CAUSE and EFFECT essay

Lecturer: Tran Trang, MA in TESOL

WHAT
A cause essay
!! To explain the reasons e.g. Causes of air pollution (multiple factors leading to air pollution).

An effect essay
!! To explain the results e.g. Effects of watching too much TV (many effects of a situation)

HOW
Multiple causes ! effect
I. thesis statement: Air pollution is caused by the following factors: exhaust gases from cars, uncontrolled factory releases, and burning of low-quality coal for heating. II. exhaust gases from cars !!! A. government does not have enough control !!! B. citizens are not conscientious III. uncontrolled factory gases !!! A. no regular checks on gases released !!! B. factories are inside the borders of residential areas IV. burning of low-quality coal for heating !!! A. no governmental control !!! B. other forms of energy too expensive V. Conclusion

Cause!Multiple effects
I. thesis statement: Watching too much TV is one of the major sociological issues of this century, which has many effects on the physiology and psychology of people. II. eating disorders !!! A. TV meals !!! B. obesity III. communication problems !!! A. more violence !!! B. no interpersonal talk IV. Conclusion

CAUSE and EFFECT essay

What Makes A Good Cause & Effect

!! Examine all the causes

!! Support all the causes with good examples

!! Save your most important cause for last (interests and strong conclusion)

!! Dont make judgments (simply examine)

Cause-Effect development: Structural signals

!! Group 1: Sentence connectors !! Group 2: Conjunctions !! Group 3: Clause structures !! Group 4: Phrase structures !! Group 5: Predicate structures

Sentence connectors
!! words and phrases used to join two complete grammatical sentences !! A semicolon and a comma used

In some areas, water levels will fall;

as a results, consequently, because thus, hence,

these areas will no longer be able to support industry

(CAUSE)

(EFFECT)

Conjunctions
!! Conjunctions are always preceded by commas.
In some areas, water levels will fall, (CAUSE) so these areas will no longer be able to support industry (EFFECT)

Some areas will no longer be able to support industry, (EFFECT)

for

water levels will have fallen in these areas (CAUSE)

Clause structures
be so great that The rise in happens so fast that temperature will cause such terrible damage that cause such a severe heat wave that (CAUSE) agricultural patterns will change.

(EFFECT)

Since Because rainfall patterns will change, Because of the fact that water supplies will diminish. Due to the fact that (CAUSE-EFFECT)

Phrase structure
As a result of Because of Due to In view of the increased heat, agricultural patterns will change.

(CAUSE-EFFECT)

Predicate Structures
cause result in be the reason for be responsible for contribute to lead to

Changes in water levels will

changes in living patterns

(CAUSE) result from be a result of be a consequent of be due to follow from

(EFFECT)

Changes in living patterns will (EFFECT)

changes in water levels. (CAUSE)