (for really any essay) is the hardest part. There is such a massive breadth of subject matter to choose from. As always, find something that you find some interest or personal investment in. If the subject matters to you, it will show in your writing.

If you need to grease those gears and get your mind working, here’s some food for thought to get you started.

Some topics that you may have considered for other types of essays can be adapted to cause and effect essays, too. Look through our list of argumentative essay topics for more ideas. Just remember that you may want to avoid certain essay topics if you really want to stand out!

Tips for Writing a Cause and Effect Essay

Your head might be spinning with all that information, and it’s okay. It’s a lot to take in. Even with all of that, cause and effect essays can be hard to really get a handle on. Hopefully, some handy tips will keep you on track or help you get on that track in the first place.

Keep Asking Yourself “Why” and “What Happened”

Okay, that sounds a little more existential than intended, but it’s a good way to get yourself in the mindset of cause and effect, which can help you generate a topic and develop your essay.

Why typically gets you to the cause of something. Why is the pizza on the floor? The cause: The cat knocked over the plate.

By comparison, what happened can get you closer to the effect. What happened when the pizza got on the floor? The cat had a nice pepperoni snack.

That might admittedly sound a little simplistic, but it’s a great place to get started, especially if you find yourself unsure how to navigate between cause and effect. Why did that thing happen? What happened because of that thing?

Consider the Many Causes and/or Many Effects of Any Topic

Because of how everything tends to be interlinked, you’ll rarely have an event or situation that has just one cause or one effect. If anything, one effect can become a cause that branches into another effect, and so on. The pizza got on the floor, the cat ate some of it, and now the cat is taking an early nap from being so full.

That level of complication and the potential domino effect of things are what make cause and effect essays so interesting. Considering all those facets is part of what will add nuance to your writing.

But Don’t Worry About Covering Them All

Despite the above, don’t worry about covering every single cause contributing to every single effect. That can lead to some strange tangents and an endless essay. Before you know it, your essay about the effects of World War II will somehow turn into an essay about pasta sauce.

Allow room for all those different wrinkles, but if you find yourself getting carried away, refocus on your thesis. If what you’re exploring is way outside the bounds of your thesis, it might be worth cutting it (save that pasta sauce writing for another day).

A Guide to Writing a Cause and Effect Essay

In your academic career, you’ll write a lot of essays. You’ll write some to inform your readers about a topic and others to analyze an idea. Some will argue for or against a specific position, while others will persuade the reader to take action. Authors use various strategies to achieve each of these goals, and one of the strategies they use to inform readers is the cause and effect essay .

As its name implies, a cause and effect essay explains how certain causes result in specific effects. Knowing how to write an effective cause and effect essay is an important skill for students in just about every academic field to develop. Give your writing extra polish Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly

What is a cause and effect essay?

A cause and effect essay is a type of expository essay that explores its topic by discussing the issue’s causes and consequences. For example, a cause and effect essay about deforestation’s role in climate change might discuss a few of deforestation’s specific causes, like a demand for wood and the clearing of land for grazing pastures, and then explain how these causes create effects that contribute to climate change.

As with other types of expository essays, the purpose of a cause and effect essay is to educate the reader. As an expository essay writer, think of yourself as the informed explainer who gives their readers the information they need to think critically about a topic and reach their own conclusions. Your goal isn’t to persuade, argue, or entertain your readers—although there are instances when authors of argumentative and persuasive essays use cause and effect rhetoric in their writing. It’s also possible to write a creative essay using the cause and effect format. However, within the realm of academic essay writing , a cause and effect essay is an expository piece of writing.

Cause and effect essays are similar to other kinds of expository essays in that they present facts in a clear, logical format. They employ an objective, analytical tone and stay away from flowery and inciting language. This is how they differ from argumentative, persuasive, and descriptive essays. You might use the passive voice more frequently in cause and effect essays than in other kinds of essays, especially in cause and effect essays you write for your science courses.

How to structure a cause and effect essay

Structurally, a cause and effect essay is similar to other types of essays. It starts with an introduction paragraph where you hook your reader, state your thesis, and give a quick preview of the points you’ll make to support your thesis.

Following the introduction, each point supporting your thesis has its own section. Each section can be as short as one paragraph or contain a few paragraphs, depending on how much information you need to convey and whether your essay must adhere to a word count or page limit. There are a few different ways to organize your essay’s body paragraphs. You can discuss each cause, section by section, and then discuss each effect afterward (if there is only one effect, include just a single section about it). Alternatively, you can discuss each cause and effect pair individually, giving each pair its own section.

The best structure for your essay depends on a few factors:

For example, if your essay is about a single effect with multiple causes, it might be most logical to discuss all the causes first and then write a section on their shared effect. Or if the causes and effects are more isolated from each other and you need room to explain how they fit into the bigger picture, the logical choice might be to give each cause and effect pair its own section and then tie them together in your essay’s conclusion.

