The document provides information on writing a cause-and-effect essay, including defining causes and effects, explaining the purpose of a cause-and-effect essay, and describing different patterns of organization. It also offers tips for choosing a topic, developing an outline, using transitional signals, and constructing a thesis statement. Sample topics, outlines, and a sample paragraph are included to illustrate the concepts.

1. CAUSE AND EFFECTCAUSE AND EFFECT
ESSAYESSAY

2. For every action
there is a reaction
Many actions occur as a result of certain
factors or causes, either obvious or
obscure. These actions may lead to several
effects.
A cause is the reason for an event or a
situation.
An effect is the result of an event or
situation.

3. Purpose of Cause-Effect
essay
 To understand the relationship of events that
brought about an outcome (Cause)
To understand the results that come out of an
event (Effect)
To explain:
1. the causes of an event or situation
2. the effects of an event or situation
3. both causes and effects

4. Cause and Effect
By examining the
causescauses or effectseffects of
something, we seek to
explainexplain things that
happen in our lives.

5. Cause and Effect
There are nearly always
multiple causescauses and
effectseffects associated with
any phenomenonphenomenon
(action, event, idea, etc.).

6. Cause and Effect
Emphasizing one or
another causecause and/or
effecteffect is the pointpoint of
writing a cause-and-cause-and-
effecteffect essay.

7. Cause and Effect
Be awareBe aware, however,
that in doing so, you are
making an argumentargument.
Be sure to adequately
supportsupport your point!

8. Format of a Cause-Effect Essay
Block Pattern of organization
All the causes (or effects) are discussed first, either in one or several
paragraphs, as a block, before moving to the next block, which
discusses all the effects (or all the causes).
Sometimes the major sections are separated by a short paragraph
known as a transition paragraph. This paragraph concludes the
previous section and leads readers to the next section.
It is not necessary to include a transition paragraph for every cause-
effect essay. It is useful to write one when your essay is long where
there are several paragraphs dealing with the effects.

9. Block Pattern 1
Introduction stating the thesis statement
Cause 1, with topic sentence
Cause 2,with topic sentence
Cause 3, with topic sentence
Transition paragraph concluding the section on
causes
Effect 1, with topic sentence
Effect 2, with topic sentence
Effect 3, with topic sentence
_____________________________________________________________
Conclusion summarising the main ideas or restating
the thesis statement

10. Other examples of block
patterns will be shown during
tutorial

11. Chain Pattern of
Organization
A chain pattern links the causes and effects
together in a chain. One event causes another to
occur, and this in turn, causes a third event to
happen. This pattern continues to create
subsequent events.
The chain pattern of organization is used when the
causes and effects are too closely connected and
cannot be discussed separately usng the block
pattern.

12. Example of chain pattern of
organization will be shown during
tutorial

13. Choosing Cause-Effect
Essay Topic
1. Things I am interested in
2. Issues I have heard of or read
about recently
3. Things I am curious about
4. Subjects that I know quite well

14. Brainstorming Topics
I am interested in:
•Poetry
•Art films
•Phones
•Fashion
•Environment
•Blogging

15. General Topic: Phone
Listing technique
What can I write about
the topic ‘Phone’:
Smart phone
8 mega pixel camera
Wi-fi technology
Easy access to social
networking sites
Photo and video
sharing
Sharing photos
and videos on
social networking
sites can lead to:
•threats, blackmail
•offensive postings
•sensitive issues
•identity theft
•privacy
compromised

16. Clustering Method for
Cause-Effect Essay
This method helps you to see
relationship between ideas
within a broad topic at the
centre, from which it
branches out into sub-topics
or related ideas.

19. Free Writing
Free writing on broad topics help
you start the flow of ideas related to
the topic. In free writing, you do not
have to worry yet about making
mistakes. It’s to generate contents
for your essay. The purpose is to
write as many ideas as possible.

20. Child Abuse
Yesterday, I read an article about a boy who was
abused by his own mother. The visual showed he
had scars everywhere and even cigarette burns on
his arms. His thighs were black and blue. It is really
sad that this is happening in our society. Why does
this happen? Maybe, the boy’s mom is stressed with
life. She is channelling her frustration on her son.
Different people deal with stress differently. I can’t
imagine my mom hitting me even though she must
have been stressed looking after me and my five
siblings. Whatever it is, I don’t think a child should
ever be beaten black and blue for whatever reason.
A child is just a child. Even a very naughty one.
There are serious physical, psychological and
social repercussions when a child is abused.

