Descriptive Essay & Writing: Student Guide
- 8 August 2019
- 2940 words
This article provides a guideline on how to write a cause and effect essay. Basically, such a composition examines specific reasons and results of events since various situations make something happen. In this case, scholars identify and explain defined aspects and their influences. Basic guidelines begin by stating a particular importance of writing as an academic and intellectual activity and give a general definition of this type of text and its format. In writing, cause and effect essays should have a proper introduction with a good thesis statement, detailed and precise body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Moreover, this guide includes explanations and examples of a general outline, a list of possible topics, a template, and a paper itself. In turn, a unique technical approach to organizing such an essay emphasizes four critical steps, such as preparation, stage set-up, writing process, and wrap-up. Finally, students can find some ideas on what to include in their compositions and common mistakes they should avoid. By reading this article, people can grasp essential knowledge on how to write a perfect cause and effect essay and provide high-quality papers at the end.
General Aspects
While writing a cause and effect essay is an essential academic activity for students, it is vital in stimulating people’s intellectual power. Students write different types of essays in their educational journey, with most of them being for assessment. However, such writing loses its fundamental purpose when college students think writing stops with graduation. As in an academic environment, writing a cause and effect essay develops one’s mental prowess. Besides, an actual essence of writing is to make one’s cognitive energy relevant in translating ideas into information that others can consume to become knowledgeable about diverse topics. As such, knowing how to write different types of papers, including outlines, is vital to intellectual development. Therefore, this guide provides essential information about writing a cause and effect essay and includes an example of this type of document.
What Is a Cause and Effect Essay and Its Purpose
According to its definition, a cause and effect essay is a type and form of writing that examines how one event (a cause) leads to another event (an effect). Basically, such academic papers explain a specific relationship between different phenomena and an impact of such a relationship (Priebe, 2020). In this case, a phenomenon suggests ‘causes,’ and an impact constitutes ‘effects.’ Moreover, a basis of this perspective is a particular understanding that nothing happens in a vacuum (Epstein, 2018). In this case, different conditions have consequences, and understanding this link requires people to familiarize themselves with such compositions. Further on, the main purpose of writing a cause and effect essay is to explain why things happen and what results they produce (Babin et al., 2020). As such, one must have a dual perspective on issues: what causes them and their effects. While this view may suggest papers under discussion have two writing parts, students need to conceive them as singular documents with two perspectives, such as cause and effect (Uludag et al., 2021). Finally, people need to grasp essential knowledge about a unique design of such papers, which is significant in emphasizing a simple definition above. In terms of pages and words, the length of a cause and effect essay depends on academic levels, topic complexities, and specific instructions, while general writing guidelines are:
High School
- Length: 1-3 pages
- Word Count: 250-750 words
College
- Length: 2-4 pages
- Word Count: 500-1,000 words
University
- Length: 4-6 pages
- Word Count: 1,000-1,500 words
Master’s
- Length: 5-8 pages
- Word Count: 1,250-2,000 words
Ph.D.
- Length: 6-10+ pages
- Word Count: 1,500-2,500+ words
Format
| Section | Content | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Unique Title | A clear, well-structured, and descriptive title that reflects a main topic for a cause and effect essay. |
| Introduction | Hook | A sentence or question that grabs a reader’s attention. |
| Background Information | Brief overview of a chosen topic, providing necessary context. | |
| Thesis Statement | Clearly states a main cause and effect to be discussed, setting a particular focus for writing an entire essay. | |
| Body Paragraph 1 | Topic Sentence | Introduces a first factor or outcome, depending on a central focus. |
| Explanation/Analysis | Provides an in-depth explanation of a first topic sentence, including relevant details and examples. | |
| Evidence/Support | Incorporates facts, data, quotes, or examples to back up an entire analysis. | |
| Transition Sentence | Smoothly connects this paragraph to a next paragraph. | |
| Body Paragraph 2 | Topic Sentence | Introduces a second factor or outcome, depending on a central focus. |
| Explanation/Analysis | Continues to elaborate on a second topic sentence with a more detailed explanation and relevant information. | |
| Evidence/Support | Provides additional supporting details, including examples and data. | |
| Transition Sentence | Connects this paragraph to a next paragraph. | |
| Body Paragraph 3 | Topic Sentence | Introduces a third factor or outcme, depending on a central focus. |
| Explanation/Analysis | Further analysis of a third topic sentence with detailed examination and reasoning. | |
| Evidence/Support | Offers more evidence, examples, or data to reinforce an entire analysis. | |
