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How to master the art of writing a successful cause and effect essay that captivates your readers and earns you top grades.

Are you intrigued by the interconnected nature of events and phenomena? Do you aspire to unravel the hidden threads that link causes to effects? Crafting a cause and outcome essay provides an excellent platform to explore and dissect these connections, allowing you to showcase your analytical skills and express your ideas with precision and clarity.

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve deep into the art of writing cause and outcome essays, equipping you with effective strategies, invaluable tips, and real-life examples that will help you master the craft. Whether you are a seasoned writer looking to enhance your skills or a beginner eager to embark on a new writing journey, this guide has got you covered.

Throughout this journey, we will navigate the intricate realm of cause and outcome relationships, examining how actions, events, and circumstances influence one another. We will explore the essential elements of a cause and outcome essay, honing in on the importance of a strong thesis statement, logical organization, and compelling evidence. By the end of this guide, you will possess the necessary tools to produce a captivating cause and outcome essay that engages your readers and leaves a lasting impact.

Tips for Writing a Cause and Effect Essay

When composing a paper that focuses on exploring the connections between actions and their consequences, there are several essential tips that can help you write a compelling cause and effect essay. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your essay is well-structured, clear, and effectively communicates your ideas.

By following these tips, you can enhance your ability to write a compelling cause and effect essay. Remember to analyze the causes and effects carefully, organize your ideas effectively, provide clear explanations, use transitional words, and proofread your essay to ensure a polished final piece of writing.

Understand the Purpose and Structure

One of the most important aspects of writing a cause and effect essay is understanding its purpose and structure. By understanding these key elements, you can effectively communicate the relationship between causes and effects, and present your argument in a clear and organized manner.

In a cause and effect essay, the purpose is to analyze the causes of a specific event or phenomenon and explain the effects that result from those causes. This type of essay is often used to explore the connections between different factors and to demonstrate how one event leads to another.

To structure your cause and effect essay, consider using a chronological or sequential order. Start by introducing the topic and providing some background information on the causes you will discuss. Then, present your thesis statement, which should clearly state your main argument or claim.

In the body paragraphs, discuss each cause or group of causes in a separate paragraph. Provide detailed explanations, examples, and evidence to support your claims. Make sure to use transitional words and phrases to guide the reader through your essay and to show the logical progression of causes and effects.

Finally, in the conclusion, summarize your main points and restate your thesis, reinforcing your overall argument. You can also discuss the broader implications of your analysis and suggest possible solutions or further research.

By understanding the purpose and structure of a cause and effect essay, you can effectively convey your ideas and arguments to your readers. This will help them follow your reasoning and see the connections between causes and effects, leading to a more convincing and impactful essay.

Choose a Topic

When embarking on the journey of writing a cause and effect essay, one of the first steps is to choose an engaging and relevant topic. The topic sets the foundation for the entire essay, determining the direction and scope of the content.

To select an effective topic, it is important to consider your interests, as well as the interests of your intended audience. Think about subjects that captivate you and inspire curiosity. Consider current events, personal experiences, or areas of study that pique your interest. By choosing a topic that you are genuinely passionate about, you will be more motivated to conduct thorough research and present compelling arguments.

Additionally, it is essential to select a topic that is relevant and meaningful. Identify an issue or phenomenon that has a clear cause-and-effect relationship, allowing you to explore the connections and consequences in depth. Look for topics that are timely and impactful, as this will ensure that your essay resonates with readers and addresses significant issues in society.

Moreover, a well-chosen topic should have enough depth and breadth to support a comprehensive analysis. Avoid selecting topics that are too broad or shallow, as this can make it challenging to delve into the causes and effects in a meaningful way. Narrow down your focus to a specific aspect or aspect of a broader topic to ensure that you have enough material to explore and analyze.

In conclusion, choosing a topic for your cause and effect essay is a critical step that will shape the entire writing process. By selecting a topic that aligns with your interests, is relevant and meaningful, and has enough depth and breadth, you will lay the foundation for a compelling and informative essay.

Conduct Thorough Research

Before diving into writing a cause and effect essay, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive research on the topic of your choice. This research phase will provide you with the necessary background information and context to develop a strong and well-supported essay.

