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Cause and Effect Writing

English 1

Prof. Federle

Cause and Effect analyzes why something happens.

Some effects are caused by multiple causes.

Some causes, in turn, can result in multiple effects.

Main cause: the most important causeContributory Causes: less importantImmediate Cause: closely precedes the

effect.Remote cause: less obvious because it

involves something in the past or far away.Causal Chain: an effect can be the cause

to another effect, on so on.

Avoiding Post Hoc Reasoning:Do not assume that just because even A

precedes event B, event A caused even B. This illogical assumption is called post hoc reasoning. This error leads you to confuse coincidence with causality.

Do not confuse words like because, therefore and consequently (indicating a causal relationship), with words like subsequently, later, and afterward (chronological relationship words)

Exercise: Global Warming

1) Listen to the following report, originally presented on NPR’s news program, “Morning Edition” on February 17, 2006.

2) as you listen, answer the questions as they appear on the screen.

3) Afterwards, we will brainstorm the possible chain of cause and effect contributing to this issue.

NOTE TAKING WORKSHEETStudy: Greenland Ice Sheet Melting Faster Than Thought February 17, 2006 from National Public Radio’s

Morning Edition

1. Why are researchers interested in Greenland’s icecap?

2. What are two opposing processes mentioned by Rignot that might either cause the icecap to melt, or to replenish it? What is actually happening?

3. According to Harris, how fast is Greenland now losing ice? What is the effect?

4. According to Rignot, what was the previous time scale for the loss of ice from Greenland? What is it now?

NOTE TAKING WORKSHEETStudy: Greenland Ice Sheet Melting Faster Than Thought

February 17, 2006 from National Public Radio’s Morning Edition

5. According to Konrad Steffan, what process is causing the acceleration of the loss of Greenland ice? Describe it. How fast is the glacier moving now?

6. According to Steffan, what are the effects of this rapid melting? What problems might these effects, in turn, cause?

7. According to Steffan, are these processes fully understood? Does he feel that the data is certain?

Main cause: the most important cause

Contributory Causes: less important

Immediate Cause: closely precedes the effect.

Remote cause: less obvious because it involves something in the past or far away.

Causal Chain: an effect can be the cause to another effect, on so on.

Planning a Cause and Effect Essay


Purpose and Thesis: Be sure to identify the relationships among the specific

causes and effect you will discuss. Thesis statement should tell the reader

The points you plan to consider The position you will take Whether you will emphasize causes, effects, or both. The cause and/or effect you consider most

important. The order in which you will treat your points.


Order and sequence; several possibilities include: Chronological Main cause first, and then contributory causes Contributory causes first, and then main cause. Negative effects first, then positive First dismiss events that are not causes, and

then discuss actual causes for an effect. Most obvious causes first, and then less

obvious causes.


Transitions!

Transitions are essential to this type of essay to distinguish causes from effects.

For a useful list of cause and effect transitions, see page 43.

Structuring a Cause and Effect Essay

Finding Causes Less important cause > effect> most important cause

Describing or Predicting Effects Cause > first effect> second effect > third (most

important) effect> conclusion (with possible prediction of additional effects).

Revising a Cause and Effect Essay

See checklist on page 312

Editing a Cause and Effect Essay

•Avoid redundant phrases like “the reason is because” examples p 313

•Use Affect and Effect correctly. Examples p 313

•Editing checklist on page 314