As with other kinds of academic writing, the most logical structure is typically the best approach. If you aren’t sure how to structure your essay, ask your instructor for guidance.

After writing the body paragraphs, write your essay’s conclusion . This final section summarizes the points you made in the body, underscores your thesis, and brings your essay’s position to a logical conclusion.

How to write a cause and effect essay

To write a cause and effect essay, follow the same writing process that you follow when you’re doing other kinds of writing. Start with brainstorming your topic and jotting down any insights you have, questions you want to answer, associations you plan to make between topics, and facts you intend to reference.

After brainstorming , take your notes and create an organized outline . Remember, your essay outline is a guideline for you to follow as you write, not a final script your essay has to follow. List each section as a header in your outline and below it write down the bullet points you plan to cover within that section. Outlining makes it easy to visualize how your final essay will look and to determine where each body paragraph logically fits into the structure.

Once your outline is finished, it’s time to write! But before you dive into your first draft, nail down your thesis statement , if you haven’t already. This is a concise and informative statement that tells the reader exactly what your essay is about. It goes in your introduction paragraph, and each body paragraph that follows should support this statement.

With your thesis statement prepared, write your body paragraphs using your notes from your brainstorming session. Remember what kind of essay you’re writing and frame its body paragraphs accordingly—if a supporting paragraph doesn’t clearly show how its subject is a cause leading to a specific effect, reframe it to fit this format. Remember, you’re only on the first draft, and there will be time to revise it later.

Once you’re finished writing, give your essay time to cool off. Ideally, take about twenty-four hours before you edit it. When you go back and edit, pay close attention to how you’ve presented each cause and effect. Ask yourself the following questions:

With the answers to these questions in mind, revise your essay to ensure that the content is presented in the clearest, most logical way possible. At this stage, also make sure your essay’s tone is appropriate and that there are not any glaring spelling or grammatical errors. You’ll check for these again when you proofread; the editing stage is primarily for revising your essay’s content.

With a clean, revised second draft in hand, give it another proofread for grammatical mistakes. Grammarly can help you with this. Once it’s cleaned up, you’re ready to submit your work.

Example outline of a cause and effect essay

As we mentioned above, there are a few different ways to structure a cause and effect essay. Here is one:

Introduction

This format isn’t ideal for every essay, though. In some cases, a format like this makes the content clearer:

When you’re revising your essay, feel free to play around with the format and see which makes more sense for the information you’re writing about. You’ll likely use each of these formats in different essays depending on their specific content.

Cause and effect essay FAQs

A cause and effect essay is an expository essay that explains the relationships between specific conditions and their consequences, often within the context of a big-picture issue. These conditions are known as “causes,” and their consequences are known as “effects.”

What is the purpose of a cause and effect essay?

The purpose of a cause and effect essay is to educate the reader about how specific conditions are linked to certain repercussions.

How do you structure a cause and effect essay?

There are a few different ways to structure a cause and effect essay. Here are two of the most common:

How To Write A Cause And Effect Essay 2022: Topics, Structure, Examples

What is a Cause and Effect Essay?

A cause and effect essay is a type of academic writing that explores the causes of a particular issue and its consequences. It includes researching available evidence and developing sensible claims regarding the topic. Students should demonstrate a good command of critical thinking skills throughout the writing process and the ability to build cause-effect reasoning. As a type of expository essay, a cause and effect essay should rely on clear facts and research. A writer should stick to neutral tone, vocabulary, and formal style.

To that to understand what cause and effect essay is, let's look at a how to write a cause and effect essay topics example:

Cause: the lightning struck Barry Allen while he was sitting in the lab next to the chemicals.

Effect: Barry Allen became Flash and joined the Injustice League.

A cause and effect essay should be well-structured. Otherwise, your claims will not be clear to the reader. Below, our write my essay experts will help you find out what structure your essay should have and how to prepare each part of your paper.

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Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Let’s look at the cause and effect essay outline. It includes the obvious parts, such as introductory and concluding paragraphs, but the body of this essay type may vary depending on the task and your preferences. You can structure body paragraphs using one of the three schemes. However, the first column represents the most common way to discuss your claims:

1. Introduction

3. Conclusion

Cause and Effect Essay Introduction

The introductory paragraph of a cause and effect essay lays the foundation for the whole piece. It needs to be short but precise. Before getting to writing, you need to plan your paper and figure out what your argument is. This will help you to introduce your topic effectively. See what you can use to attract the attention of your audience, for example:

As Mohsin (2020) reports, approximately half of the world population uses social media websites every day.

As Malay Shah says, “social media sites create an illusion of connectivity.”

Rhetorical Question

Do social media platforms replace real life?

Once you are done with the hook, outline the general information about the topic and its context. Use this part to orient the readers in the discussed field and focus their attention on your argument. Last but not least, develop a good thesis statement at the end of the introductory paragraph. It should say something about the topic instead of simply announcing it. Use it as a base. Each claim you make should support the thesis statement. Once the paper is ready, check whether you have managed to do this.