During the research process, explore various sources such as books, academic journals, reputable websites, and credible news articles. Utilize synonyms for “research” like “investigate” or “explore” to keep your writing engaging and varied.

Avoid relying solely on a single source or biased information. Instead, strive to gather a variety of perspectives and data points that will enhance the credibility and validity of your essay.

Take notes as you research, highlighting key points, statistics, and quotes that you may want to include in your essay. Organize your findings in a clear and structured manner, making it easier to refer back to them as you begin writing.

Incorporating well-researched evidence and supporting examples into your cause and effect essay will lend credibility to your arguments, making them more persuasive and convincing. By conducting thorough research, you will be able to present a well-rounded and informed analysis of the topic you are writing about.

Create an Outline

One of the crucial steps in writing any type of essay, including cause and effect essays, is creating an outline. An outline helps to organize your thoughts and ideas before you start writing, ensuring that your essay has a clear and logical structure. In this section, we will discuss the importance of creating an outline and provide some tips on how to create an effective outline for your cause and effect essay.

When creating an outline, it is important to start with a clear understanding of the purpose and main points of your essay. Begin by identifying the main cause or event that you will be discussing, as well as its effects or consequences. This will serve as the foundation for your outline, allowing you to structure your essay in a logical and coherent manner.

Once you have identified the main cause and effects, it is time to organize your ideas into a clear and logical order. One effective way to do this is by using a table. Create a table with two columns, one for the cause and one for the effect. Then, list the main causes and effects in each column, using bullet points or short phrases. This will help you see the connections between the different causes and effects, making it easier to write your essay.

In addition to listing the main causes and effects, it is also important to include supporting details and examples in your outline. These can help to strengthen your argument and provide evidence for your claims. Include specific examples, facts, and statistics that support each cause and effect, and organize them under the relevant point in your outline.

Lastly, make sure to review and revise your outline before you start writing your essay. Check for any gaps in your logic or missing information, and make any necessary adjustments. Your outline should serve as a roadmap for your essay, guiding you through the writing process and ensuring that your essay is well-structured and coherent.

In conclusion, creating an outline is an essential step in writing a cause and effect essay. It helps to organize your thoughts and ideas, ensuring that your essay has a clear and logical structure. By identifying the main cause and effects, organizing your ideas into a table, including supporting details and examples, and reviewing your outline, you can create an effective outline that will guide you through the writing process.

Develop the Body Paragraphs

Once you have identified the main causes and effects of the topic you are writing about, it is time to develop your body paragraphs. In these paragraphs, you will present specific evidence and examples to support your claims. The body of your essay should be well-structured and focused, with each paragraph addressing a single cause or effect.

Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that clearly states the main point you will be discussing. Then, provide detailed explanations and evidence to support your argument. This can include statistics, research findings, expert opinions, or personal anecdotes. Remember to use clear and concise language to convey your ideas effectively.

In order to make your writing more coherent, you can use transition words and phrases to connect your ideas and create a logical flow between paragraphs. Words like “because”, “as a result”, “therefore”, and “consequently” can be used to show cause and effect relationships.

Additionally, it is important to use paragraph unity, which means that each paragraph should focus on a single cause or effect. Avoid including unrelated information or discussing multiple causes/effects in a single paragraph, as this can confuse the reader and weaken your argument.

Furthermore, consider using examples and evidence to enhance the clarity and persuasiveness of your arguments. Concrete examples and real-life scenarios can help illustrate the cause and effect relationship and make your writing more engaging to the reader.

• Use accurate data and precise details to back up your claims
• Include relevant research and studies to support your arguments
• Provide real-life examples and cases that demonstrate the cause and effect relationship

In conclusion, developing the body paragraphs of your cause and effect essay is crucial in presenting a well-structured and persuasive argument. By using topic sentences, clear explanations, transition words, and relevant evidence, you can effectively convey your ideas and convince the reader of the cause and effect relationship you are discussing.

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Cause and Effect Essay Outline: Types, Examples and Writing Tips

20 June, 2020

9 minutes read

Author:  Tomas White

This is a complete guide on writing cause and effect essays. Find a link to our essay sample at the end. Let's get started!

What is a Cause and Effect Essay?

A cause and effect essay is the type of paper that the author is using to analyze the causes and effects of a particular action or event. A curriculum usually includes this type of exercise to test your ability to understand the logic of certain events or actions.

