Writing Note

Cause-Effect Writing

You will be asked to write a cause-effect essay for the writing section of the final exam. The topic will come from Global Issues. You will have one hour to write. This handout is designed to familiarize you with cause-effect writing and provide some cause-effect language to use.

The purpose of a cause-effect essay is to explain the causes and/or effects of a phenomenon. Typically, writers will identify and describe the phenomenon they want to explain, and then they will discuss the causes and/or the effects of the phenomenon. You can think of an outline this way:

Cause Essay

1. The phenomenon

2. Cause 1

3. Cause 2

4. Cause 3

etc.

Effect Essay

1. The phenomenon

2. Effect 1

3. Effect 2

4. Effect 3

etc.

In writing a cause essay, it’s important to

(1) identify each cause,

(2) explain how each cause produces the phenomenon you are explaining 

(3) give specific examples where appropriate.

In writing an effect essay, it’s important to

(1) identify each effect

(2) explain how the phenomenon you are explaining produces each effect

(3) give specific examples where appropriate.

How do you know if you need to write a cause essay or an effect essay? You need to pay attention to the question. A cause essay question will usually use the word why or ask you to discuss causes or the reasons something occurred. These are some cause essay questions:

• Why is the population of the world growing so fast?

• Discuss the reasons for low rates of contraceptive use in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Discuss possible causes of falling death rates throughout much of the world in the 20th century.

An effect essay question will typically use the words effect, impact, result or affect; ask you to discuss consequences or results; or ask you what will or would happen if. For example:

• What have been some of the negative consequences of China’s one-child policy?

• How will China’s recent abandonment of the one-child policy affect the country’s population?

• What would happen if everyone in the world started having one-child families?

• What were the results of China’s adoption of the one-child policy in the late 1970s?

Here are some examples of English cause-effect writing, with typical cause-effect words and phrases. There is also a chapter on cause-effect writing in pages 91-94 and 149-160 of the recommended writing handbook.^[1] In particular, please look at page 92 for some words and phrases to use in writing a cause-effect essay.