Reading a Cause-Effect Paragraph and Essay
Before you explore the causes and effects of a specific situation that interests you, you'll want to see how other students explored their topics. Read the cause-effect paragraph and essay in this lesson and answer the questions about them. Think about how the writer puts ideas together and how you might, as well.
Reading a Cause-Effect Paragraph
A cause-effect paragraph explains the causes and effects of a certain event, condition, or occurrence. The topic sentence introduces a cause-effect connection. The body sentences give examples of specific causes or effects. The ending sentence sums up the cause-effect relationship.
Sample Cause-Effect Paragraph
California’s Fresh Water Shortage
Topic SentenceA fresh water shortage is changing the way Californians live and do business. California’s fresh water is in short supply due to a record drought and rising temperatures.Body Sentences As a result, the state’s government enforced restrictions on water usage for cities and residents. Farmers have been forced to use costly groundwater reserves to grow crops. Snowless mountains have hurt the tourism industry, especially ski resorts. Meanwhile, drying forests increase the chances of dangerous wildfires. Ending SentenceWithout rain, Californians must continue to take measures to conserve fresh water.
Respond to the cause-effect paragraph.
Answer these questions about the reading.
- What cause-effect relationship does the paragraph explore?
- Does the paragraph focus mostly on the causes or effects of the topic?
Reading a Cause-Effect Essay
A cause-effect essay explains a cause-effect relationship. The essay may focus mostly on the causes or the effects, or a mixture of both. The beginning paragraph introduces the topic and cause-effect relationship with an interesting lead and provides a focus statement. The middle paragraphs explore specific causes or effects. The ending paragraph revisits how the overall cause-effect relationship works.
Sample Cause-Effect Essay
The Drying of California
Beginning ParagraphFresh water is not something to take for granted. That’s what Californians have learned in the last few years. LeadA long drought has led to a severe water shortage in the state. Focus StatementNow Californians are dealing with the effects of life with limited fresh water.
Middle ParagraphsLack of rainfall, rising temperatures, and human activities all have contributed to the water shortage. The main cause is a multi-year drought, with precipitation levels dipping far below normal for three years in a row. Warmer-than-normal temperatures have also contributed to the problem, since hot weather speeds up evaporation. Farming is partially responsible for the water shortage as well. Huge amounts of water are needed to grow crops, sucking up much of the fresh water supply.
The water shortage is changing California’s landscape. Snow has all but melted off of the top of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Lakes, rivers, and reservoirs are drying up. Forests and other vegetation are turning from green to brown. In fact, drying forests have sparked devastating wildfires. These environmental changes endanger California’s diverse ecosystem, which is home to many plants and much wildlife.
Residents of California are feeling the effects of the water shortage, too. California’s governor mandated water restrictions throughout the state. Cities are supposed to cut back their water usage by 25 percent. Homeowners may water their lawns on certain days only, and swimming pools must stay covered to prevent evaporation.
California’s farming community is also dealing with the lack of water. Farmers have begun pumping from groundwater reserves to irrigate their crops. Unfortunately, those underground reserves are drying up, too. If the drought persists and groundwater supplies dry up, food production may drop, causing food prices to increase and the availability of fresh food to decrease. This is a big deal since California grows nearly one-third of the vegetables and two-thirds of the fruits and nuts consumed by Americans.
Ending ParagraphIt seems odd that California would lack water. After all, the state hugs the Pacific Ocean. But salt water doesn’t support life like fresh water does. The prolonged drought and warming climate have caused a fresh water crisis that impacts citizens, food suppliers, and ecosystems. California needs rain in a bad way.
Respond to the cause-effect essay.
Work with a partner to answer these questions.
- What cause-effect relationship does the essay focus on?
- Does the essay focus more on the causes or the effects of the topic?
- What is the main cause of the topic?
- What three main effects are explained in the middle paragraphs?
- Does the essay establish a clear connection between the causes and effects? Explain your answer.
Teaching Tip
Help students realize that the key features in the model essay can inspire them as they create their own essays.