If you can see the logic behind cause and effect in the world around you, you will encounter fewer problems when writing. If not, writing this kind of paper will give you the chance to improve your skillset and your brain’s ability to reason.

“Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

In this article, the  Handmade Writing team will find out how to create an outline for your cause and effect essay – the key to successful essay writing.

Types of the Cause and Effect Essay

Before writing this kind of essay, you need to draft the structure. A good structure will result in a good paper, so it’s important to have a plan before you start. But remember , there’s no need to reinvent the wheel: just about every type of structure has already been formulated by someone.

If you are still unsure about the definition of an essay, you can take a look at our guide:  What is an Essay?

Generally speaking, there are three types of cause and effect essays. We usually differentiate them by the number of and relationships between the different causes and the effects. Let’s take a quick look at these three different cases:

1. Many causes, one effect

This kind of essay illustrates how different causes can lead to one effect. The idea here is to try and examine a variety of causes, preferably ones that come from different fields, and prove how they contributed to a particular effect. If you are writing about World War I, for example, mention the political, cultural, and historical factors that led to the great war.

By examining a range of fundamental causes, you will be able to demonstrate your knowledge about the topic.

Here is how to structure this type of essay:

• Introduction
• Cause #3 (and so on…)
• The effect of the causes

2. One cause, many effects

This type of cause and effect essay is constructed to show the various effects of a particular event, problem, or decision. Once again, you will have to demonstrate your comprehensive knowledge and analytical mastery of the field. There is no need to persuade the reader or present your argument . When writing this kind of essay, in-depth knowledge of the problem or event’s roots will be of great benefit. If you know why it happened, it will be much easier to write about its effects.

Here is the structure for this kind of essay:

• Effect #3 (and so on…)

3. Chain of causes and effects

This is the most challenging type. You need to maintain a chain of logic that demonstrates a sequence of actions and consequences, leading to the end of the chain. Although this is usually the most interesting kind of cause and effect essay, it can also be the most difficult to write.

Here is the outline structure:

• Effect #1 = Cause #2
• Effect #2 = Cause #3
• Effect #3 = Cause #4 (and so on…)

Cause and Effect Essay Outline Example

Let’s take a look at an example. Below, you will find an outline for the topic “The causes of obesity” (Type 1) :

As you can see, we used a blended strategy here. When writing about the ever-increasing consumption of unhealthy food, it is logical to talk about the marketing strategies that encourage people to buy fast food. If you are discussing fitness trainers, it is important to mention that people need to be checked by a doctor more often, etc.

In case you face some issues with writing your Cause and Effect essay, you can always count on our Essay Writers !

How do I start writing once I have drafted the structure?

If you start by structuring each paragraph and collecting suitable examples, the writing process will be much simpler. The final essay might not come up as a classic five paragraph essay – it all depends on the cause-effect chain and the number of statements of your essay.

In the Introduction, try to give the reader a general idea of what the cause and effect essay will contain. For an experienced reader, a thesis statement will be an indication that you know what you are writing about. It is also important to emphasize how and why this problem is relevant to modern life. If you ever need to write about the Caribbean crisis, for instance, state that the effects of the Cold War are still apparent in contemporary global politics. 

Related Post: How to write an Essay introduction | How to write a Thesis statement

In the Body, provide plenty of details about what causes led to the effects. Once again, if you have already assembled all the causes and effects with their relevant examples when writing your plan, you shouldn’t have any problems. But, there are some things to which you must pay particular attention. To begin with, try to make each paragraph the same length: it looks better visually. Then, try to avoid weak or unconvincing causes. This is a common mistake, and the reader will quickly realize that you are just trying to write enough characters to reach the required word count.

Moreover, you need to make sure that your causes are actually linked to their effects. This is particularly important when you write a “chained” cause and effect essay (type 3) . You need to be able to demonstrate that each cause was actually relevant to the final result. As I mentioned before, writing the Body without preparing a thorough and logical outline is often an omission.

The Conclusion must be a summary of the thesis statement that you proposed in the Introduction. An effective Conclusion means that you have a well-developed understanding of the subject. Notably, writing the Conclusion can be one of the most challenging parts of this kind of project. You typically write the Conclusion once you have finished the Body, but in practice, you will sometimes find that a well-written conclusion will reveal a few mistakes of logic in the body!

