Cause and Effect

Writing About Cause and Effect

• What is a CAUSE?
– It is what makes something happen
• (Example: The floor was wet...)
• What is an EFFECT?
– It is what happens
• (Example: so, I slipped and fell.)

03/01/21 MAPTAP 2004 2

 Writing Tips
• Look for words such as… • Use cause and effect
– Since in paragraphs to
– So explain how things
– Because work
– Therefore
OR
– Due to the fact
…to join cause and effect • how something
sentences. happens.

03/01/21 MAPTAP 2004 3

 Two things have to happen in a
cause and effect sentence!
• A CAUSE is what makes something happen.
• An EFFECT is what happens as a result of the
cause.
• Look at the pictures below.
• What is the cause?________________
The needle
• What will be the effect?_______________
The balloon will pop

03/01/21 MAPTAP 2004 4

 Look at the pictures below.
Match the CAUSE with the EFFECT
• Cause • Effect

GREAT JOB!!
03/01/21 MAPTAP 2004 5
 Remember these tips…
• The CAUSE happens FIRST
– Ask yourself, what had to happen first?
• The EFFECT happens SECOND
– Ask yourself, what happened last?
• Also: C before E (In the alphabet)
– Cause before Effect!
• Look for clue words
– Because, since, so, on account of, due to the fact

03/01/21 MAPTAP 2004 6

 Certain words join cause and
effect sentences.
I bought Dan a present BECAUSE it was

his birthday. It was Dan’s birthday

- What is the cause? ________________
I bought him a present
- What is the effect? ________________
- What is Because
the word that join the cause and
effect? _______
03/01/21 MAPTAP 2004 7
 What other words help to join
cause and effect sentences?
• The ice cream was melting AS A RESULT
OF the hot weather.
– What is the cause?________________
The hot weather
– What is the effect?________________
The ice cream melted
As a result of
– What is the joining clue word?___________

03/01/21 MAPTAP 2004 8

 Which words join the cause and
effect parts of a sentence?
• I told Ellen to come home because it was time for
dinner. _________
because
• The school was closed yesterday on account of
the snowy weather. ___________
on account of
• Sara could not go to the party due to the fact that
she was sick. due to the fact
____________
• I saved ten dollars as the result of putting one
as the result of
dollar in my bank every week.____________

03/01/21 MAPTAP 2004 9

 On a piece of paper, Write a cause and
effect ending for each sentence below.
• USE THE WORDS THAT JOIN THEM
• Because, since, on account of, due to the fact

1. I had to wear boots to school _________

________________________________
2. I like you _________________________
3. Alan had to stay after school _________
________________________________
4. We are having a party_______________
03/01/21 MAPTAP 2004 10