CAUSE & EFFECT

PARAGRAPH

Made by Paqui Muñoz Mendoza

To discuss

◦ why things happen (causes) and

◦ what happens as a result (effects).

◗ It’s important because…

◦ it’s a common method of organizing and
discussing ideas.
◦ most classes, history, biology, journalism,
marketing, use this technique to analyze things
and it is essential for writing your essays in
English.
Distinguish between cause and effect.

To determine causes, ask, "Why did this

happen?"

To identify effects, ask, "What happened

because of this?"
◗ Cause

◗You are out of gas.

◗ Effect

◗Your car won't start.

CONNECTORS CAUSE
CONNECTORS EFFECT
➢ ,For
➢ ,so
➢ Seeing that/ Because/since/as
➢ ,but
➢ Because of +NP or v+ing
➢ Due to +NP or v+ing
➢ That’s why
➢ On account of NP or v+ing ➢ For this reason,
➢ Owing to +NP or v+ing ➢ As a result,
➢ due to the fact that + S+V+C ➢ As a consequence,
➢ On the grounds that + S+V*C/ On the ➢ Consequently,
grounds of + NP or v+ing
➢ Accordingly,
➢ Owing to the fact that +S+V+C
➢ .Therefore,
➢ Given/ in the light of/In view
of NP or v+ing ➢ .Thus,
➢ Thanks to NP or v+ing
➢ .Hence,
VERBAL EXPRESSIONS VERBAL EXPRESSIONS
➢ cause ➢ Result from / stem from
➢ result in ➢ Is due to
➢ lead to ➢ Is caused by
➢ contribute to ➢ Is the result of
➢ Bring about ➢ Is the effect of
➢ Give rise to
➢ Is the outcome of
➢ provoke
➢ Is originated from
CONNECTORS CAUSE CONNECTORS EFFECT
➢ ,For
➢,so
➢ Seeing that/ Because/since/as
➢,but
➢ Because of +NP or v+ing
➢ Due to +NP or v+ing
➢That’s why
➢ On account of NP or v+ing ➢For this reason,
➢ Owing to +NP or v+ing ➢As a result,
➢ due to the fact that + S+V+C ➢As a consequence,
➢ On the grounds that + S+V*C/ On ➢Consequently,
the grounds of + NP or v+ing ➢Accordingly,
➢ Owing to the fact that +S+V+C
➢.Therefore,
➢ Given/ in the liht of/In view
of NP or v+ing
➢.Thus,
➢.Hence,
➢ Thanks to NP or v+ing
SENTENCE PATTERNS TO EXPRESS CAUSE AND EFFECT
One reason why
is because of
The main cause of
Can play an important role
Was largely due to
We can establish cause and effect relations by means of
connectors OR by means of verbal expressions.

Cause
EFFECT
VERBAL
VERBAL EXPRESSIONS
EXPRESSIONS
➢Result from / stem
➢cause from
➢result in ➢Is due to
➢lead to ➢Is caused by
➢contribute to ➢Is the result of
➢Is the effect of
➢Bring about
➢Is the outcome of
➢Give rise to
➢Is originated from
➢provoke
Finish the sentence with a cause or effect expression.
1. Divorce is caused by…………………
2. Failing exams is the outcome of…………….
3. Homelessness is due to………………
4. Homelessness leads to……………………..
5. Drug comsuption brings about……………
6. Global warming is the outcome of …………………..
7. Feminism has given rise to…………………………..
8. Bullying leads to…………………………………
9. Smoking contributes to………………………………………….
10.Lung cancer is the outcome of ……………………………..
11.Wars bring about……………………………………..
12.Poverty is caused by……………………………………………
Dicuss causes
Topics to discuss
What causes a video game to be popular?
What causes families to buy unlimited cell phone plans?
What causes students to think school is boring?
What causes illegal inmigration?
What is the cause of increased militancy on the part of North Korea?
What is causing a growing demand of sports psychologists?
What causes people to have eating disorders?
What causes contact with animals to be helpful for people with mental illness?
What causes divorce?
What causes homelessness?

Discuss effects
How has working from home affected marital relationships?
What effect has the feminist movement had on men's and women's views of dating?
What effect does lack of adequate medical insurance have on an individual's health?
What is the effect of grandparents raising a child?
What effect does exercise have on the body?
 Cause Effect

Dringking too much coffee causes sleeplessness.