Cause and Effect Essay Sample

Be sure to check the sample essay, completed by our writers. Use it as an example to write your own cause and effect essay. Link: Cause and effect essay sample: Advertising ethic issues .

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Cause and Effect of Social Media Essay Sample

Decades before, thoughts or ideas were communicated through letters or direct speech. Now, communicating has become easier since social media debuted. No doubt, it has improved the need to go through life with fewer personal confrontations.

While this is an amazing innovation that spreads news faster, consuming different digital technologies and misuse of social networking has done more harm than good. The increased social platform usage has many adverse results on youths and adults.

This social platform usage has been ingrained into our world today, such that it’s almost impossible to communicate if one isn’t on any social platform.

As the popularity of social media continues to scale, there’s been questions about how it affects the world. That’s why in this essay, we’ll discuss the causes and effects of social platforms in our society today.

Causes of Social Media Problems

The impact of social media cannot be underestimated. Being connected to people socially has sometimes eased our stress and anxiety and helped us to interact.

Social media plays a significantly positive role in the 21st century as people use it regularly. Given its popularity, social media matters serve as a good cause and effect topic for an essay that is actively discussed online. There’s a plethora of online sites —from Facebook to Instagram and Twitter that have proven to be among the benefits of social media.

Nowadays, social media has become an integral part of our lives. It has become a significant part of our day-to-day activities, especially for students. It can be a great tool for communicating, networking and even seeking services, such as a dissertation writing service . It can be argued that social media has changed the way we think, act, and interact with society. Social media has created a new platform for connecting people from all over the world, something that was unprecedented before.

However, while this technology has streamlined communication which is the primary benefit of social media, it has also negatively impacted society. This form of networking that has now become very valued in communication seems to have several adverse consequences on teenagers, youths, and adults.

The misuse of online platforms as propaganda or discriminatory tool, just to mention a few, has sparked several debates and essays on the causes and effects of social media, as detailed below in this essay.

Peer pressure

This is definitely among the leading negative effects of social media. Despite the social media law that has been passed, youths and adults continue to remain active in social media apps usage. In modern times, social media has effectively formed a platform where people can connect and show off their lifestyles with live videos, pictures, or reel posts. Seeing what peers are up to online can influence a person badly. For example, the need to look cool to their buddies has prompted people to indulge in various vices like smoking.

This has led to irrational assessments of others, including increased unrealistic expectations of people. In turn, there has been a rise in insecurities, doubted safety, and health crisis.

There are many ways social media affects our lives and influences our thinking and behavior, especially for young adults. For one, it has led many people to be vulnerable and make risky decisions and choices that have now become an uprising issue worldwide.

To deal with this cause effectively, it’s important that you create or emulate positive peer pressure. Parents and guardians also play a huge role in controlling their wards’ media. They can do this by regulating their wards’ social media, which prevents young adults from seeing content that may cause bad peer pressure. This is a key factor in combating peer pressure on social media. This process also includes looking out for symptoms of virtual peer pressure in people like withdrawal or depression.

Vices From Entertainment

Some content being put out by entertainers daily is another bad consequence online platforms encourage. It has affected people badly and promoted a series of vices such as profanity, nudity or pornography, and drug use, among others.

Furthermore, online platforms have democratized entertainers with large audiences so much that online fans would rather impersonate what they do or say in movies or songs rather than being themselves. This outcome, although not perceived as adverse by the majority, can endanger many followers on social media.

While avoiding seeing some content on online media may be difficult, you can reduce this by constantly taking breaks from online platforms or engaging in educational tasks like essay writing or sports like Basketball.

The most random memes or videos can unintentionally promote racism. This racial hostility, intentional or unintentional, has, in many encounters, led to aggressive problems on online platforms. This subject has also been covered by several essays on social problems by top online essay writing service that properly discuss its outcomes on people and why it should be avoided. Further, apart from ethnic or racial wars, such insensitivity may cause, these essays also state there are certain problems it causes to affected individuals.

According to Assistant Professor Adam McCready, “Most powerfully, we found out that students reported encounters with racial hostility on social media directly predicted their health outcomes.” However, these causes and outcomes on social media have been found in mostly younger people, preventing them from properly paying attention to their daily school work, like essays.

