CAUSE AND EFFECTS

A cause and effect essay discusses the causes (or reasons) for, the effects (or results) of something, or
both causes and effects.

The common types of questions:

Organization for cause/effect essay

You can organize the cause and effect essay in two ways: block organization or chain organization.

 In BLOCK ORGANIZATION, you first discuss all the causes as a block (in one, two or more
paragraphs) Then you discuss all the effects together as a block. You can discuss either causes
or effects first.

 In CHAIN PATTERN, causes and effects are linked to each other as a chain. One event causes a
second event, which in turn causes a third event, which in turn causes a fourth event etc.

MODEL BLOCK ORGANIZATION

INTRODUCTION

(at the end of the introduction)

(Transition paragraph)
 (final comments)

Writing technique questions

1. Is the topic of this essay primarily the causes or the effects of shyness?
2. Which paragraph(s) discusses the cause(s)?
3. Which paragraph(s) discusses the effect(s)?
4. What two subtopics are named in the thesis statement?
5. Which paragraph(s) discusses the first subtopic?
6. Which paragraph(s) discusses the second subtopic?
7. What is the function of paragraph 3?
8. Which pattern (A, B, C, D) does the model follow?

PRACTICE 1 INTRODUCTION

Thesis statement
CONCLUSION

CHAIN ORGANIZATION

MODEL CHAIN ORGANIZATIION

 (solution)

Writing technique questions

1. Which paragraph contains the chain of causes and effects?

2. What is the effects of decreased sunlight in winter?

3. What other change results from the decrease in the amount of sunlight?

4. What is the final result?

PRACTICE 2

Fill-in the summary (flowchart

The type of cause/effect organization you choose depends on your topic.

 A chain pattern is usually easier if the causes and effects are very closely interrelated. You may use a
chain pattern to write about the causes of a particular disease or a phenomenon in nature

PRACTICE 3 Recognizing cause signals

PRACTICE 4 Recognizing effect signal words

PRACTICE 5
Task 2: (70 points)

Write a complete essay of about 350 words on ONE of the following topics:

1.What factors can lead to success in college?

2.What positive effects does good parenting have on a child’s development?
This is the end of the test.