Cause and EffectCause and Effect

Many authors use Many authors use cause and effectcause and effect in their writing. in their writing. Cause and effect helps you understand how events in Cause and effect helps you understand how events in a story are connected. It also helps you understand a story are connected. It also helps you understand

why a character acts in a certain way. why a character acts in a certain way.

Cause and Effect

A cause is why something happens.An effect is what happens because of that cause.

When you read, look for cause-and-When you read, look for cause-and-effect relationships. Think about these effect relationships. Think about these questions: questions:

Does this passage tell you Does this passage tell you whywhy something happens? something happens?

Does this event Does this event causecause something else something else to happen? to happen?

Is the character doing this Is the character doing this becausebecause of something that happened?of something that happened?

►You can find cause and effect by You can find cause and effect by looking for looking for clue wordsclue words. . Because, Because, since, so,since, so, and and as a resultas a result all tell you all tell you that you’re reading about a cause-and-that you’re reading about a cause-and-effect relationship. effect relationship.

    Many years ago, a group of people Many years ago, a group of people called the Huns attacked China. The called the Huns attacked China. The Huns wanted to conquer the Chinese. Huns wanted to conquer the Chinese. BecauseBecause the Chinese wanted to protect the Chinese wanted to protect themselves, they built a huge wall. This themselves, they built a huge wall. This wall was 1,500 miles long. wall was 1,500 miles long. As a resultAs a result of this wall, the Huns were kept out of of this wall, the Huns were kept out of China. This Great Wall of China is still China. This Great Wall of China is still standing today.standing today.adapted from World Book Encyclopediaadapted from World Book Encyclopedia

This writer uses This writer uses cause and effectcause and effect. .

Think:Think: “What happened?” “What happened?” Answer:Answer: The Chinese built a wall. The Chinese built a wall. This is the This is the effecteffect. .

Think:Think: “Why did they build the wall? “Why did they build the wall? Answer:Answer: To keep the Huns out. To keep the Huns out. This is the This is the causecause. .

The clue words The clue words "because""because" and and "as a result""as a result" help us answer these questions. help us answer these questions.