Cause and EffectCause and Effect

By Mrs. TopliffBy Mrs. Topliff

Cause and EffectCause and Effect

Cause: the reason something happenedCause: the reason something happened Did not do my homeworkDid not do my homework

Effect: the results of the reason something Effect: the results of the reason something happenedhappened Mrs. T scolds you for not turning it inMrs. T scolds you for not turning it in

Cause and EffectCause and Effect

CauseCause Thunderstorm lasted Thunderstorm lasted

all dayall day She forgot to close She forgot to close

the refrigerator doorthe refrigerator door

You didn’t study for You didn’t study for the Language Arts the Language Arts testtest

EffectEffect Baseball game was Baseball game was

cancelledcancelled Food in the Food in the

refrigerator was refrigerator was spoiledspoiled

You failed the testYou failed the test

The Cause-Effect Essay The Cause-Effect Essay Cause-and-effect writing gives reasons and Cause-and-effect writing gives reasons and

explanations for events, conditions, or explanations for events, conditions, or behaviorbehavior

It answers the need most of us have to It answers the need most of us have to understand the world around us.understand the world around us.

When planning a cause-and-effect essay, When planning a cause-and-effect essay, begin by listing the event or condition you begin by listing the event or condition you want to addresswant to address

Then brainstorm to generate ideas about Then brainstorm to generate ideas about either its causes or its effects. Do additional either its causes or its effects. Do additional research on your topic if necessary.research on your topic if necessary.

What Causes People To Dislike What Causes People To Dislike People Who Are DifferentPeople Who Are Different CauseCause

People have a bad People have a bad experience with someoneexperience with someone

Parents and family Parents and family members teach them to members teach them to dislike a people who are dislike a people who are not like themselvesnot like themselves

NazisNazis KKK membersKKK members

EffectEffect Therefore they think all Therefore they think all

people associated with people associated with that person is badthat person is bad

As a result people grow As a result people grow up with these same up with these same beliefs, disliking those beliefs, disliking those different from themdifferent from them

Discrimination of JewsDiscrimination of Jews Discrimination of Africa-Discrimination of Africa-

AmericansAmericans

Cause and Effect WritingCause and Effect Writing

Think carefully about the causes and effects Think carefully about the causes and effects you have listedyou have listed

Check to be sure you have not drawn any Check to be sure you have not drawn any incorrect conclusions incorrect conclusions

Ask yourself the following questions in regards Ask yourself the following questions in regards to the list you have made…to the list you have made… Have I assumed a cause-effect relationship when Have I assumed a cause-effect relationship when

there is none?there is none? Have I assumed only one cause when many causes Have I assumed only one cause when many causes

may be appropriate? may be appropriate?

Different types of Causal Different types of Causal RelationshipsRelationships

Necessary Cause - one that must be present for the Necessary Cause - one that must be present for the effect to occureffect to occur

Example: Combustion is necessary to drive a gasoline engine. Example: Combustion is necessary to drive a gasoline engine. Sufficient Cause - one that can produce an effect Sufficient Cause - one that can produce an effect

without help, though there may be more than one without help, though there may be more than one sufficient cause of a given effect.sufficient cause of a given effect.

Example: A dead battery is enough to keep a car from starting--Example: A dead battery is enough to keep a car from starting--but faulty spark plugs or an empty gas tank will have the same but faulty spark plugs or an empty gas tank will have the same

Contributory Cause - one that helps to produce an Contributory Cause - one that helps to produce an effect but cannot do so by itself.effect but cannot do so by itself.

Example: Running a red light might help to cause an Example: Running a red light might help to cause an accident....though other facts -- pedestrians or other cars in accident....though other facts -- pedestrians or other cars in the intersection -- must also be present.the intersection -- must also be present.

More Questions to ask YourselfMore Questions to ask Yourself

Have I incorrectly assumed a causal relationship Have I incorrectly assumed a causal relationship between two events that immediately follow between two events that immediately follow each other? each other?

Did I distinguish between long-term and short-Did I distinguish between long-term and short-term causes and effects. term causes and effects. A short-term cause or effectA short-term cause or effect is a single, immediately is a single, immediately

identifiable event; identifiable event; A long-term cause or effectA long-term cause or effect may be less easy to may be less easy to

pinpoint but in the long run more important? pinpoint but in the long run more important? Did I distinguish between primary (most Did I distinguish between primary (most

important) and secondary (ancillary) effects? important) and secondary (ancillary) effects?

Cause and Effect Essay: Cause and Effect Essay: IntroductionIntroduction

Catchy beginning sentenceCatchy beginning sentence Thesis Statement!Thesis Statement! Summary of what you will be discussing in Summary of what you will be discussing in

the essaythe essay

Cause and Effect Essay: BodyCause and Effect Essay: Body Find and organize supporting details. Back up your thesis with Find and organize supporting details. Back up your thesis with

relevant and sufficient details that are organized. You can relevant and sufficient details that are organized. You can organize details in the following ways: organize details in the following ways:

Chronological. Details are arranged in the order in which the Chronological. Details are arranged in the order in which the events occurred. events occurred.

Order of importance. Details are arranged from least to most Order of importance. Details are arranged from least to most important or vice versa. important or vice versa.

Categorical. Details are arranged by dividing the topic into parts or Categorical. Details are arranged by dividing the topic into parts or categories. categories.

Use appropriate transitions. To blend details smoothly in cause Use appropriate transitions. To blend details smoothly in cause and effect essays, use the transitional words and phrases listed and effect essays, use the transitional words and phrases listed below. below.

For causes For causes because, due to, on cause is, another is, since, for, first, second because, due to, on cause is, another is, since, for, first, second

For Effects For Effects consequently, as a result, thus, resulted in, one result is, another consequently, as a result, thus, resulted in, one result is, another

is, therefore is, therefore

Cause and Effect: ConclusionCause and Effect: Conclusion

Restatement of the thesis statements (but Restatement of the thesis statements (but in different words)in different words)

Summarizing everything you said in the Summarizing everything you said in the EssayEssay

Personal Statement that gives your Personal Statement that gives your opinion, and finalizes the essayopinion, and finalizes the essay

Cause and Effect Essay TipsCause and Effect Essay Tips Remember your purpose. Decide if your are writing to inform or Remember your purpose. Decide if your are writing to inform or

persuade. persuade. Focus on immediate and direct causes (or effects.) Focus on immediate and direct causes (or effects.)

Limit yourself to causes that are close in time and relatedLimit yourself to causes that are close in time and related

Strengthen your essay by using supporting evidence.Strengthen your essay by using supporting evidence. Explain what big words mean!Explain what big words mean! Pretend your reader is a little brother or sister!Pretend your reader is a little brother or sister! You need to break it down!You need to break it down! offer facts and statistics, or provide examples, anecdotes, or personal offer facts and statistics, or provide examples, anecdotes, or personal

observations that support your ideas. observations that support your ideas.

Qualify or limit your statements about cause and effect.Qualify or limit your statements about cause and effect. Unless there is clear evidence that one event is related to anotherUnless there is clear evidence that one event is related to another "It appears that the cause was" or "It seems likely" or "The evidence may "It appears that the cause was" or "It seems likely" or "The evidence may

indicate" or "Available evidence suggests."indicate" or "Available evidence suggests."

Cause and Effect Key WordsCause and Effect Key Words

Show the table Mrs. T!!!Show the table Mrs. T!!!