1. Cause and Effect Essay This Essay explores the relationship between events that occur and the outcome.

2. There are several ways to develop a Cause and Effect Essay: You can show several causes that will lead up to one or more effects (results) You can show an equal amount of causes and effects. (I mention these because they may come up in other courses for other Essays)

3. We will use the One Cause/ Three Effects Method for this Essay

4. C/E Components This Essay will be written in Formal Tone The Length will be 3-4 pages. There will be 7 or more paragraphs You must include the Background statement as well as at least one expansion paragraph.(2 new paragraphs) MLA style for secondary or library sources.

5. One Cause/Three Effects Remember, the relationship between your cause and the effects means that you are looking at the after effects or the results of some act that has occurred. Be sure that you do not confuse the order of events or the Essay will not follow the proper logical train of thought for the Essay.

6. An Example: Let’s say your Topic or Cause is WAR: Consider what happens as a result of war or after war: From a Brainstorming List I might include: 1.Physical Destruction 2. Demoralized citizens 3. Economic Strife

7. The Seven paragraph Essay The new aspects of the Essay: – You will be adding at least two new paragraphs to the basic 5 paragraph Essay format –The first is called the Background statement paragraph and it should follow the Introduction

8. Background Statement This paragraph discusses the background of a topic. It might include: –H–Historical background –D–Discuss what makes it a controversial topic –I–It might offer definitions and discuss important people to the topic. –I–It might also illustrate any other groundwork necessary for helping your reader further understand your topic.

9. Background Statement Continued Choose the element that might best serve your Essay. An example: –In the movie “The Kingdom” with Jamie Fox and Jennifer Garner, the movie starts with a historical account of the Middle East in approximately 1934. It discussed the new oil relationship with Saudi Arabia and the United States. It continues to discuss the main groups, people involved such as Osama Bin Laden, companies (Aramco), and oil interests up to the present. This is an example of a Background statement. It fills in all of the gaps for the viewer.

10. Background Statement Student Sample This war in Columbia against the Guerrillas was started in 1964 after a couple of political wars occurred in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Many people say that it started when political leader, Jorge Gaitan was killed in the 1960’s. At this time, there was a big struggle with the two main political groups. Jorge Gaitan was for poor people getting more help, and wanted the rich people to pay more taxes. At the time he was assassinated, Jorge Gaitan was running for the presidency. It was highly likely that he would have won the election. The Guerrillas were formed when a couple of civil rights leaders said they were fighting for the poor people of Colombia, their rights, and against a politically corrupt Colombian government that only cared about the rich.

11. Background Statement Student Sample Continued Even though their main purpose began to help the poor, Guerrillas now run the poor out of their regions and kill them if they do not support their cause. Now to support all their troops, they kidnap people for ransom, aid in the distribution of illegal narcotics, and kill innocent people. As a result, the war has an effect on Colombia’s economy causing poverty, unemployment, and common delinquency.

12. Expanding the Essay Since you will/are writing for other courses that may require longer Essays, the best way to expand a paper without becoming disorganized is to expand one or more of the Thesis ideas within the Essay. –For Example: For the Demoralized Citizens paragraph, I might expand that into to paragraphs: One for Short term effects like examples of Shock, Fear, Paranoia, Hysteria)

13. Expand the Essay I would also create a New paragraph over the Long term affects: –(Examples of depression, increased use of the drug Valium in Iraqi women, phobias, anger, frustration, etc.) Now there are two paragraphs under Demoralized Citizens: the 1.Short term effects and 2.Long term effects

14. Expanding the Essay This tool of expansion can be used for as many body paragraphs as you like to meet the required length of the Essay you are writing. For this Essay you are only required to create one additional body paragraph and one background paragraph.

15. Cause and Effect Con’t Remember your Effects create the body paragraphs. For this topic I might include: –Physical Destruction: Discussion of the “Shock and Awe” campaign, Target strategies in war, etc –Demoralized Citizens: The immediate reaction to war, the short term and long term effects.

16. Continued –Economic Strife: The economic effects for the victims of war, countries fighting the war, how it affects the world at large. This is an idea of how to develop the Essay Hint: Notice that I used 7 paragraphs. This means that you should also expand at least one body paragraph

17. Rough Outline of C/E Essay I. Introduction: Discusses the current issues of the topic. Discuss the cause. What led to it? II. Background Statement III. Physical Destruction –A. Shock and Awe –B. Strategies for war IV.. Demoralized Citizens –A. Short term effects V. Long Term Effects )(new para.) VI. Economic strife VII. Conclusion: Predictions, Quotes, your commentary, interpretation of the events so far.

18. Topic Suggestions The War in Iraq Child Abuse Elderly Abuse Wealth Poverty Gas Prices Voting Process Teen Pregnancy Rape Death of a Loved One Global Warming Positive Thinking Debt Stem Cell Research Troubled Children Privacy Issues Ethnic Cleansing

19. More Topics Media’s influence Excessive sex, violence in the media Alcoholism Drug Abuse Drug Sellers AIDS Anorexia/Bulimia Heart Disease Cyberbullying (Of course you can choose your own topic.)