The Cause and Effect essay is one of the most common academic writing assignments. In most cases, you will be expected to focus on either the causes or the effects of a certain action, decision, etc, but not on both. Before you write the essay, it is important to consider the following:
- Purpose: To analyze the causes and/or effects of a given topic by answering a question such as "why does this happen?", "why do peple do this?" or "what are the consequences of this decision, action, change, etc?"
- Audience: An academic audience of critical readers who will quickly recognize weak connections and shallow reasoning.
- Goals:
- to provide clear analysis and explanation of causal relationships.
- to display critical thinking by going beyond easy and obvious points.
Cause and Effect Essay Structure
Introduction
- Hook
- Begin your introductory paragraph with an engaging sentence to get the reader’s attention and introduce your topic in an interesting way.
- Background
- Present general information describing or explaining the event/situation of which you are examining the cause/effects. Is it positive or negative?
- Thesis Statement
- The final sentence of the introductory paragraph contains the main idea of your essay. It should be a clear sentence containing three causes for, or effects of, your topic. Be sure your points are presented in a parallel sentence.
Body
- The body paragraphs support and develop the thesis statement by examining the causes/effects in specific detail.
- The body should consist of two to three paragraphs, depending your assignment. Each paragraph should dedicated to the examination of one of the points from your thesis statement.
Conclusion
- Restate the thesis and summarize the three points of the essay.
- End with a strong statement that will leave an impression on the reader, possibly a prediction or warning.