Recognizing Cause and Effect Relationships Why and What Being able to recognize cause-and-effect relationships can help you better understand life and its events as they unfold around us.

Cause An event or action that makes something happen. It tells us why something happened. Signal Words because bring about contributed to due to the reason for give rise to led to since on account of created by

Effect A change that takes place as a result of a cause. It tells us what happened. Signal Words as a result consequently hence so outcome therefore effect thus finally for this reason then Keep in mind the “domino effect.” This is when an effect becomes the cause of another effect.

Implied Causes and Effects If you are looking for the cause: Why did something happen? If you are looking for the effect: What happened? Sometimes a passage does not contain any signal words. The cause and effect relationship is implied. You need to use logic and reasoning to answer questions on implied cause and effect.

Examples Cause Effect Because Bill’s sister was sad, he tried to cheer her up. It was snowing outside so school was canceled. The leaves blew all over the yard so Tom and Sue raked them. Tom noticed that if he was around dogs, he sneezed a lot. Amber could not see the board so she got glasses. Mother was not at home so Sue took a telephone message. Because Pat felt sick, she went to the doctor. Mary scraped her knee so Dad gave her a Band-Aid. The noisy class could not go outside for recess.