Jared P.
Jared P.

Cause and Effect Essay – A Complete Guide for Beginners

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Published on: Jun 8, 2019

Last updated on: Jan 20, 2023

Cause and Effect Essay

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A cause and effect essay is a type of essay that explains how one event or situation leads to another. This can be an interesting type of essay to write, because it allows you to explore the different impacts that one event can have.

To write a successful cause and effect essay, it is important to understand the basics of this type of essay. In this blog, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to write a cause and effect essay. We will also provide you with some tips on how to get started. So, if you are interested in learning more about this essay, keep reading!

Cause and Effect Essay Definition

Cause and effect essay is a common type of essay including multiple paragraphs examining and analyzing causes and effects.

The cause and effect essay is a great way for students to analyze the relationship between two or more variables. This type of writing can either have positive or negative results, depending on what you're looking at!

Cause and effect essay sheds light on how things happen or reasons of occurring (causes) and what happens in its result or effects of those things. It is a common practice done to organize and discuss ideas in depth.

Cause and effect or reason and result essays are a part of every student’s academic writing. Students at all levels get these types of reasoning essays to analyze their abilities and skills to write and knowledge on the topic.

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Cause and effect essays are generally of three types:

Effect-Focused Method: In which an emphasis is laid on the results or effects of a situation or an event.

Cause-Focused Method: In this, different causes of an event are focused on and discussed.

Cause and Effect-Focused Method: The analysis is done on both the causes and effects equally.

Here are the ways that will help you arrange the cause and its effects in your essays.

  • Sequential Order
  • Reverse Sequential Order

Therefore, it is not always important to work in sequence when discussing causes and effects. Instead, you can also start from the main effect.

Also, you need to consider the below questions to make your cause and effect essay effective.

  • What are the causes and effects?
  • What elements should be considered?
  • Are there single or multiple effects and causes?
  • How to present the list of causes and effects in an essay?

Cause and Effect Essay Structure

Cause and effect essays can be written choosing between the two structures. Before you start writing make sure which structure to choose i.e. Block or a chain structure.

Block Structure

In this structure, you usually write all the causes of your topic at first, and it affects later. Whether an effect-focused or cause-focused essay, this structure can be used to give shape to your essay.

A general block essay includes:

  • Introduction
  • Cause 1
  • Cause 2
  • Cause 3
  • Cause n
  • Transition
  • Effect 1
  • Effect 2
  • Effect 3
  • Effect n
  • Conclusion

Chain Structure

The other structure given to your essay is chain structure and according to this, you have to give a cause following its effect. Every cause presented in your essay should be followed by the effect right after it.

A chain structure looks like this:

  • Introduction.
  • Cause 1 and Effect 1
  • Cause 2 and Effect 2
  • Cause 3 and Effect 3
  • Cause n and effect n
  • Conclusion

Both structures can be chosen by students depending on how well they are able to convince and affect people. Here is a basic cause and effect essay structure that you can follow for writing your essay.

Cause and Effect Essay Structure (PDF)

Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Outlining is just as important as writing an essay. It is very important to give an outline in this essay so that there is no cause and effect left behind to mention.

An outline works as a guide in writing an essay as it ensures that all the instructions are efficiently followed.

This simple structure will provide an outline for your essay:

  • A Hook
  • Thesis Statement
  • Topic sentence 1
  • Cause 1
  • Effect 1
  • Topic sentence n
  • Cause n
  • Effect n
  • Rephrased Thesis statement
  • Conclusion

How to Start a Cause and Effect Essay?

Cause and effect essay talks about ‘why’ and ‘how’ of a situation. Everything happens for a reason or cause and effect.

To start with, it is important to note that these kinds of essays are not written on your opinion and personal beliefs. You cannot make up your argument, no matter how logical, and prove a cause and its effect of an event or action.

Here are the steps you need to follow for a perfect start to a cause and effect essay.

1. Decide on a Topic

Choose a topic wisely and just so you know selecting a topic for your essay is not as easy as it sounds. If a student is given a topic by an instructor it is easier for such kinds of essays. But if left on students to come up with a topic it is probably the trickiest job.

To see if your selected topic is correct to see how well it is based on logic and the connections it is building between the events.

2. Research

Research is essential to get detailed knowledge and facts of the topic. The research process will help you get a better understanding of your topic and will provide extra ideas in writing.

You can gather information on your topic through journals, books, articles, and above all, the internet. Just read the sample works of others related to your topic and get an idea of how to shape and construct your essay.

3. Thesis Statement

Once you have selected your topic and gathered relevant information and data, it is time for you to come up with your thesis statement. Your thesis statement will inform your audience about why you chose the topic, its significance, and the purpose of the paper or essay.

Understand how to write a good thesis statement. You have to craft your thesis statement in a way that it shouldn’t sound personal at all and the readers can resonate from it the most. Try to provide information like why this topic is important to you and to them to acknowledge and grab your reader’s attention.

4. Rough Draft

Nope. You are still not ready to craft your final draft.