| Transition Sentence | Prepares readers for a next paragraph or conclusion by summarizing points made. | |
| Body Paragraphs 4+ | Same Paragraph Structure | Repeat a structure provided above for any other body paragraphs. |
| Conclusion | Restatement of a Thesis | Reaffirms a central thesis statement in light of a whole discussion. |
| Summary of Key Points | Briefly summarizes main causes/effects discussed in paper’s body paragraphs. | |
| Final Thought/Implications | Offers a final thought, reflection, or implication of writing an entire analysis, often suggesting broader impacts. | |
| List of References | List of Sources | Includes a complete list of all sources cited in an essay, formatted according to a required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard, etc.). |
Note: Some sections of a cause and effect essay can be added, deleted, or combined with each other, depending on a particular depth of analysis required to write about. For example, a standard structure of a cause and effect essay typically includes an introduction paragraph with a thesis statement, body paragraphs that explore individual triggers and their corresponding results, and a conclusion paragraph that summarizes key points and reinforces a central claim (Babin et al., 2020). Basically, cause and effect in an essay refers to an entire analysis of how one or more events (causes) lead to specific outcomes (effects), demonstrating a direct relationship between them. In literature, cause and effect is a specific relationship between events where one or more actions or situations (causes) directly lead to certain outcomes or consequences (effects) within a story (Epstein, 2018). Further on, an example of a cause and effect statement is: “Because heavy rains flooded all the streets, a whole city experienced severe traffic delays.” Besides, an argumentative essay focuses on persuading a reader of a particular viewpoint using evidence and reasoning, while a cause-effect essay examines a specific relationship between events, explaining how and why one situation leads to another (Priebe, 2020). As a result, to start a cause and effect essay, people begin with a compelling hook that introduces a unique topic, followed by background information, and end an introduction paragraph with a clear and well-formulated thesis statement that outlines a main trigger and its consequences.
Outline
Topic: Unique Title
I. Introduction
- Information contextualizing a past or hook.
- Relevant information about a present.
- Thesis statement that includes causes and effects of a topic under discussion.
II. Body
A. Causes (1 or more paragraphs)
- First factor
- Second factor
- Third factor
B. Effects (1 or more paragraphs)
- First outcome
- Second outcome
- Third outcome
III. Conclusion
- Restating a thesis.
- Concluding remarks as a summary of both sides, including causes and effects.
- Interpretation of the information for present or future relevance.
List of References (Optional)
- Cite all the sources used for writing a paper and follow APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard, or other citation rules.
Structure
Cause and effect essays have four main parts writers should capture in their work. Each section of essay structure is significant, although all of them do not demand the same level of focus by writers. For example, introduction and conclusion parts are small in writing, while a body section should be long because it comprises causes and effects parts (Priebe, 2020). Another difference between body and other sections is that it is a place where writers utilize credible sources to support their assertions in a thesis statement. As such, it is standard to have statistics, images, and other data relevant to a chosen subject under discussion (Epstein, 2018). Nonetheless, writers must ensure the information in all sections of a cause and effect essay has a logical flow where a first part gives a sense of direction. In turn, a second part explains a particular link between initial factors and their consequences, and a last one interprets an actual relevance of this relationship.
🌅 Introduction
A cause and effect introduction is where authors give readers a reason to read such essays. A first writing agenda of authors is to capture their audience’s attention by using a fact, quote, or statement that arouses an intellectual hunger (Babin et al., 2020). A second aspect is to provide information that establishes an interesting phenomenon, being a specific connection between initial factors and outcomes. This writing approach challenges readers by introducing details that prick their imagination (Kuo et al., 2019). Besides, readers need to desire to know more about a unique phenomenon with its triggers and results. A last feature is to give readers a reason for reading cause and effect papers by making an assertion in a final statement. Simply put, an initial writing part of an outstanding essay focuses on grabbing readers’ intellectual curiosity and convincing them to continue reading to receive critical insights. In turn, some examples of sentence starters for beginning a cause and effect essay are:
- In order to fully grasp a real significance of [event/phenomenon], it is crucial to explore underlying causes that led to its occurrence and particular subsequent consequences that have emerged as a result.
- A complex relationship between [cause] and [effect] can be better understood by analyzing and examining various factors that contributed to [event], as well as far-reaching consequences that followed.
