What is a Cause and Effect Essay?

A cause and effect essay is a type of academic writing thatexplores the causes of a particular issue and its consequences. Itincludes researching available evidence and developing sensibleclaims regarding the topic. Students should demonstrate a goodcommand of critical thinking skills throughout the writing processand the ability to build cause-effect reasoning. As a type ofanalytical essay, a cause and effect essay should rely on clearfacts and research. A writer should stick to neutral tone,vocabulary, and formal style.

So that to understand what cause and effect essay is, it'sbetter to look at the example:

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

Effect: Barry Allen became Flash andjoined the Injustice League.

A cause and effect essay should be well-structured. Otherwise,your claims will not be clear to the reader.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline

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

1. Introduction

2. Body:

Variant 1

• Cause 1
• Cause 2
• Effect 1
• Effect 2

Variant 2

• Cause 1
• Effect 1
• Cause 2
• Effect 2

Variant 3

• Cause & Effect 1
• Cause & Effect 2
• Cause & Effect 3

3. Conclusion

Cause and Effect Essay Introduction

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

• Statistics

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

• Quotation

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

• Rhetorical Question

Do social media platforms replace real life?

Once you are done with the hook, outline the general informationabout the topic and its context. Use this part to orient thereaders in the discussed field and focus their attention on yourargument. Last but not least, develop a good thesis statement atthe end of the introductory paragraph. It should say somethingabout the topic instead of simply announcing it. Use it as a base.Each claim you make should support the thesis statement. Once thepaper 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 theproblem. It will show your teacher that you have analyzed the issuefrom different angles. You may single out one reason as the mostimportant and discuss it first and move on to describing thesecondary causes. Do not forget that each paragraph should befocused on one particular idea. Thus, each distinct cause shouldhave a separate paragraph.

To introduce and develop your idea, use a traditional paragraphformat:

• Topic sentence
• Evidence
• Support
• Concluding sentence

Such an organized structure is the key to effective writing. Itallows the text to run smoothly and convey the idea effectively. Itshould be applied to present both causes and effects beingdiscussed.

Cause and Effect Essay Body Paragraph(Effects)

When writing body paragraphs focused on effects, you need tomake a logical connection to the already mentioned causes. Focusonly on the direct consequences of the problem as your messageneeds to be clear to the audience. It will help you keep the claimscoherent.

Introduce the effects you want to discuss in a topic sentence.It would be a good idea to conduct research and cite some reputablesources that will prove your point. Cite them according to therequired referencing format: APA. Make sure you make the necessarycomments to explain your evidence. It is crucial to add your owninterpretation of the problem without simply paraphrasing someone’sthoughts. For instance, see the example of the effects of socialmedia addiction and note the expressions you can potentially use inyour paper.

Cause and Effect Essay Conclusion

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

• Your thesis: “Children’s drawings are not just simple doodles;they show kids’ psychological state and concerns.”
• Restatement: “Drawings that children create provide the insightinto their emotional condition.”

Another important element of a concluding paragraph is thesummary of the main points. Figure out what your main findings andclaims are and compile them into a short paragraph.

Assignment (10 Marks) Cause and Effect Essay (1000-1200words)

Now choose a topic of your interest from an exhaustive listgiven below. Your essay must contain an introductionparagraph that ends with the thesis statement. The essaymust also include three or more body paragraphsproviding specific evidence (like examples) and details, and aconcluding paragraph that returns to the idea ofthe thesis and provides a sense of closure. You must use at leastone quote (one per body paragraph is ideal) froman expert source in a library database to supportyour thesis, and you must provide parenthetical citation(s) and awork(s)-cited page in APA style.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

The topics for a cause and effect essay can be diverse as thistype of writing is suitable for any subject: history, languages,sociology, arts, technology, and even physics. Some interestingexamples of cause and effect essay topics include:

Education Topics

1. What is the effect of online schooling on students’ academicperformances?
2. Do longer school days have a direct effect on the educationaloutcomes?
3. How do standardized tests influence the rate of dropouts?
4. How does the general grading system affect studentmotivation?
5. Why do the majority of students find learning so boring?
6. How does the adoption of technology influence the effectivenessof learning?
7. How do sports and extracurriculars affect students’ academicoutcomes?
8. The negative and positive influences of school uniforms
9. How does taking a gap year can affect a student’s futuresuccess?
10. What are the effects of students learning fine arts inschools?