Cause and Effect Essay Body Paragraph (Causes)

Typically, you will need to present several causes of the problem. It will show your teacher that you have analyzed the issue from different angles. You may single out one reason as the most important and discuss it first and move on to describing the secondary causes. Do not forget that each paragraph should be focused on one particular idea. Thus, each distinct cause should have a separate paragraph.

To introduce and develop your idea, use a traditional paragraph format:

Such an organized structure is the key to effective writing. It allows the text to run smoothly and convey the idea effectively. It should be applied to present both causes and effects being discussed.

Cause and Effect Essay Body Paragraph (Effects)

When writing body paragraphs focused on effects, you need to make a logical connection to the already mentioned causes. Focus only on the direct consequences of the problem as your message needs to be clear to the audience. It will help you keep the claims coherent.

Introduce the effects you want to discuss in a topic sentence. It would be a good idea to conduct research and cite some reputable sources that will prove your point. Cite them according to the required referencing format: APA, MLA , Harvard, Chicago, etc. Make sure you make the necessary comments to explain your evidence. It is crucial to add your own interpretation of the problem without simply paraphrasing someone’s thoughts. For instance, see the example of the effects of social media addiction and note the expressions you can potentially use in your paper:

Cause and Effect Essay Conclusion

The conclusion is the final element of your cause and effect essay structure. You need to restate your thesis statement. However, do not copy it directly. The aim is to remind the reader of your argument. Look at the following examples to see what it means to restate your thesis.

Another important element of a concluding paragraph is the summary of the main points. Figure out what your main findings and claims are and compile them into a short paragraph. Such an essay is easier to read.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

The topics for a cause and effect essay can be diverse as this type of writing is suitable for any subject: history, languages, sociology, arts, technology, natural disasters, and even physics. If you are free to choose the topic, select the one that matters to you, and prove its relevance. This way, the interest in the subject-matter will drive your motivation to complete the task successfully. Some interesting examples of cause and effect essay topics suggested by write essay for me professionals include:

Education Topics

Social Media Topics

Social Occurrences Topics

History Topics

Politics Topics

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How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay?

So, how to write a cause and effect essay? To succeed in this endeavor, one has to demonstrate critical thinking skills, proper self-organization, and dedication. In this part of our article, we are going to walk you through the writing process step by step and give helpful tips for success with cause and effect essays.

Brainstorm Cause and Effect Essay Topics

First, you must identify suitable cause and effect essay topics. Some things to consider as potential subjects are cultural movements, natural phenomena like global warming, or the development of certain concepts or ideas. The key tip for choosing a topic is ensuring that it enables you to observe and analyze its causal relationship.

Come Up With Cause and Effect Essay Thesis

Next, for cause and effect essays you need a thesis. A cause and effect thesis is basically a statement of a single (or multiple) cause-and-effect relationship that is going to be discovered in the essay.

Develop Cause and Effect Essay Body Paragraphs

According to a standard cause and effect essay format, the body should consist of 2-5 paragraphs. Each body paragraph explores a specific facet of the causal relationship. At this stage, you need to develop the core ideas for all paragraphs. Make sure to cover both positive and negative effects in your essay. Ideally, it should have a separate paragraph for each angle.

Write a Draft

Using the thesis and the ideas for body paragraphs you already have, write a draft of your cause/effect essay. In your draft, create a logical flow of ideas using transitions, topic sentences, and linking all your paragraphs back to your thesis. And, keep in mind the purpose of your essay.

Review Your Cause and Effect Essay Draft

Typically, your first cause effect essay draft will still be raw and require revision. The questions to ask are:

Write a Final Cause and Effect Essay Draft

After a careful revision, college students can go straight to writing a cause and effect essay (the final draft). At this stage, it is also time to write the conclusion of your essay if you still don’t have one. Make sure your conclusion is clear, straight to the point, and relevant.

Cause and Effect Essay Examples

Let’s look at the example of a cause and effect essay, which DoMyEssay professionals have prepared for college students. It discusses the reasons for and impact of social media addiction. First, we need to come up with the title and create an introduction. It will provide some statistical data, which is used as a hook. Then, we familiarize the reader with general information about the topic. Finally, we develop a thesis statement that will summarize our argument clearly and concisely and focus on the effects of social media overuse.

The Overuse of Social Media: Causes and Consequences

Interactions via social media impact our life and behavior. As Mohsin (2020) summarizes, approximately half of the world population uses social media websites every day, and the number of active users keeps growing. This has already turned into an addiction for some people. Addiction because of the overuse of social media does not only take a lot of time and become an annoying habit but also may lead to grave mental health problems, including behavioral, emotional, and anxiety disorders.