- To comprehend a specific impact of [event] on [situation], it is essential to recognize key reasons that triggered it and analyze how they set off corresponding reactions.
- By investigating primary causes of [issue] and possible ways in which they interact, people can gain insight into significant results that have shaped [outcome] over time.
- Unique origins of [problem] can be traced back to several critical factors, each of which played a role in producing corresponding outcomes that people now observe in [context].
- An examination of [event/phenomenon] reveals a series of interconnected causes, each contributing to different consequences that have had a profound impact on [topic].
- Understanding root factors of [issue] is fundamental to explaining how they have led to a particular development of [consequence], and why this outcome has persisted.
- A particular interplay between [cause] and [effect] becomes evident when people consider a specific sequence of events that began with [event] and resulted in [outcome], highlighting an actual significance of each contributing factor.
- Exploring specific causes behind [event] allows people to study a complex nature of outcomes that have emerged, providing a clearer picture of how [situation] has evolved over time.
- To fully appreciate a direct impact of [event/phenomenon], people must first examine known causes that set it in motion and corresponding series of reactions that have shaped [outcome] in both expected and unexpected ways.
💡 Body
Writing a particular body comprises two key parts of causes and effects. A first section is where authors inform an intended audience about specific phenomena or conditions, such as homelessness, mental health disorders, or lifestyle diseases (Priebe, 2020). In good cause and effect essays, writers need to bring to readers’ attention conditions that historically and presently manifest in society. Such conditions may be positive or negative, and they may concern humans or not by considering their results (Sturmberg & Marcum, 2023). Hence, when writing about causes, people focus on creating awareness of a condition or problem. In a second part, authors tell readers about specific impact(s) of such conditions they have described in the preceding section, meaning corresponding consequences. Besides, they need to focus on explaining possible implications of a chosen phenomenon, problem, or issue they have highlighted in a previous section. When readers finish reading a body of an essay, they should be knowledgeable about a direct connection between original factors and their outcomes.
🏁 Conclusion
A cause and effect conclusion is a final section of writing this type of paper. A first agenda of authors is to remind readers about an essay’s goal by restating a central thesis. A second aspect is to make a remark about origins and outcomes that helps readers to better understand their connection (Babin et al., 2020). A last feature is to make a cause and effect paper relevant by interpreting the information for current and future consumption. This concluding remark allows readers to view a particular topic as vital to present and future generations since they will face effects of problems they observe (Priebe, 2020). Therefore, when writing this final part of a cause and effect essay, college students should view themselves as an expert on a unique theme, and their task is to give readers a compelling reason to continue engaging with a subject. Although the information in this part is not supported by evidence, it validates an entire essay for future use due to its consequences.
Topics
Because nothing exists in a vacuum, students can write countless cause and effect essays by connecting specific conditions with inevitable consequences. When choosing cause and effect essay topics to write about, people may examine political, economic, social, cultural, technological, environmental, and legal factors and realities and how they affect society, including populations and institutions. In turn, examples of possible topics students should consider for writing their papers include:
- Causes and Effects of Climate Change on Global Food Production
- Influences of Social Media on Teen Mental Health
- Effects of Urbanization on Local Ecosystems
- Social Media Effects on College Students
- Climate Change and Food Security
- The Nexus Between Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders
- Fast Foods Effects on Populations
- Alcoholism Consequences for Society
- The Impact of Poverty on Self-Esteem
- The Importance of Education to Economic and Social Mobility
- The Relationship Between Marital Divorce and Youth Delinquency
- How Do Social Networks Influence Social Capital, and What Are Their Effects?
- The Nexus Between Gun Rights and Gun Violence
Template
Topic: Fast Foods Effects on Populations’ Health
Introduction
- A statement that grabs attention or hook: Fast food restaurants are prominent in big cities across the world because of a particular convenience they offer consumers.
- Background: People have embraced fast foods without considering their adverse impacts.
- Thesis statement: Fast foods impact populations through ill health and declined economic power.
Body
Causes
- Start a first body paragraph with a topic sentence: Several factors underpin a growing popularity of fast foods and a prominent feature of restaurants stocking these foods across U.S. cities.
- First factor: Lifestyle change.
- Second factor: Time management.
- Third factor: Population increase of affluent young people.
- Transition: Connect a first paragraph to a next one.
Effects
- Opening sentence with an idea to guide the rest of a second paragraph: People consume fast foods without caring about their adverse consequences.
