1. Instructor’s Resource Manual The Writer’s World: Paragraphs and Essays
Part II: Paragraph Patterns
Chapter 11: Cause and Effect

2. Chapter 11: Cause and Effect What is Cause and Effect?
Cause and effect writing explains why an event happened or what the consequences of such an event were.
A cause and effect paragraph can focus on causes, effects, or both.

3. Chapter 11: Cause and Effect The Cause and Effect Paragraph
When you write a cause and effect paragraph, focus on two main points:
1. Indicate whether you are focusing on causes, effects, or both.
Make sure the topic sentence announces your purpose to the audience.
2. Make sure that your causes and effects are valid.
Illogical: The statement does not work because it is inexpensive.
Better: The product does not work because it is constructed with poor-quality materials.

4. Chapter 11: Cause and Effect Identifying Causes and Effects
Brainstorm a list of causes and effects about your topic.

5. Chapter 11: Cause and Effect The Topic Sentence
The topic sentence in a cause and effect paragraph must clearly demonstrate whether the focus is on causes, effects, or both.
Make sure the topic sentence includes the controlling idea.

6. Chapter 11: Cause and Effect The Supporting Ideas
After you have developed an effective topic sentence, generate supporting ideas.
In a cause and effect paragraph, think of examples that clearly show the causes or the effect.
Arrange examples in emphatic order (least to most important or bad to worse).

7. Chapter 11: Cause and Effect The Paragraph Plan
Organize your ideas about causes or effects of a particular subject in a logical order.

8. Chapter 11: Cause and Effect The First Draft
After you outline your ideas, you are ready to write the first draft.
Remember to write in complete sentences.
Transitional words and expressions for cause and effect paragraphs:
To show causes: for this reason, the first cause, the most important cause
To show effects: accordingly, as a result, consequently

9. Chapter 11: Cause and Effect Revise and Edit Cause and Effect Paragraph
When you finish writing a cause and effect paragraph, review your work and revise.
Make sure that your sentences relate to the topic sentence.
Proofread and revise for grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors.
Write the final draft.