As our outline suggests, we move on to the discussion of the causes of social media addiction. This takes separate paragraphs as we discuss two different claims: biochemical reasons and poor awareness. As always, both paragraphs start with a distinct topic sentence. The paragraphs include indirect quotations from reputable sources, which serve as evidence that our claims are correct. In addition, we provide supporting ideas that underpin the claim introduced in the topic sentence. The paragraph ends with a concluding sentence that gives a summary of the main points.

People are always excited to get a notification about a new like, comment, or message. Why is it so? There is an actual biochemical reason for it: the human brain releases dopamine. According to Ahmad (2018), this makes people feel happy. It is attributed to the fact that “likes” give people the impression of social validation. Thus, they feel accepted by the group of their peers and get a sense of belonging. In the long term, the pleasure and excitement from virtual interactions become addictive and make people spend a great deal of their time online, rejecting to do other tasks and duties.

Another reason for social media addiction is poor awareness of the problem among the public. Compared to other forms of addiction, checking the Facebook feed does not seem that harmful. However, as Ahmad (2018) reveals, it requires more effort to resist social media accounts than alcohol or smoking. As people have a very low degree of awareness regarding the long-term effects of constant social media use, they do not acknowledge the seriousness of the problem. As a result, more and more users live their life in smartphones and disregard real-life interactions, which has its consequences.

The last sentence of the previous paragraph includes a transition to the effects of the discussed addiction. Thus, we follow the same paragraph structure to introduce and develop our claims. This entails using a specific topic sentence, several pieces of evidence that support the idea, comments regarding it, and a concluding sentence.

The negative effects of such addiction are numerous, but mental health is a top concern. Zagorski (2017) states that social media provoke anxiety disorder, a sense of isolation, and depression. People are likely to develop insecurity, poor self-esteem, and distorted body image, comparing their appearance to unrealistic and photoshopped photos. If people do not get the desired appreciation and recognition from others on social media, it lowers their sense of self-value. Therefore, people become vulnerable to mental health issues.

Social media becomes an unwanted distraction from work, education, and home shores. Notification from apps can easily interrupt your life and lead to procrastination. It impedes progress and makes people less effective. Humans are likely to lose focus and spend their productive hours in vain. Therefore, if people use messengers or other apps all the time, they get distracted from important assignments.

After the discussion part is done, we need to summarize our ideas in a concluding paragraph. We restate our thesis statement and mention our most important findings.

To conclude, because of poor public awareness regarding the impact of social media on psychological wellbeing, people are vulnerable to psychological problems. What is more, the excitement of virtual interactions makes people addictive. In the long term, people become less productive and less motivated to reach their goals.

Writing a concluding paragraph may seem like a final step, but there is also a need to format the reference page. Follow the requirements of your professor and use one of the styles. We use APA for this particular sample paper.

Ahmad, I. (2018, July 27). Why are we addicted to social media? [Infographic]. Social Media Week. https://socialmediaweek.org/blog/2018/07/why-are-we-addicted-to-social-media-infographic/

Mohsin, M. (2020, February 7). 10 social media statistics you need to know in 2020 [Infographic]. Oberlo. https://www.oberlo.com/blog/social-media-marketing-statistics

Zagorski, N. (2017, January 17). Using many social media platforms linked with depression, anxiety risk. Psychiatric News. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2017.1b16

Cause and Effect Essay Infographic

To Sum Up ‍

As you can see, writing a good cause and effect essay requires proper organization in the first place. You should clearly state the reasons for a particular problem and discuss its impact. Although the outline may have some variations in the body, you still need to write a compelling introduction and a thoughtful concluding paragraph.

Any situation, event, or problem has its reasons and impact. People need to understand the cause and effect relations of events or phenomena to be able to develop a solution or prevent a certain unwanted outcome. For this reason, cause and effect essays serve as a useful exercise for students as they allow them to investigate a particular issue within such a frame.

We are sure that if you invest enough time and effort into preparation, your professor will grade it correspondingly. However, if you find such tasks confusing or too time-consuming for your current schedule, you may easily hire a professional essay writers to help you. Just drop a note to do my essay for me and have some precious moments free from academic assignments and related stress. To this end, if you are to enter university soon you might need our admission essay service admission essay writing service . Our writers will observe your requirements and deliver the essay strictly on time.

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100 Intriguing Cause and Effect Essay Topics for Students

Teach critical thinking, logic, and the art of persuasion.

Cause and effect essays aren’t just a way to help students strengthen their writing skills. They’ll also learn critical thinking, logic, and the art of persuasion. In addition, they teach students to demonstrate how one thing directly influences another. Coming up with engaging cause and effect essay topics can be challenging, but we have you covered. This list of ideas includes a variety of topics that range from social and cultural movements to mental health and the environment.

Science/Environment Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Describe the impact of human behavior on global warming.

What has been the impact of DNA on crime scene processing?

Technology and Social Media Cause and Effect Essay Topics

What are some reasons a teacher might ban cell phones from class?

What is the impact of social media on the increasing popularity of plastic surgery and other enhancements?