- First outcome: Poor health, including obesity, that leads to diabetes and heart disease
- Second outcome: Family dysfunction.
- Third outcome: Declined personal economic power.
- Transition: Connection to a conclusion.
Conclusion
- Reword a thesis statement.
- Reemphasize a specific connection between fast foods and ill health and declined personal economic power.
- Comment on a topic’s present and future relevance.
List of References (Optional)
- Provide citation entries for all sources and reference them according to APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard, or other formats.
Cause and Effect Essay Example
Topic: Fast Foods Effects on Populations
Introduction
Fast food restaurants are a prominent feature in most big cities worldwide because of their convenience. However, there are concerns about adverse consequences of fast foods on people, including hamburgers, pizza, and fried chicken. In the United States, family meals are a tradition in most communities and have played a critical role in maintaining a healthy population. Yet, many individuals, particularly the youth, have embraced fast foods without considering their adverse impacts on health. Generally, fast foods impact populations through ill health and declined economic power.
Body
Causes: Lifestyle, Time Management, & Population Growing
Several factors underpin a growing popularity of fast foods and a prominent feature of restaurants stocking these foods across U.S. cities. For example, one factor is a lifestyle change, where long working hours, shifts, and other disruptions to everyday life have forced people to eat outside their homes (Dubois et al., 2022). Family meals take time to prepare because one must shop for groceries and create time to prepare different meals. Traditionally, females undertake this time-consuming role founded on a patriarchal societal architecture (Hennecke, 2023). Since women have joined a working class as professionals, they barely get the time to prepare family meals. Another factor is a particular surge in a population of young, affluent individuals ready to spend as long as a market guarantees convenience (Dubois et al., 2022). As a result, a fast-food industry knows this aspect, and these restaurants are common in gas stations and busy streets.
Effects: Poor Health, Family Dysfunction, & Low Economic Power
While society has embraced fast foods due to the factors above, evidence indicates their adverse consequences for populations’ health. Basically, a health community has documented a direct relationship between fast foods and obesity (Dolton & Tafesse, 2022). However, communications about adverse consequences of consuming fast foods, including diabetes and heart disease, often use images of obese youth individuals. Another outcome of these delicacies is a waning tradition of families eating together, which has been fundamental to family harmony and cohesion (Hennecke, 2023). Therefore, one may argue that fast food has contributed to family dysfunction in most homes because people rarely come together to share experiences, including personal problems. Another result is economic, where spending on fast foods is more expensive than cooking at home (Dolton & Tafesse, 2022). While some individuals enjoy a particular convenience of eating hamburgers being on the road, they knowingly or unknowingly deny themselves money to spend on other needs.
Conclusion
While convenience may explain why most people are willing to consume fast foods, they must understand that these foods have an adverse impact on health and personal finances. Lifestyle change, time management, and a growing population of affluent youths have contributed to an increased consumption of these foods. Based on a direct connection between fast foods, ill health, and declined personal economic power, families, health professionals, educators, and other stakeholders need to sensitize populations to corresponding dangers of this trend. Besides calling for strict regulations of fast-food restaurants, stakeholders must educate citizens about health, economic, and social benefits of eating home-cooked meals.
List of References
Dolton, P. J., & Tafesse, W. (2022). Childhood obesity, is fast food exposure a factor? Economics & Human Biology, 46, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2022.101153
Dubois, L., Bédard, B., Goulet, D., Prud’homme, D., Tremblay, R. E., & Boivin, M. (2022). Eating behaviors, dietary patterns and weight status in emerging adulthood and longitudinal associations with eating behaviors in early childhood. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 19(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-022-01376-z
Hennecke, J. (2023). The independent woman — Locus of control and female labor force participation. Review of Economics of the Household, 22(1), 329–357. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11150-023-09650-0
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Steps How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay
A particular writing process is mentally taxing because college students must observe certain norms to produce high-quality papers. In this case, they must observe certain conventions when writing such essays, including adequate preparation, stage set-up, draft writing, and final draft fine-tuning. For example, to write a cause and effect essay, people systematically analyze potential triggers leading to a specific event or situation and their resulting consequences, supporting an entire analysis with evidence, clear explanations, and logical connections throughout a paper (Babin et al., 2020). Simply put, writing this type of document is technical, and one must attend to applicable rules to produce quality essays, being original in thought. However, where students use evidence from various reliable sources to support a claim, they must cite it properly (Priebe, 2020). Another rule is to format and cite sources according to a specific writing style that students are using: APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, or Harvard, among others. It is advisable for learners to confirm a specific style from an initial step when starting essays. To follow these rules religiously, college students must write their cause and effect essay step by step, as described below:
Step 1: Preparation
In this initial step, college students take time to develop an environment favorable to writing a cause and effect essay. Firstly, they should define a good topic to develop a mental focus devoid of unnecessary deviations or irrelevant engagements (Priebe, 2020). A second activity is preparing ideas they intend to incorporate in their work to produce an academic, scholarly essay. When thinking about ideas, authors should use their academic training to brainstorm, expanding their view beyond what is observable (Kuo et al., 2019). A next exercise is to consider their audiences since people are likely to read their essays for knowledge acquisition or out of intellectual curiosity. Notably, a particular thought that should guide college students at this stage of writing is a specific purpose of making an essay (Priebe, 2020). Understanding a particular purpose of causes and effects begins with choosing a valid theme with historical, present, and future relevances.