Social Media Topics

1. Why do humans spend lots of time on social media?
2. How does social media channels abuse affect familyrelationships?
3. What are the effects of social media channels on children’sminds?
4. Why do social networks make us feel more lonely?
5. What are the primary effects of bullying on social media?
6. What are the effects of excessive online communication onpeople’s social skills?
7. How do cell phones and social media affect teenagers?
8. What positive effects can social media have in the educationalsphere?
9. What makes video-based social media channels like Instagram orSnapchat so popular?
10. Why do some social media channels lose popularity?

Social Occurrences Topics

1. The triggers and impacts of the Black Lives Matter movement onthe global society
2. What are the main causes of police brutality?
3. What are the long-term effects of the global lockdown?
4. What are the key triggers and outcomes of the Coronavirusvaccination?
5. What are the causes and effects of the outbreak of the COVID-19virus?
6. Discover the causal relationship of the natural disasters
7. What are the possible positive effects of SpaceX’s Marsprogram?
8. The impact of lockdown on the rise in unemployment rates
9. What reasons are behind the mass strikes in Brazil?
10. The causes of ongoing social conflicts in India

History Topics

1. What are the ongoing effects of slavery on Americansociety?
2. What are the main reasons and outcomes of the Civil War?
3. What was the grounding for the assassination of John F.Kennedy?
4. What were the key reasons for the Soviet Union collapse?
5. How were the citizens affected by the Cuban missilecrisis?
6. What effects did the rise of Christianity have on the RomanEmpire?
7. The main causes of the pact between Hitler and Stalin
8. What were the causes of the Arab Spring?
9. The causes and effects of the Salem witch trial
10. What were the effects of the Pearl Harbour attack?

Politics Topics

1. What has caused democracy to rise in the US?
2. What causes politicians to choose this field as theircareer?
3. What are the main effects of illegal immigration on the countryand society?
4. What were the core reasons that drove the British colonialismstrategy?
5. What are the positive effects of colonialism on the countries’development?
6. What has triggered the American Revolution?
7. What causes the rise in immigration rates?
8. What are the possible negative effects of druglegalization?
9. What are the effects of poor political leadership on thecountry and its economy?
10. What impact does the Obama Healthcare program have?

How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay?

So, how to write a cause and effect essay? To succeed in thisendeavor, one has to demonstrate critical thinking skills, properself-organization, and dedication. In this part of this handout, Iam going to walk you through the writing process step by step andgive helpful tips for success.

Brainstorm Cause and Effect Essay Topics

First, you must identify suitable cause and effect essay topics.Some things to consider as potential subjects are culturalmovements, natural phenomena, or the development of certainconcepts or ideas. The key tip for choosing a topic is ensuringthat it enables you to observe and analyze its causalrelationship.

Come Up With Cause and Effect Essay Thesis

Next, you need a thesis. A cause and effect thesis is basicallya statement of a single (or multiple) cause-and-effect relationshipthat is going to be discovered in the essay.

Develop Cause and Effect Essay BodyParagraphs

According to a standard cause and effect essay format, the bodyshould consist of 2-5 paragraphs. Each body paragraph explores aspecific facet of the causal relationship. At this stage, you needto develop the core ideas for all paragraphs.

Write a Draft

Using the thesis and the ideas for body paragraphs you alreadyhave, 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 inmind the purpose of your essay.

Review Your Cause and Effect Essay Draft

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

• Is my point of view clear?
• Do all examples highlight the cause-and-effect relationship ofmy subjects?
• Is it logical and convincing?

Write a Final Cause and Effect Essay Draft

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

To Sum Up?

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

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

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