What Caused that Effect?

The Norton Field Guide to Writing states, "Analyzing causes helps us think about why something happened, whereas thinking about effects helps us consider what might happen." This statement couldn't be more true and helps introduce the reader to the many possible ways to write a cause and effect paper. There are some simple steps that, first, involve stating a cause and an effect. Once your cause has been stated, you can begin your paper and argue to show how your cause actually caused your effect. In doing so, there are a few ways to organize your cause and effect. First you can identify the cause, then the effect. You can also switch it around and start with your effect and trace it to what caused it. Lastly, you can start with a cause and continue with a chain of effects.

While writing your cause and effect paper, you will most likely be adding in some comparing and contrasting, which the book also explains. Two ways of comparing and contrasting are the block method, and the point-by-point method. In the block method, the writer simply states all the information about one item and then goes on to compare or contrast it in the next paragraph, which sets it up like a block. The point-by-point method goes on to state it one point at a time. While using these techniques, the writer can easily form a well-written cause and effect paper.