How to Write Cause and Effect Essays

A cause and effect essay explains the relationship between the two.

The purpose of cause and effect essays is to explain why certain things happen or predict that certain things will lead to a certain effects or consequence. The most important aspect of this type of essay is to explain the relationship between the two.

Instructions

Preparation

1. Decide on a topic or subject. There must be a clear link between the causes and effects you choose to discuss.

2. Make a list of causes and all possible effects related to your chosen topic to help you narrow your topic.

3. Decide if your purpose is to inform, entertain, argue or speculate.

4. Consider your audience and how much they know about the subject.

5. Distinguish the types of causes and effects you have. There are primary causes and effects (the most important ones) and contributory causes and effects (less important ones). There also are immediate causes and effects (directly producing the cause or effect) and remote causes and effects, which are less obvious.

6. Analyze each cause and effect and the relationship each has to the other to give you a clear understanding of how things should fit together.

Write the Essay

1. Begin with a clear, concise thesis statement that introduces the subject and clearly states what you are trying to say about the causes and effects.

2. Provide a brief description of the causes and effects you are writing about in the introduction. Also, provide your thesis statement in the introduction.

3. Decide how to organize the essay. If time is more important, choose chronological order. For level of importance, choose emphatic order.

4. Use clear transitional words and phrases so readers can follow the organizational plan you’ve chosen.

5. Explain the relationship between the causes and effects throughout your essay.

6. Write a conclusion that sums up the ideas presented in the essay. Do not bring up new ideas in the conclusion. Consider what you want your audience to get out of the essay.

Tips & Warnings

• Use words like “probably” and “most likely” when writing about causes and effects.

• For more information about cause and effect essays, consult Cheryl Glenn’s book "Making Sense: A Real-World Rhetorical Reader."

• Don’t confuse cause and effect with chronology. Just because one event happened first doesn’t mean that it is the primary cause of the main effect.