Dringking too much coffee Leads to lack of attention

Dringking too much coffee gives rise to excitement

Dringking too much coffee Results in Addiction.

 Effect Cause

Failure in exams results from not studying.

Failure in exams may is caused by carelessness.

be the Feeling ill on that day

Failure in exams might outcome of

Failure in exams could be the effect of Being lazy

Match the causes/effects with the effects/causes respectively

Malaria is caused by mosquitos.

Mental stress is the result of overcrowding.

Icy conditions give rise to road accidents.

heavy rain and

Soil erosion is due to strong winds.

Lack of rain brings about drought.

Juvenile crime results from broken homes.

Deafness is caused by loud noise

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 Make a list of 3 things that can go wrong
in the day

 List a cause and effect related to one or more

of those events:
 Event: missed the bus
 Cause: sister took too long getting ready
 Effect: got to school late
Due to the fact that my sister took too
long getting ready I missed the
bus.Consequently, I got to school late.
 What are the causes of road accident? T
O
p
Traffic accidents occur because of several reasons. i
There are several reasons why traffic accidents happen, but c
three of them are the most significant causes of traffic S
accidents, but three of them stand out.
One of the main reasons of traffic accidents is careless drivers.
Some drivers ignore the traffic rules such as traffic lights and
other warning signals. Moreover, they resist wearing seat belts.
In addition, some drivers drink alcohol while or before driving.
Another cause that results in traffic accidents is weather
conditions. Drivers tend to lose the control of the car on icy,
wet, or slippery roads and this gives rise to traffic accidents.
Too many cars also lead to traffic accidents. When there is
traffic, some drivers tend to become nervous, and they become
more error-prone. As a result of their mistakes, traffic accidents
happen.
To sum up, careless drivers, weather conditions, and too many
cars cause traffic accidents. Drivers should take all these into
consideration if they do not want to have an accident.
Discuss the following topics.
1) Explain the causes of water scarcity.
Why has water become that scarce? Explain.
•Climate changes
•Unplanned and excessive consumption by the industry
•Inadequate water policies
•People wasting water
2) Explain the causes of cheating in exams. Why do students cheat?
Explain.
•Parental pressure
•Studying requires time and effort, but cheating does not.
•Necessity for high grades to enter a good university
•Peer influence
•To avoid embarassment in case of a low grade
3) What are the factors that lead young people to start smoking?
Why do young people smoke? Explain.
•To appear older and more grown up
•Peer influence
•Curiosity
•Environmental factors (parents/other people smoking)
•As an act of rebellion (against their parents or teachers, etc.)
When you have finished discussing causes, dicuss the effects.
Discuss the following topics.
1) Explain the causes of water scarcity.
Why has water become that scarce? Explain.
•Climate changes
•Unplanned and excessive consumption by the industry
•Inadequate water policies
•People wasting water
2) Explain the causes of cheating in exams. Why do students cheat?
Explain.
•Parental pressure
•Studying requires time and effort, but cheating does not.
•Necessity for high grades to enter a good university
•Peer influence
•To avoid embarassment in case of a low grade
3) What are the factors that lead young people to start smoking?
Why do young people smoke? Explain.
•To appear older and more grown up
•Peer influence
•Curiosity
•Environmental factors (parents/other people smoking)
•As an act of rebellion (against their parents or teachers, etc.)
When you have finished discussing causes, dicuss the effects.
 Cause -Effect
Spanish students to get a passing grade
due to coronavirus confinement
• What were the causes for students to get a passing
grade?
•Which has been the consequences of this passing
grade?

https://english.elpais.com/spanish_news/2020
-04-15/spanish-students-to-get-a-passing-
grade-due-to-coronavirus-crisis.html
Problem-solution topics – off the Beaten
Path: ingenious tips for students