Culture and Social Issues Cause and Effect Essay Topics

What are the impacts of death sentences on social justice?

What were the lasting impacts of the AIDS epidemic on society?

Sports Cause and Effect Essay Topics

In what ways do race biases influence sports.

History Cause and Effect Essay Topics

What led up to the Berlin Wall being torn down and what effects did that have?

Give an example of colonialism in history and name the resulting impact to the affected society.

What led to the rise of ISIS and what has the impact been on international security?

Mental Health Cause and Effect Essay Topics

How does service in the armed forces lead to post-traumatic stress disorder?

What is behind increasingly high levels of anxiety in modern American society?

What are your best cause and effect essay topics for students? Come exchange ideas on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out our list of 60 interesting persuasive essay topics for kids and teens..

Coming up with cause and effect essay topics can be challenging, but we have you covered. Check out our list with a variety of topics.

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Cause & effect essays Aka reason and result

The Cause and effect essay is another common essay type, either as an essay type on its own, or as part of a larger essay which includes one or more paragraphs examining causes and effects. This page gives information on what a cause and effect essay is , how to structure this type of essay, and how to use cause and effect structure words (transition signals) for this type of essay. There is also an example cause and effect essay on the topic of women at work, as well as some exercises to help you practice this area.

What are cause & effect essays?

For another look at the same content, check out YouTube » or Youku » , or this infographic » .

A cause and effect essay looks at the reasons (or causes) for something, then discusses the results (or effects). For this reason, cause and effect essays are sometimes referred to as reason and result essays. They are one of the most common forms of organisation in academic writing. Sometimes the whole essay will be cause and effect, though sometimes this may be only part of the whole essay. It is also possible, especially for short exam essays, that only the causes or the effects, not both, are discussed. See the examples below.

There are two main ways to structure a cause and effect essay. These are similar to the ways to structure problem-solution essays , namely using a block or a chain structure. For the block structure, all of the causes are listed first, and all of the effects are listed afterwards. For the chain structure, each cause is followed immediately by the effect. Usually that effect will then be the cause of the next effect, which is why this structure is called 'chain'. Both types of structure have their merits. The former is generally clearer, especially for shorter essays, while the latter ensures that any effects you present relate directly to the causes you have given.

The two types of structure, block and chain , are shown in the diagram below.

Cause and Effect Structure Words

Cause and effect structure words are transition signals which show the cause and effect relationships. It is important to be clear which is the cause (or reason) and which is the effect (or result), and to use the correct transition word or phrase. Remember that a cause happens first , and the effect happens later .

Below are some common cause and effect structure words. X is used to indicate a cause, while Y is used to indicate the effect.

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Below is a cause and effect essay. This essay uses the block structure . Click on the different areas (in the shaded boxes to the right) to highlight the different structural aspects in this essay, i.e. Causes, Effects, and structure words. This will highlight not simply the paragraphs, but also the thesis statement and summary , as these repeat the causes and effects contained in the main body.

Title: More and more women are now going out to work and some women are now the major salary earner in the family. What are the causes of this, and what effect is this having on families and society?

In the past, most women stayed at home to take care of domestic chores such as cooking or cleaning. Women's liberation and feminism have meant that this situation has been transformed and in contemporary society women are playing an almost equal role to men in terms of work. This has had significant consequences , both in terms of the family , for example by improving quality of life and increasing children's sense of independence , and also for society itself with greater gender equality . The main reasons behind the increase of women in the workplace are women's liberation and feminism. The women's liberation movement originated in the 1960s and was popularised by authors such as Simone de Beauvoir. As a consequence of this, new legislation emerged, granting women equal rights to men in many fields, in particular employment. Because of feminist ideas, men have taken up roles which were previously seen as being for women only, most importantly those related to child rearing. As a result of this, women have more time to pursue their own careers and interests. These have led to some significant effects, both to family life and to society as a whole. Although the earning capacity of a woman in her lifetime is generally much less than that of a man, she can nevertheless make a significant contribution to the family income. The most important consequence of this is an improved quality of life. By helping to maintain a steady income for the family, the pressure on the husband is considerably reduced, hence improving both the husband's and the wife's emotional wellbeing. Additionally, the purchasing power of the family will also be raised. This means that the family can afford more luxuries such as foreign travel and a family car. A further effect on the family is the promotion of independence in the children. Some might argue that having both parents working might be damaging to the children because of a lack of parental attention. However, such children have to learn to look after themselves at an earlier age, and their parents often rely on them to help with the housework. This therefore teaches them important life skills. As regards society, the most significant impact of women going to work is greater gender equality. There are an increasing number of women who are becoming politicians, lawyers, and even CEOs and company managers. This in turn has led to greater equality for women in all areas of life, not just employment. For example, women today have much stronger legal rights to protect themselves against domestic violence and sexual discrimination in the workplace. In conclusion, the increasing number of women at work has brought about some important changes to family life, including improved quality of life and increased independence for children, as well as affecting society itself. It is clear that the sexes are still a long way from being equal in all areas of life, however, and perhaps the challenge for the present century is to ensure that this takes place.

