Cause & Effect Essay

The Language of Cause and Effect

Here’s a list of Cause and Effect Markers. Review them and start learning those that are
new to you.
CAUSE AND EFFECT MARKERS
nouns verbs/verb phrases
cause influence to affect to create
result origin to attribute A to B to force
consequence outcome to be associated with to give rise to
effect reason to be responsible for to lead to
factor relationship to blame to play a part in
impact connection to bring about to produce
contributing factor link to cause to result from
association to contribute to result in
CAUSE AND EFFECT CONNECTING EXPRESSIONS
To Form a Phrase To Connect Clauses To Connect Sentences
as a result of [+ cause] as [+ cause] As a result [+ effect]
because of [+ cause] because [+ cause] Consequently [+ effect]
due to [+ cause] if [+ cause] For this reason [+ effect]
on account of [+ cause] since [+ cause] Hence [+ effect]
thanks to [+ cause] so [+ cause] Therefore [+ effect]
(in order) to [+ cause] so [+ cause]…that Thus [+ effect]
[+effect]
Skills Practice: Cause and Effect
In the following sentences, do the following three steps: (1) circle the Cause and Effect
Markers; (2) highlight each cause and mark it with a “C; (3) underline each effect and
mark it with an “E”.
1. A great deal of pollution is caused by power plants that produce electricity by burning
coal.
2. Because of a severe storm in the area, our plan was three hours late taking off.
3. The prices of new cars are forcing many people to keep their old cars longer than they
used to.
4. On account of the bad weather, the baseball game has been canceled.
5. The police have identified a number of factors that contribute to traffic accidents,
including alcohol, speeding, and mechanical failure.
6. A lack of rain is creating problems for farmers. Their crops are not growing well.
7. In the late twentieth century, there was an enormous increase in the percentage of female
students in U.S. medical schools and law schools. This was partly due to a change in
society’s attitude toward women.
8. In the 1990s, world oil prices fell and stayed low. This brought about an improvement in
the economies of countries that import oil.
9. Some human diseases have been associated with chemicals in the environment.
10. Two months ago, a large factory closed down. This result in fifteen hundred people
losing their jobs.
Use a word of phrase from the list to complete each item below.
attribute blamed bring about consequences contributed to
factors lead to link responsible for thanks to
11. Immediately after the Titanic sank, newspapers ______________ the ship’s owners for
the disaster.
12. Most experts agree that a number of ______________ played a part in the sinking of the
Titanic in 1912.
13. In 1940, only 15 percent of married women in the United States had jobs outside the
home. By 1980, the figure had risen to over 50 percent. To what can we
______________ this major change in women’s lives?
14. Some diseases – for example, AIDS – are often associated with people’s behavior.
Therefore, a basic question for preventive medicine is this: How can we
______________ changes in behavior?
15. Research has shown that alcohol is ______________ a large number of traffic death.
16. ______________ advances in medical science, diseases that used to kill millions of
children a year are no longer a danger in many countries.
17. The talks between the employees and the company are continuing. Both sides hope that
the discussions will ______________ a satisfactory agreement.
18. Improvements in diagnosis and treatment have ______________ the falling death rate
from cardiovascular disease.
19. The actions can have ______________ we don’t intend. For example, we used DDT to
kill harmful insects, but then the pesticide entered the food chain and killed birds and
animals.
20. Research has shown the ______________ between smoking and increased risk of heart
disease.
Language for Solutions:
1. ….must find ways/ take actions/ take measures in order to reduce the
problem/ to improve this situation/ to stop this trend
2. Smoking is increasing among school children. To reverse this trend…
3. City streets are full of litter. To reduce this problem…
4. Many people in the world do not have enough to eat. To improve this
situation …
5. City crime is growing. To stop this trend…
6. If schools do not take action soon, …
7. Unless action is taken, ….
8. If this is done, …
9. This would reduce …
10. Such measures will surely…
11. This trend could be reversed if …
12. …. Is needed to combat/ to address/ to handle/ to deal with/ to tackle the
problem.
13. If no steps are taken to preserve them …