Tips on Writing Cause and Effect Paragraphs

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Cause and effect papers use analysis to examine the reasons for and the outcomes of situations. They are an attempt to discover either the origins of something, such as an event or a decision, the effects or results that can be properly attributed to it, or both.
Cause and effect papers answer questions like the following ("A" is your topic):

• Why did A happen? (discovering the causes of A)
• What happened as a result of A? (discovering the effects of A)
• What might happen as a result of A? (predicting further effects of A)

Discovering causesBefore you begin writing or even researching, make a list of all the causes of this event you already know about. Ask questions like these:

Why did this happen?
What preconditions existed?
Were the results foreseen?
Could they have been foreseen?

Once you have answered some of these questions, do some research. Identify the important information, and organize your ideas. Focus on what is interesting for you.

As you write, use the transitions, or signal words, that tell readers you are demonstrating causal relationships between your ideas:

• Led to
• Because
• Cause(s)
• Reasons(s)
• Explanation(s)
• So

Discovering effects
If you choose to write about effects, first brainstorm:
Make a list of all the effects you know about, and use this list to direct your research to learn more.
Have the effects had great impact on history, culture, or your own life?
Or have they had a small impact with few results?

Again, be sure you can clearly show the cause-effect relationship.

Do not write too many effects, realize that there is a limit to your essay.

Writing too few effects is also not good.

Make sure you focus on the important information.

Transition words that suggest to the reader that you are discussing effects include the following:

• Therefore
• As a result
• Consequently
• Thus
• Then
• Thanks to 

Predicting results
Cause and effect papers often make predictions based on known facts, trends, and developments.

Prediction tries to answer questions like these:
What are the possible or likely consequences?
Are these results likely to have great impact on my life or the lives of others?
Are these results likely to have great impact on shaping public policy, society, or history?
What preconditions would have to exist before my predictions could come about?

In writing a prediction (as your conclusion), male sure your reasoning is clear, and to the point.

Signal words and verb forms such as these suggest to the reader that you are making the move from observation to prediction:

• If
• When
• After
• As soon as
• Likely that
• Might/May
• Can expect
• Possible that

Reference:
Writing Cause and Effect Paragraphs