STYLE:  CAUSE AND EFFECT WRITING

Cause and Effect Defined

Cause refers to events that have occurred in the past while effects refers to consequences
that will occur in the future.  When preplanning is done, such as in engineering, the cause is
discussed with a solution, effect, in mind, and then put into practice.  Sometimes, only after
we see the effects,  we are then concerned with  the cause as in an illness.  Also, we don't
normally worry about  a cause or causes until there are effects.  When our we have a one
hundred four degree temp, body aches, and nausea (the effects),  we then try to pinpoint
what caused those precise effects.  Food poisoning, the flue, etc.

Since there are three types of cause and effect, we must be careful when we link a cause
with a given effect(s). First, there is a contributory cause which may produce an effect,
but it cannot do so by itself.  If you take a test that you have really prepared for, and
also have the above symptoms, those symptoms may effect your test performance as
a contributory cause.

The second type of cause  is a necessary cause.  A necessary cause is one that must be
present for an effect to occur, but by itself, cannot cause the effect.  A necessary cause
would be enough knowledge in a class topic to be able to pass a test.  That alone, though,
will not be enough.

A sufficient cause is the last type.  A sufficient cause is one that can cause an effect by
itself.  This is the type of final paper you will do.   Here, A directly cause B.  An example
would be a heart attack can kill.

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Do's and Don's of Cause and Effect Writing

1.  Make your  purpose initially clear

To make your essay focused, state your thesis as A causes B immediately, so that the
reader knows what will follow.  You also reveal your organizational pattern as well.

2.  Be modest in your choice of a subject

Do not choose a subject that is so broad it cannot be discussed in enough detail.  If you
choose a subject that has multiple causes this will cause vagueness as well.  Choosing to
write about he cause and effect of the Vietnam War is a bad topic for several reasons.
First, there is more than one cause.  Second, volumes have been written about the Vietnam
War as it lasted several years.  To do a concise, clear essay on this topic would be
impossible.  Review your cause and effect thesis several times to be sure that you
can work with it in the amount of space that you have for your presentation.

3.  Use proximate as opposed to remote causes

The proximate cause is the closest cause to the effect and logically points to it causing
the effect.  Be careful you don't get involved in a causal chain.  This is when A leads to
B, B leads to C, C leads to D, and so on.

4.  Do not dogmatize about cause

If the writer wants his/her audience to listen to what he/she has to say, they should avoid
becoming preachy or self-righteous.  Once that occurs, the audience may not continue
reading as they realize it has become opinion and not an objective discussion.

 Think of how disappointed you have been when reading or listening to a topic
of interest only to realize you couldn't learn anything other than someone's
opinion.

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CLUES FOR CAUSE and EFFECT WRITING

• Does the topic have a clearly stated cause and effect?
• What type of cause and effect is being used?  Contributory, necessary, or sufficient?
• Has the writer avoided using a causal chain?
• Has the author focused on an objective account?
• Does the topic deal with a narrow enough topic?
• Has the author used a proximate cause?
• Has a dogmatic tone been avoided within the writing?

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            Last updated:  July, 2003
           Patricia A. Hutchins
           http://www.delta.edu/[pahutchi/causeeffect.html