Step 2: Stage Set-Up
In a second step, people are ready to start writing cause and effect essays by identifying sources with relevant, credible information in physical or online libraries, online databases, and the Internet. For example, to write a main idea of a cause and effect essay, people craft a concise thesis statement that clearly identifies a primary triger and its significant outcomes, setting a central focus for an entire analysis (Priebe, 2020). This information must align with a thesis statement because college students will use it to support or defend any claims they have made. Furthermore, learners should proceed to make notes, focusing on the information they want to present in the two sections of an entire essay. A next agenda is to create a clear cause and effect essay outline as suggested above and an annotated bibliography to link every idea with its original source (Babin et al., 2020). In completing this writing step, a person’s mind should be on how to produce a high-quality cause and effect essay without plagiarism. As such, researching a chosen topic of peer-reviewed documents is essential to make essays academically valid for the audience, including college students, scholars, and researchers.
Step 3: Writing Process
In a third step, students begin writing a cause and effect essay, focusing on producing a first draft. This initial document allows authors to incorporate all ideas without being concerned with an overall quality of an essay from a grammatical or formatting perspective. For example, to structure a cause and effect essay, people start with an introductory paragraph that presents a main causality and consequence, followed by body paragraphs that detail each trigger and its outcomes, and conclude by summarizing their relationships and reinforcing a central claim (Babin et al., 2020). After completing a first draft, they should read a whole paper to identify mistakes, including wrong grammatical errors, like spelling and missing punctuation. Simply put, they should ensure there are no formatting or other writing mistakes, while a logical flow of thought is perfect. Critical confirmations include connecting a proper outline with a strong thesis (Priebe, 2020). As such, an entire paper should have an exciting introduction with a background of a chosen topic and a body having two sections on origins and outcomes. Finally, a conclusion part of an essay should restate a central thesis, emphasizing a direct connection between ideas in a causes section with those in an effects part, and comment on present and future relevances of a theme under discussion.
Step 4: Wrap Up
In a fourth step, authors finalize their drafts and read papers several times to ensure cause and effect essays are perfect in writing. When mistakes are found, they should correct them by making necessary edits: deleting or adding information (Priebe, 2020). A main goal is to ensure a complete essay is flawless, meaning there are no grammatical or formatting errors or inconsistencies in ideas and arguments. A next activity is to ensure each paragraph meets a minimum threshold of quality: a topic sentence, a concluding sentence, and a transition (Babin et al., 2020). After ensuring all the information writers have picked from peer-reviewed documents is properly cited, they should proofread their cause and effect essays before presenting them to readers. Essentially, reading a whole paper twice aims to perfect its content because people are relaxed and intellectually alert. In turn, college students should approach an entire work as an academic writing activity that requires utmost dedication and focus.