21. Based on the headlines from newspapers
below, come up with cause-effect essay
topics. You may discuss with your friend
1. No vaping in non-smoking areas
2. Obese cops suffer from heart problems
and diabetes
3. NGOs laud govt’s decision to ban
bauxite mining
4. A beautiful lake no more
5. Land cleared for farming
6. 50% rise in dengue deaths

22. Topics for Cause-Effect
Essay
The Impact of Technology on Family Time
The Effects of Smoking
The Causes of Dengue
Internet Influence on Children
Causes and Effects of Stress
Why Fast Food Restaurants are Popular?
The Impact of Tsunami
Effects of Iliteracy
The influence of Reality Shows in People’s Lives

23. Outlines
General topic: Bullying
Focussed topic:
The Consequences of Bullying in
Schools
What are the consequences of bullying in
schools?
What are the effects of bullying on the internet?

24. Rough outline:
Anti-social behaviour
Poor academic performance
Emotional problems

25. Thesis statement
Important in all essays including cause-effect
essay.
Based on everything you have thought of, read,
and brainstormed, your thesis statement
describes what you are saying about your topic. It
defines the scope and focus of your paper and
gives insight on the development of the topic.
Make sure your thesis statement is clear, strong
and easily identified.

26. Thesis Statement
Anti-social behaviour
Poor academic performance
Emotional problems
Construct a thesis statement for the points
above on the consequences of bullying in
school.

27. Thesis statement:
Antisocial behaviour, emotional
problems and poor academic
performance are the consequences
of bullying in schools.

28. Cohesion
Organization of the different parts of the essay
 a logical arrangement of ideas will enable your
readers to easily understand the text.
At this stage, you must ensure that:
the topic sentence relates to the thesis statement
the details support the topic sentence
the ideas within paragraphs flow smoothly

29. Outline draft
Thesis statement:
The effects of witnessing parental violence on children are
numerous, which include the feeling of guilt, the
development of cognitive problems, and the
experience of stress-related physical illnesses.
The first topic sentence:
The first effect is that these children believe the violence is
caused by something that they have done.
The second topic sentence:
Another effect on children involves the inability to focus and
concentrate.
The third topic sentence:
The last effect is that these children develop illnesses such
as headaches and ulcers, which are common among
stressful adults.

30. Transitional signals
Use transitional signals to achieve cohesion. They
are words or phrases that connect clauses and
sentences so that there is a smooth flow between
ideas
They act as signals; showing the readers the
relationship between ideas.
To show result:
as a result, therefore, consequently, hence, thus
Example of how transitional signals are used: Next

31. Identify the transitional
signals in the following
paragraph.

32. The effects of witnessing parental violence on children are numerous,
which include the feeling of guilt, the development of cognitive
problems, and the experiencing of stress-related physical illnesses.
The first effect is that these children believe the violence is caused by
something that they have done. These unfortunate children more
often than not feel responsible for the abuse they witnessed. In fact,
they even feel guilty for not being able to stop the violence. Another
effect on children involves the inability to focus and concentrate.
Children from violent homes tend to have problems in school as they
constantly feel anxious and depressed. As a result, their academic
achievement is low. The last effect is that these children develop
illnesses such as headaches and ulcers, which are common among
stressful adults. Although not much is known about how domestic
violence induces stress-related illnesses in children, most of the
children who have been saved from violent homes are found to have
severe migraine and chronic ulcers. In short, the effects of growing up
in hostile environment on children are serious and detrimental.
Hence, these children need to be saved from their violent homes
immediately.

33. The effects of witnessing parental violence on children are
numerous, which include the feeling of guilt, the development of
cognitive problems, and the experiencing of stress-related
physical illnesses. The first effect is that these children believe
the violence is caused by something that they have done. These
unfortunate children more often than not feel responsible for
the abuse they witnessed. In fact, they even feel guilty for not
being able to stop the violence. Another effect on children
involves the inability to focus and concentrate. Children from
violent homes tend to have problems in school as they
constantly feel anxious and depressed. As a result, their
academic achievement is low. The last effect is that these
children develop illnesses such as headaches and ulcers, which
are common among stressful adults. Although not much is
known about how domestic violence induces stress-related
illnesses in children, most of the children who have been saved
from violent homes are found to have severe migraine and
chronic ulcers. In short, the effects of growing up in hostile
environment on children are serious and detrimental. Hence,
these children need to be saved from their violent homes
immediately.

34. Discuss the following questions
with your partner or group
Think of three social problems that
youngsters encounter nowadays.
Next, discuss the causes and also the
immediate and long term effects of
these problems.
Brainstorm ideas using the pre-
writing methods shown earlier.

35. Reference
Michael, G.R.D; Dhillon, P. K; Haliza Jaffar et al.
(2010). EAP Crossing Borders. Malaysia. Pearson.