Here is a simple way to look at the contents. The introduction should provide background on the topic and clearly state the main causes and effects to be explored. The body paragraphs will then analyze specific causes in depth, explaining the evidence and detailing the resulting effects. In the conclusion, the paper will summarize the key relationships and discuss the broader significance of the cause-effect dynamics.
A cause-and-effect paper is alot like a position paper or debate, with some key differences.
1, A Position Paper is an essay that presents an opinion about an issue. It uses devices like tone, voice, and sentiment, gives weight to one side, and generally tries to persuade the audience to choose the author's side.
The position paper is like a lawyer's argument to persuade a judge or jury that a person is innocent or guilty.
2. A Cause and Effect Paper attempts to explain why things occurred (the causes) and what happened because of these things (the effects).
The Cause and Effect paper is like the facts and evidence CSI documents to help explain what happened in the case (the effects of a crime), and why it happened (how the crime was caused or committed).
Cause and effect is something we encounter everyday, but rarely think about in concrete terms...
In the most basic sense, cause and effect helps us explain 2 things...
WHAT happened (the effect) and WHY it happened (the cause)!
Example: Test Grades
WHAT EFFECT: Student fails a test.
WHY IT WAS CAUSED: Did not study enough, Did not study the right things, waited to long to begin studying, styed out too late the night before.
Example: Traffic Accidents
WHAT EFFECT: The number of accidents increases
WHY IT WAS CAUSED: The age limit for drivers was lowered, the Maximum age for drivers was raised, the amount of training required decreased, the legal limit for DUI increased, the speed limit increased, the number of cars on the road increased.
Example: Weight Gain
WHAT EFFECT: An individual gains a significant amount of weight.
WHY IT WAS CAUSED: The person started eating more processed foods, exercised less frequently, had an underlying medical condition that affected their metabolism, experienced high stress levels that led to stress-eating, took certain medications that caused weight gain as a side effect.
Example: Declining Bee Populations
WHAT EFFECT: The population of bees has been declining in many regions.
WHY IT WAS CAUSED: The widespread use of pesticides and insecticides has been harming bee colonies, deforestation and loss of natural habitats have reduced the available food sources for bees, climate change has disrupted the delicate balance of bee ecosystems, the spread of bee-borne diseases has contributed to declining hive health.
Example: Increased Renewable Energy Usage
WHAT EFFECT: The global usage of renewable energy sources (such as solar, wind, and hydropower) has significantly increased.
WHY IT WAS CAUSED: Governments have implemented policies and incentives to promote the adoption of renewable energy, the costs of renewable energy technologies have decreased significantly, public awareness and concern about climate change have driven a shift towards more sustainable energy sources, advancements in battery storage and smart grid technologies have made renewable energy more viable.
