Patterns for College Writing Chapter 10
What is cause and effect
cause and effect is a process that describes how something happens and analyzes why something happens
cause-and-effect essays examine causes, describe effects or both
it is like narration
it link situations and events together in time
with causes preceding effects
it involves sequence
sometimes multiple causes can create one effect
sometimes one cause has multiple effects
Using Cause and Effect
the real world is not nicely organized
most complex situations involve numerous causes and many different effects
Understanding Main and Contributory Causes
Even when several causes are identified one main cause is always more important than the others, the contributory causes
understanding between main and contributory causes is vital for planning a cause-and-effect essay
the main cause is not always the most obvious one
Understanding Immediate and Remote Causes
an immediate cause closely precedes an effect and is easy to recognize
a remote cause is less obvious, probably because it occurred in the past or far away.
it is dangerous to assume that the most obvious cause is the most important
remote causes can be just as important as immediate ones
Understanding Casual Chains
sometimes an effect can also be a cause
this is true in a casual chain
in casual chains, the result of one action is the cause of another
Avoiding Post Hoc reasoning
don't assume that because A precedes B that B was caused by A
post hoc reasoning equates a chronological sequence with causality.
it is unfair and illogical to assume that a casual relationship exists unless clear, and strong evidence supports that connection
Planning a Cause-and-Effect Essay
options
discuss causes
discuss effects
discuss both causes and effects
developing a thesis statement
be sure to identify the relationships among the specific discussed causes
this thesis should tell your readers
the issues you plan to consider
the position you will take
whether your emphasis will be on causes, effects, or both
Arranging Causes and Effects
there are options
chronological order
introduce the main cause first then the contributory causes or the opposite
positive or negative consequences can be discussed
begin by dismissing any events that were not causes and explain the real causes
begin with most obvious causes or effects and move on to more subtle ones
Using transitions
cause-and effect essays rely on transition
transitions help move readers from one cause to the next
they help to distinguish between main or contributory causes and immediate and remote causes
they help to distinguish a casual chain by sorting out sequence
they also help identify casual relationships