Off the beaten path: not known or popular with

many people
Problem: No food in fridge
•Solution #1: Should you order a pizza? Should you do your
grocery shopping online and have it delivered to your room?
•Solution #2: Should you save money and simply go to a
friend’s place, hoping that he or she will feed you?
USEFUL LANGUAGE
A useful suggestion….would be to…
Another solution is to…/An alternative
solution is to
The problem could be solved / sorted
out by…
If you were to….
This would help you to….
The effect of this would be…
As a result, you would…….
You would be able to….
Problem: Forgot to study for an exam
•Solution #1: Could you ask your teacher for an extension
so that you can take the exam in a day or two? Should you
try to convince all of your classmates to ask the teacher to
postpone the exam?
•Solution #2: Would it help to text everyone you know in
class and ask them to help you cram before the test?
Would they be willing to share their notes for you to review
immediately before the test?
•Solution #3: Should you go to the doctor so that you have
a doctor’s excuse ( a sick note) that would allow you to
make up the exam?
Problem: Boring lessons
•Solution #1: Would asking your teacher to create more
interesting activities actually inspire your teacher to
change their teaching strategy? Should you offer
suggestions for more interesting lessons?
•Solution #2: Should you try drawing pictures, writing
poetry, or taking creative notes to help pass the time as
your teacher rambles on ( speaks at length) divagar?
•Solution #3: Should you drop the class and look for a
teacher with more engaging lessons? Is it too late to get
into another class?
•Solution #4: Should you do nothing and accept the fact
that sometimes you have to suffer through boring
lessons since anyway you can always search the web?
Problem and solution topic
Stress at work
Problem: Stress
•Solution #1: Should employers offer free or
low-cost programs to help employees manage
stress? Should employers offer additional sick
and/or vacation days to help employees
destress? Would this create a more productive
workforce?
•Solution #2: Do practices such as meditation,
soft music, and dietary changes help reduce
stress?
•Solution #3: Should people make an effort to
engage in more physical activity in order to
alleviate stress?
 Problem and solution topic
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
•Solution #1: What should the government do
about pollution? How should it be involved in
long-term protections? For instance, should the
government set aside relief funds or economic
restorations for affected areas?
•Solution #2: What role should local and state
governments play in protecting wildlife from
pollution? Should local governments be stricter in
regard to environmental studies for local projects,
such as the building of chemical plants or
factories near wildlife or residential areas?
•Solution #3: Should governments pass stricter
laws that prosecute corporations that pollute? If
so, how should the public push for such laws to
get passed?
Problem and solution topic
Undocumented immigrants
•Solution #1: Should the US government step up its
deportation of undocumented immigrants, or should
it offer asylum for those currently living in the
country?
•Solution #2: How should the government address
trade policies that affect the economies of South
American countries and lead to immigration?
•Solution #3: Will ending the war on drugs provide
some relief to the rise of undocumented immigrants
arriving in the United States? Should there be more
coordination between the US and Central American
countries in how they deal with drug policies, and if
so, in what ways?
•Solution #1: What leads to the dependence on
money in electoral politics, and what can be done to
address the problem? For instance, what alternatives
are available for candidates to raise funds for
elections?
•Solution #2: Should the government regulate how
much money is spent in campaigns? If not, what
alternatives are available that will lead to campaign
finance reform?
•Solution #3: Should the government pass laws that
will define who should or shouldn’t be able to donate
campaign dollars? If so, how should such a law be
shaped? How should free speech rights be taken into
consideration?
•Solution #4: Should the constitution be amended to
Problem and solution topic
MONEY IN POLITICS
 Cause Effect

Not bringing your book to class causes the teacher to be angry.

Not bringing your book to class leads to an angry teacher.

Not bringing your book to class leads the teacher to be angry.

You to lose your

Not bringing your book to class causes
attention in the lecture
The inability to focus
Not bringing your book to class causes
on the lecture
Students with free
Not bringing your book to class results in
time

Increased
Not bringing your book to class leads to
unattendance
If you want to mention the effect first:

Effect Cause

Drunkenness is due to too much alcohol.

Drunkenness is caused by too much alcohol.

Drunkenness results from too much alcohol.

Drunkenness is the result of too much alcohol.

Drunkenness is the effect of too much alcohol.

5
If you want to mention the cause first:

Cause Effect

Too much alcohol causes drunkenness.

Too much alcohol leads to drunkenness.

Too much alcohol gives rise to drunkenness.

Too much alcohol results in drunkenness.

Too much alcohol brings about drunkenness.

2
 EXAMPLES

Damage to the liver is caused by excessive drinking of alcohol.

A rise in temperature leads to the expansion of metals.

High atmospheric pressure results in an increase in the

boiling point of water.

A disturbance in the ionosphere brings about poor short-

wave radio reception.

Paralysis is an effect of damage to the spinal cord.