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Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.

Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).

Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.

Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).

Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.

Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.

Student Sample: Cause-and-Effect Essay

Cause-and-Effect Essay Example

Effects of Video Game Addiction

Video game addition is a serious problem in many parts of the world today and deserves more attention. It is no secret that children and adults in many countries throughout the world, including Japan, China, and the United States, play video games every day. Most players are able to limit their usage in ways that do not interfere with their daily lives, but many others have developed an addiction to playing video games and suffer detrimental effects.

An addiction can be described in several ways, but generally speaking, addictions involve unhealthy attractions to substances or activities that ultimately disrupt the ability of a person to keep up with regular daily responsibilities. Video game addiction typically involves playing games uncontrollably for many hours at a time—some people will play only four hours at a time while others cannot stop for over twenty-four hours. Regardless of the severity of the addiction, many of the same effects will be experienced by all.

One common effect of video game addiction is isolation and withdrawal from social experiences. Video game players often hide in their homes or in Internet cafés for days at a time—only reemerging for the most pressing tasks and necessities. The effect of this isolation can lead to a breakdown of communication skills and often a loss in socialization. While it is true that many games, especially massive multiplayer online games, involve a very real form of e-based communication and coordination with others, and these virtual interactions often result in real communities that can be healthy for the players, these communities and forms of communication rarely translate to the types of valuable social interaction that humans need to maintain typical social functioning. As a result, the social networking in these online games often gives the users the impression that they are interacting socially, while their true social lives and personal relations may suffer.

Another unfortunate product of the isolation that often accompanies video game addiction is the disruption of the user’s career. While many players manage to enjoy video games and still hold their jobs without problems, others experience challenges at their workplace. Some may only experience warnings or demerits as a result of poorer performance, or others may end up losing their jobs altogether. Playing video games for extended periods of time often involves sleep deprivation, and this tends to carry over to the workplace, reducing production and causing habitual tardiness.

Video game addiction may result in a decline in overall health and hygiene. Players who interact with video games for such significant amounts of time can go an entire day without eating and even longer without basic hygiene tasks, such as using the restroom or bathing. The effects of this behavior pose significant danger to their overall health.

The causes of video game addiction are complex and can vary greatly, but the effects have the potential to be severe. Playing video games can and should be a fun activity for all to enjoy. But just like everything else, the amount of time one spends playing video games needs to be balanced with personal and social responsibilities.

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How To Write a Cause and Effect Essay

Updated 12 Dec 2022

It is usually easy for people to understand cause-effect relationships. A student who has not done his homework understands that this may result in some kind of penalty. Cause and effect essay definition says that it is an academic form of writing that aims at clarifying cause-effect relationships like this one in a manner that tells how one event leads to another event. Although US students learn to write cause and effect essays in high schools and colleges, skills they gain serve them well even when they pursue higher education or transition to workplace. Take a look at content that follows to find out more about cause and effect essays, their organization patterns, and purposes they fulfill. Mind, that if you have troubles with your paper, you can use our cause and effect essay writing service . and stop asking yourself "where I can find the best assistance to write my college essay ". Whenever you are looking to pay someone to write an essay , we provide you with many great options and solutions!

What is a Cause and Effect Essay and How It Differs from Other Essays Types

Have you ever tried to explain to someone reasons why you behave in one way or another? Or have you discussed some event? This is exactly what a cause and effect essay does. It explores either reasons due to which some events or situations occur or consequences of some things and events that are already in place. Although name “cause and effect essay” suggests that both causes and effects are examined, students often have to choose on which factors to focus most. The choice depends on topic and your own preferences unless task has already been provided by teacher. If your professor likes to provide students with freedom of choice when it comes to topics, we have some good cause and effect essay topics you can use right now.

If you consider comparing a cause and effect essay with other essays types, you will easily notice differences. Specific structure and approach to reasoning distinguish this kind of essay writing from other essay types. Although some students may confuse cause and effect essay with a reaction/response essay. They are comparable in the way they present reasoning to stated opinion. But these two essays pursue different goals, and transitional words and phrases that students use in cause and effect essays often clearly distinguish them from reaction/response papers.

How to Write a Cause-and-Effect Essay

Now, what is the purpose of cause-and-effect writing? Read on to find out!

Tips for Proper Essay Structure

So, how to write a cause and effect essay? Like any other work, your cause and effect essay should have three basic structure components: introduction, body, and conclusion .

Introductory essay paragraph should attract readers with a hook. You may use an anecdote, bold opinion, statistic, or unusual fact to fulfill this aim. The introduction should also clearly explain your writing purpose in a well-worded thesis statement . You should mind that good cause and effect thesis statement tells not only what essay presents but also how it does it.