Now that you have a topic, relevant researched points, and a thesis statement, gather everything to write it on paper. Write all the collected key points and ideas and make a rough draft based on these points.

How To Write a Cause And Effect Essay?

Here is a basic method of writing a cause and effect essay.

Cause and Effect Essay Introduction

Like in any other essay writing pattern, the very first thing is an introduction of your topic. An introduction of your essay decides whether your audience will read the entire essay or not. That’s the reason your introduction should be so interesting and engaging that people will strive to read further.

To grab your reader’s attention and interest, a tip is to include a hook in the introduction. A hook is a catchy phrase, quotation, or question that intrigues your audience. Different types of hooks are used for different essay topics.

Learn accurate and appropriate use of hooks. You can never address a serious issue like ‘rape’ with a joke.

Now that you have a hook, make your audience familiar with your topic. Give a clue about your subject or a topic and state your thesis statement. Before writing, you should be aware of the differences between causes and effects.

Cause and Effect Essay Body Paragraphs

Followed by the introduction comes the main body of your essay. The main body of your essay consists of multiple paragraphs that state all the reasoning of your essay.

All of the gathered information and data supporting your topic is presented in a structured way in the main body paragraphs. Connect all your information to give credibility to your academic writing.

Here, make sure that all the reasoning and argument on cause and effect is based on facts. Link all the ‘causes and effects’ with the transition words to maintain the flow in the paragraphs.

Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essay

The following are some transition words used to connect your cause and its effect. The cause is denoted by 1 and effect by 2:

Cause

  • The first cause of (2) is (1)
  • The next reason is (1)
  • Because of (1), (2)
  • As a result of (1), (2)
  • (2) Is the consequence of (1)

Effect

  • The first effect of (1) is (2)
  • Another result of (1) is (2)
  • As a result, (2)
  • Consequently, (2)
  • (1) is the reason of (2)

Cause and Effect Essay Conclusion

Never, abruptly end your essay and write a cause and effect conclusion in a way that leaves people convinced. The conclusion includes your thesis statement and a hint of the intro of your topic.

Never add new ideas and information in the last paragraph, and always restate facts present in your main body in different words.

A well-written conclusion gives closure to your essay leaving your audience convinced and satisfied. After all, all's well that ends well.

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Cause and Effect Essay Examples

Cause and effect essays are not really hard to write if you know the drill. Just stay focused on your essay and try to influence your audience through your information, facts, and shreds of evidence.

You can also read some cause and effect essay examples before you start working on your essay. In this way, you will get an idea of how to approach your essay.

Below you can also find some interesting cause and effect essay examples to use that you can go through before starting writing your essay.

Now you have all the tools to write a good cause and effect essay. You can review our free essays before starting working on your cause and effect essay.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Here are some easy cause and effect essay topics for college students.

  • What are the causes and effects of obesity on the teens of the United States?
  • Causes of birth control and contraceptives in society.
  • Causes and multiple effects of Parent Involvement in a child's education.
  • Causes and effects of gaining popularity in college.
  • Causes and effects of discrimination on one’s mind.
  • World War I – Causes and Effects
  • Causes and effects of poverty in a nation.
  • Effects of bullying on mental health.
  • Things that make teens suffer from Anorexia Nervosa.
  • Causes and effects of disability in finding a job.

Cause And Effect Essay Writing Tips

Here are some expert tips that you can keep in mind for writing a perfect cause and effect essay.

  • Use appropriate words and vocabulary in your essay
  • Use transitional words to keep cause and its effect connected
  • State information and ideas chronologically
  • Focus on direct causes
  • Use supporting evidence to strengthen your essay
  • Never overlap information and data.

It is preferable that you dedicate each paragraph to a certain idea. Instead of repeating and overlapping, allot a paragraph to a certain idea that will clear the audience’s head about what they are reading.

It is also recommended to use a topic sentence for each paragraph and give headings for proper understanding.

Now you have all the tools to write a good cause and effect essay. You can review our free essays before starting working on your cause and effect essay.

Get Expert Help for Writing a Cause and Effect Essay

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the cause and effect essay?

A cause-and-effect essay is used to determine how things are related. It might be about the main cause, like how something happened, or it can be about one of the effects on what happened.

What are the characteristics of a cause and effect essay?

A cause-effect essay shows how one event leads to another. For example, it may be that the effect is caused by the cause or vice versa. A cause-effect essay can also show how both events could be related to each other.

What is a good thesis statement for a cause and effect essay?

A thesis states the writer's opinion on what caused something to happen or what it will cause. It can be organized in two ways: Start with the effect and then talk about the cause. Or start with the cause and then talk about the effect.

A good thesis statement can be crafted in any of the above-mentioned ways.

Jared P.

WRITTEN BY

Jared P. (Life Sciences, Literature)

Jared P. is a renowned author and writing service provider with over fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry. He has a Ph.D. degree in English Literature and has spent his entire career helping students achieve their academic goals by providing expert writing assistance.

Jared P. is a renowned author and writing service provider with over fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry. He has a Ph.D. degree in English Literature and has spent his entire career helping students achieve their academic goals by providing expert writing assistance.

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