How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay – Step By Step Guide

How to Write Cause and Effective Essay

Although a cause and effect essay may be a straightforward paper for anyone to write about, some students find it hard to craft such an article because of a lack of experience or poor writing skills. In this guide, you will get a lot of insights regarding how to craft this paper. Let’s go on!

What is a Cause & Effect Essay?

A cause and effect essay is an academic article that analyses an event to determine why it happened and the results of its occurrence.

Purpose of a Cause and Effect Essay

A cause is something that makes the occurrence of an event, and the effect is what has happened.  The purpose of this kind of essay is to find out how different variables relate to one another in terms of origin and results. For instance, if a civil war erupted between two communities, the causes of the conflict are debatable and could be more than one.

Also, it tries to explore why something took place and also focuses on the significance of the consequences of an event. It is vital to note that for a cause and effect essay to have some rationale, the causes must be directly linked to the results.

Examples of Cause and Effect Essay

Before you think of composing a cause and effect essay, it is crucial to understand its structure and purpose. Besides, it is advisable to check the essay examples on professional writing sites, such as that of Peachy Essay.

Essay examples are vital tools when it comes to crafting an essay, especially if you are a first time writer. By reviewing the samples, you will have an idea of where to start and how to go about crafting the piece.

Step-By-Step Guide of Writing a Cause and Effect Essay

Writing a cause and effect essay can be a challenging task, especially if you have never done it before. The following is an overview of the guidelines that can help you to compose an excellent paper.

  • Create a list of topics

The first step towards crafting a cause and effect essay is to come up with a list of topics, primarily if your instructor hasn’t assigned you any. Selecting an idea isn’t easy if you don’t have the right strategy to use. Therefore, it is advisable to make a list of many topics and then choose the most exciting one. For instance, you may consider the following items as your options.

  • Legalization of prostitution
  • Causes and effects of global warming
  • Famine in semi-arid areas
  • Cause of child labor and its consequences
  • Causes of COVID-19 and its impacts

 

  • Choose an exciting topic

After you have made a list of topics, the next step is to pick the best idea to craft about. It is advisable to consider an exciting topic, particularly the one where you have something to write about it.

Read our guideline on Choosing Topic for Cause & Effect Essay

  • Brainstorm the idea

Once you have chosen the topic, it is vital to decide on the best strategy of handling it. For instance, you may choose to start examining the causes of a situation and then finish with its results. For instance, if your topic is global warming, it is advisable to list the causes of global warming and its effects. Ensure that the points you capture in the list are valid and adequate.

  • Do research

Doing research is an essential approach when it comes to creating an academic paper. It is crucial to use information from credible and verifiable sources, such as journal articles and books. Also, read widely to get sufficient and relevant content that can make your paper exciting to read.

  • Compose your thesis

After identifying your topic, it is crucial to craft a thesis statement to justify why you have selected a particular idea.

  • Craft an outline

An outline is a plan that guides you to write the cause-effect essay. An excellent outline should constitute the following.

  • The introductory paragraph where you give background information about the topic and the thesis statement.
  • Body paragraphs where you discuss main points about the topic
  • Antithesis paragraph where you comment about the opposition’s claims. For instance, if your topic is gay marriage, you may discuss how and why some people don’t believe that it exists.
  • Conclusion where you highlight the main points and restate your thesis.

 

  • Compose the draft

Once you have outlined your work, the next step is to write a draft. Ensure that the document you write is well-formatted and has the right structure. After that, proofread and edit your paper.

Cause and Effect Essay

How to Start Writing a Cause and Effect Essay

Before you begin writing a cause and effect essay, it is vital to brainstorm the topic and then make an outline to guide you through the entire writing process. In the plan, ensure that you capture essential ideas and compose a strong thesis.

How to End a Cause and Effect Essay

The best way of ending the cause and effect essay is by proofreading and editing the draft document. There are two approaches you can use to write your paper. First, you may use grammar checking tools, such as Grammarly, to identify and correct mistakes. Finally, you may allow someone to read through your paper to highlight errors and rectify them.

Conclusion of a Cause and Effect Essay

The conclusion is a summary of the main ideas presented in the paper. Also, you are supposed to restate your thesis here to emphasize to the audience your position in the paper.

The Structure of a Cause and Effect Essay

The structure of the cause and effect essay is composed of an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The following is a highlight of these parts.

  • Introduction

An introduction is the opening part of your document, and it should have statements that capture the attention of the audience. Moreover, ensure that you share background information regarding the topic to acquaint the readers with the subject matter.

Also, note that a thesis statement forms part of an introduction. Bear in mind that a thesis is an account of your argument regarding the topic you are writing about. For instance, you may summarize the cause and effect of the idea you are writing about in one statement.

  • Body paragraphs

The body paragraphs represent the main ideas you are discussing in the topic. Ensure that you arrange the cause and effect ideas in a way you want them to appear before you start composing the body.

  • The conclusion

The conclusion is a summary of what has been discussed in the paper. Besides, ensure that you finish your essay by restating the thesis statement.

Final Thoughts on Cause and Effect Essay

A cause and effect essay is an academic paper that evaluates why a particular event occurred and the results of its occurrence. Understanding the structure and purpose of this paper can make your writing more comfortable. Despite this paper being easier to compose, there are still some learners who find it challenging to craft them. If you are facing such a problem, it is advisable to contact professional writers, such as Peachy Essay, for assistance.