What to Include
| Elements | Description |
|---|---|
| Specific Causes | Detailed explanations of main reasons or factors leading to a specific event or situation. |
| Multiple Effects | Explorations of various outcomes or consequences that result from their origins, showing both direct and indirect outcomes. |
| Examples | Real-life examples, credible case studies, or scenarios that illustrate specific triggers and consequences being discussed in writing. |
| Statistics and Data | Relevant data, such as percentages, figures, or trends, that support a particular cause and effect relationship. |
| Historical Context | Background information on how a specific situation developed over time, providing a deeper understanding of its origins. |
| Expert Opinions | Quotes or insights from experts in a field that add credibility to an analysis of triggers and results to write about. |
| Personal Experiences | Personal stories that relate to a cause and effect relationship, making an essay more relatable. |
| Counterarguments | Discussions of alternative origins or results that others might propose, along with a rebuttal. |
| Logical Connections | Clear explanations of how one trigger leads to a specific outcome, using logical reasoning. |
| Visual Aids | Charts, graphs, or diagrams that visually represent a cause-effect relationship, helping to clarify complex information. |
| Comparative Analysis | Comparisons between similar events or situations to highlight differences and similarities in origins and results and write about. |
| Predictions | Speculations on potential future consequences if some initial factors continue or escalate, providing a forward-looking perspective. |
| Social, Economic, or Cultural Impacts | Explorations of how some triggers and their consequences influence different aspects of society, economics, or culture. |
| Ethical Considerations | Discussions of any moral or ethical implications related to defined origins and results. |
| Possible Solutions | Suggestions for addressing potential initial factors to mitigate their negative consequences, offering a practical aspect to an essay. |
Common Mistakes
- Confusing Correlation With Causation: Assuming that, because two events occur together, one must have caused the other, when they may just be correlated.
- Lack of a Thesis Statement: Failing to clearly state a main cause and effect relationship, leading to a lack of focus in an entire essay and its writing.
- Ignoring Multiple Causes or Effects: Oversimplifying a whole analysis by only considering one trigger or one outcome, when there may be multiple contributing factors.
- Insufficient Evidence: Providing claims about origins and consequences without adequate evidence or examples to support them for writing.
- Failing to Explain a Connection: Not clearly explaining how a specific factor leads to a particular outcome, leaving readers confused.
- Weak Organization: Presenting initial factors and their results in a disorganized manner, making it difficult for readers to follow a logical flow while writing.
- Overuse of Generalizations: Using vague or broad statements without specificity, which weakens an argument and analysis.
- Neglecting Counterarguments: Ignoring alternative explanations or other possible origins, which can make an essay seem one-sided or incomplete.
- Repetitive or Redundant Content: Repeating same points without adding new insights, which can make an essay sound repetitive and unengaging.
- Incorrect Use of Transitions: Failing to use proper transition words or phrases to connect causes and effects, leading to writing a choppy or disjointed essay.
Summing Up
An outstanding cause and effect essay focuses on specific reasons and consequences of an event or object. Basically, a standard organization of such essays communicates a writer’s focus on readers effectively. In this case, one should start with writing a relevant introduction that contains a strong thesis statement. An opening section provides a basic background and states a central claim. Then, body paragraphs should be clear and consistent, while every part should support a main thesis. Besides, this section should dwell on a single initial factor or result accompanied by relevant evidence and explanations. Finally, a last section should be a good conclusion that restates main points. As such the information above suggests writing cause and effect essays is technical, and students need tips on how to produce quality work, which include:
- Choose a unique topic that indicates a direct relationship between a specific condition and its consequences.
- Research a chosen theme in peer-reviewed documents while making notes of important ideas.
- Create an outline of a four-paragraph essay: introduction, causes, effects, and conclusion.
- Ensure each part of an essay captures all essential details: an introduction paragraph has a thesis; body paragraphs have a topic sentence, evidence, and transition; and a conclusion paragraph restates a central claim and offers final remarks.
- Write a first draft, encompassing ideas that emphasize a direct connection between a specific phenomenon and its consequences.
- Create a final draft of a cause and effect essay with no mistakes and with a logical flow of thought.
- Proofread a final draft to eliminate any grammatical, writing, or formatting errors.
References
Babin, M., Burnell, C., Pesznecker, S. M., Rosevear, N., & Wood, J. R. (2020). The word on college reading and writing. Open Oregon Educational Resources.
Epstein, R. L. (2018). Cause and effect, conditionals, explanations. Advanced Reasoning Forum.
Kuo, M., Barnes, M., & Jordan, C. (2019). Do experiences with nature promote learning? Converging evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00305
Priebe, S. A. (2020). Writing unleashed: The content & structure of an argument. Independently Published.
Sturmberg, J. P., & Marcum, J. A. (2023). From cause and effect to causes and effects. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 30(2), 296–308. https://doi.org/10.1111/jep.13814
Uludag, P., Crawford, W. J., & McDonough, K. (2021). English for academic purposes writers’ use of reporting verbs in argumentative and cause-and-effect essay exams. BC TEAL Journal, 6(1), 42–58. https://doi.org/10.14288/bctj.v6i1.388