Each body paragraphs should have a topic sentence, that presents cause and effect paragraph content, as well as explains how it relates to thesis statement. Also, each paragraph should discuss only one theme, be it cause or effect, bringing evidence relevant to this theme. Body paragraphs should contain transitions clarifying essay focus and explaining links between examined notions.

In concluding paragraph , you should summarize specific essay points and restate your thesis statement using words other than in introduction. In conclusion, you should reassert opinion regarding discussed causes and effects sequence. EduBirdie writers know exactly how to make your cause and effect essay really appealing, so you can ask them for essay help online .

Read Also: What’s Costco Essay and How to Write It?

Organization Patterns for Cause and Effect Paper

When it comes to cause and effect essay writing, structure is very important. You will reveal your opinion more effectively with a well-thought-out organization reasoning. Depending on essay focus, its structure varies, and EduBirdie prepared for you three major organization patterns you may use to write the best essay. Two these methods are frequently applied in high school and college writing. Third method is not that widespread, but in some cases, you may benefit from using it. When deciding on structure of your future paper, consider topic and ask yourself which of two things you want to do: 1) to explore effects or 2) to examine causes. Depending on your response, you should choose one of following options of essay organization:

Effects-Focused Method

Essay that focuses on effects analyzes how one or usually more effects result from a particular cause. If you choose this organizational pattern, you will need to explain in separate paragraphs several effects of a certain situation or event (your chosen cause).

Causes-Focused Method

If you choose this pattern of organization, you will need to explain how one or usually more causes lead to a single effect. This structure type suggests that each cause will be examined in a separate paragraph.

There is one more approach to structuring a cause and effect essay. It is not as popular as mentioned two, but in some cases, it may turn to be just what you need:

Causal Chain Method

Apply this pattern when you need to explain “domino effect” of how events lead to one another. This structure requires you to devote each body paragraph to an event caused by some other event and leading to one more event. Causes should build a chain, uniting the first and the last event in a logical sequence, which explains cause and effect process. If I had no time to decide which pattern of organization fits my topic best, I would ask EduBirdie for a time-saving solution: I would choose professional writer who would write an essay for me .

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Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Like other essays, cause and effect paper can adhere to standard five-paragraph structure. You may always add more body paragraph if your topic is too complex to be discussed in such a limited number of paragraphs. For US high schools and local colleges, this number of paragraphs is often enough, so you can use sample outlines when planning your own paper structure.

Peculiarities of such essay components as a thesis statement and cause and effect paragraph often depend on essay’s focus and your choice of structure. Do you want to find out how thesis and body paragraphs change depending on focus? To clarify this point, EduBirdie has prepared two brief sample outlines that illustrate differences. You should either use one of them or ask EduBirdie for a ready-made detailed cause and effect essay outline that addresses your topic.

Introduction

Hook: The United States is most obese country in North America with more than 36% of population having a body mass index of more than 30.0.

Thesis statement: Many suffer from obesity in the US because they watch too many commercials, buy cheap fast food, and play too many video games.

Body paragraph 1. Watching too many commercials contributes to obesity in the US, because viewers believe adds and buy foods that are actually bad for their health.

A. Commercials influence decision-making.

B. Commercials promote foods that contain too much sugar.

Body paragraph 2. Cheap fast food consumption is another factor that contributes to obesity.

A. It is easier to get fast food because it is cheap and available.

B. Fast food is harmful, as it contains fats that are not good for health.

Body paragraph 3. Because people play too many video games, their lifestyle becomes sedentary, and they gain even more weight.

A. Video games attract many people, who already have extra weight.

B. Video games consume much time, leaving no room for active sports.

If people in the US did not buy unhealthy products promoted in commercials, consumed less fast food, and spent less time playing video games, they would get rid of problem of obesity.

Hook: Climate change is a modern plague.

Thesis statement: It leads to the sea level rise, contributes to the extinction of species, and negatively affects health.

Body paragraph 1. Climate change accelerates sea level rise.

A. Glaciers shrink

B. Melt-water flows into the ocean to increase sea level

Body paragraph 2. Species extinct because of changing climate conditions.

A. Climate change influences an increase in temperature

B. Species extinct because of unfavorable environment and droughts

Body paragraph 3. Climate change negatively affects the health .

A. Heat waves become longer because of climate change

B. People suffer from droughts and extreme temperatures

Climate change is a major cause of sea level rise, extinction of species, and negative effects on human health.

These outlines are very brief and you may want to find out more about process of writing an outline. EduBirdie explains how to write an outline for an essay in great detail, and you can easily adjust these guidelines to your cause-and-effect essay.

Сause and Effect Essay Examples

If you are looking for cause and effect essay examples for college, EduBirdie has some for you. Go ahead and check how basic patterns of organization can be used to develop strong cause and effect essays.

The United States is the most obese country in North America with about 36% of population having a body mass index of more than 30.0 [statistic]. Largely, this situation is caused by choices we make in their everyday life [clarification of focus]. Many suffer from obesity in the US [effect], because they watch too many commercials [cause 1], buy cheap fast food [cause 2], and play too many video games [cause 3].

Watching too many commercials contributes to obesity in the US because viewers believe adds and buy foods that are actually bad for their health [topic sentence 1]. Commercials influence decision-making. Many consumers decide to buy products just because they saw them on TV, without considering effects these products have on health [evidence 1]. Given that commercials promote foods that contain too much sugar, tend to make unhealthy food choices when they blindly listen to commercials [evidence 2]. Unfortunately, modern ads are so convincing that it is hard to ignore them, which aggravates problem of obesity [concluding sentence].

Cheap fast food consumption is another factor that contributes to obesity [topic sentence 2]. It is easier to get fast food because it is cheap and available. [evidence 1]. People can buy it roughly everywhere. Still, fast food causes obesity because it contains fats that are not good for health [evidence 2]. The more people prioritize fast food over healthy diet, the more obese they become, especially if their lifestyles are not active enough [concluding sentence and transition].

Because people play too many video games, their lifestyle becomes sedentary, and they gain even more weight [topic sentence 3]. Video games attract many people, who already have extra weight. It is easier to watch avatar on screen than to participate in sports [evidence 1]. Eventually, video games consume much time, leaving no room for active sports, and this makes people more obese [evidence 2]. Lack of physical ability only contributes to weight-related problems [concluding sentence].

If people in the US did not buy unhealthy products promoted in commercials, consumed less fast food, and spent less time playing video games, they would get rid of problem of obesity [restatement of thesis statement].

Climate change is a modern plague [bold opinion]. It has plenty of negative effects, some of which are particularly disturbing [clarification of focus]. Climate change [cause] leads to the sea level rise [effect 1], contributes to extinction of species [effect 2], and negatively affects health [effect 3].

Climate change accelerates sea level rise [topic sentence 1]. It makes glaciers shrink at an unprecedented pace [evidence 1]. As more ice shrinks, melt-water flows into ocean and increases sea level [evidence 2]. The rise of sea level represents a threat to inhabitants, both people and animals, of coastal areas.

Species extinct because of changing climate conditions [topic sentence 2]. Climate change causes an increase in temperature [evidence 1]. Species become extinct because of unfavorable environment and droughts [evidence 2]. Even people who have more means to adjust to changing conditions have reasons to suffer [transition].

Climate change negatively affects health [topic sentence 3]. Heat waves become longer because of climate change [evidence 1]. As a result, people suffer from droughts and extreme temperatures [evidence 2].

Climate change is a major cause of sea level rise, extinction of species, and negative effects on human health. It is important to address causes of climate change to eliminate its negative effects.

A Good Deal of Advice

We learned what is the definition of cause and effect essay, explained its purpose, and examined its structure. We also considered several approaches to organization of reasoning in cause and effect essays. Together, we examined several examples that illustrate the application of each approach. If all this information is too complex for you to grab at once, you can choose another option, EduBirdie is well-known as the perfect cause and effect essay writing service.

If you are too constrained in time because of busy curriculum, EduBirdie writers are ready to help you. EduBirdie is a special platform. Unlike other companies, it has a bidding system and allows you to choose writer you want on your own. You can also choose price that is most acceptable for you among many bids you will get after placing an order. So get your original cause and effect essay and try all benefits of EduBirdie.

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COMMENTS

Cause and Effect Essay Examples
Sometimes called reason and result essays, cause and effect essays are a type of essay that explores how an event or situation came into being (the cause)
Cause & Effect Essay
A cause and effect essay is structured around the goal of discovering and discussing events that lead to certain results. When writing a cause and effect
A Guide to Writing a Cause and Effect Essay
A cause and effect essay is an expository essay that explains the relationships between specific conditions and their consequences, often within
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Writers need to be sure that the causes and effects they describe are logically connected. What Is a Cause-Effect Essay? 134. Unit 6 • Cause-Effect Essays
How to Write a Cause-and-Effect Essay
The cause-and-effect essay is a form of argumentative essay that details the effect relationships between two subjects.
Cause and Effect Essay Writing Guide: Outline, Topics, Examples, Tips
A cause and effect essay is a type of academic writing that explores the causes of a particular issue and its consequences.
100 Intriguing Cause and Effect Essay Topics for Students
Cause and effect essays aren't just a way to help students strengthen their writing skills. They'll also learn critical thinking, logic
Cause & effect essays Aka reason and result
A cause and effect essay looks at the reasons (or causes) for something, then discusses the results (or effects). For this reason, cause and
Student Sample: Cause-and-Effect Essay
Cause-and-Effect Essay Example. Effects of Video Game Addiction. Video game addition is a serious problem in many parts of the world today and deserves more
How To Write a Cause and Effect Essay Step-by-step
Research your essay problem. · Come up with a thesis statement. · Divide your content for causes and effects. · Structure your key elements into two columns.