Individual Differences

Unfortunately, individual differences are one of the many causes and effects of social media problems. Haughty people tend to be abusive while “proving points” on the internet. This sometimes results in insults or even racial slurs on online platforms.

Thus, giving social media users on platforms like Instagram the ability to be vile to one another or to prove or share certain points. It has also increased many behavioral problems on social media and may result in violence in reality.

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

Since online media is accessible, it has become an easy way to snare attention for a long time, prompting people to frequent online platforms like Twitter or Instagram to share or post. This same technology can have detrimental effects on our well-being if we don’t practice moderation. It can be a distraction from tasks that need to be completed, such as writing assignments for you . It can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, or depression. It’s important to be aware of the impact social media can have on our mental health and take steps to use it responsibly.

The interconnectivity, round-the-clock and constant alerts that FOMO causes affect people’s concentration and focus. A great example of a cause and effect essay about social media explaining FOMO is employees with social media accounts. Rather than spend time on job tasks, many have developed the habit of checking their accounts multiple times daily. Sadly, this has resulted in bad time management and affects workflows regularly.

Social Media Effects

There are currently several negative effects of social media that affect people’s lifestyles and need to be mentioned in this essay. In fact, the current negative outcomes of social media are growing rapidly.

The main purpose of this essay is to highlight the many disadvantages of online platforms in an open document and see why the younger generation takes social media too seriously.

As mentioned earlier, online platforms can impact teens in a negative way by distracting them or exposing them to unrealistic views. Positive measures like cause and effect writing on social media problems promote building online networks to solve this problem. Some impacts of social media are detailed below.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is one of the disturbing effects of social media. It involves using the internet to harass, embarrass, or target other people. This includes sending hurtful texts, posting embarrassing videos, or spreading rumors online.

As it turns out, cyberbullying doesn’t affect teens alone. Many adults can also be victims of online abuse. While online platforms make making friends easy, it also encourages online bullying with people being anonymous, so it creates privacy issues too.

There are several consequences of cyberbullying experiences, from being vulnerable to feeling depressed or suicidal. However, to curb this cyberbullying situation, all accounts and devices should be protected. People must also refrain from responding to online bullies.

It’s also imperative to educate people about the effect of cyberbullying and read essays that discuss the impact of social media.

Depression and anxiety

Many trends about being visible on every media social platform have led to severe responsibilities in young adults.

Further, being insulted or bullied online can cause depression and anxiety. Likewise, luxurious lifestyles shared on online platforms or well-to-do people calling people “broke” can make such people feel they are not doing well in real life, which can result in depression.

Social Comparison

Social comparison is the next effect we’d like to focus on. It occurs when people compare the daily life of others with their own. But they don’t consider that many people post only the highlights, such as achievements and greatest moments, rather than mundane activities that make up most of their typical day.

Nevertheless, people comparing their face and lives to the idolized version of others can cause an inferiority complex.

Social Media Addiction

Similar to drug use, the excessive use of certain activities can trigger dopamine to recreate feelings of pleasure and reward.

While there’s no harm in using online media applications regularly, the process of scrolling and receiving information faster is a part of the triggering social media problems. Information on how to avoid using social media excessively, which is often presented in an essay on the topic, can help addicted people to minimize negative outcomes like disrupted sleep, procrastination, reduced real-world interaction, and slacking on tasks.

Misinformation

The last effect of social media platforms is allowing an easy spread of misinformation on every online website. This is due to the ease of access and the speed at which information diffuses across the media. Misinformation on the web can make people lose opportunities, miss important deadlines like submission of college essays, or even cause mental problems!

This essay has highlighted some of the major causes and effects of social media problems. The causes include peer pressure, entertainment vices, and individual differences, while depression, cyberbullying, and misinformation belong to the effects.

These causes and effects deviate from the primary purpose of social media – building relationships, connecting people, and helping communicate. To avoid the stated negative outcomes, people must acknowledge them and carry out actions to prevent them.

Social media has infiltrated the daily lives of millions of people around the world. It has drastically changed the way we communicate and interact with each other and can be both beneficial and detrimental for individuals. Writing a cause and effect essay about the influence of social media can be an interesting and informative task, but it can also be difficult to do without proper guidance. Whether you’re looking for a template to get started, tips for writing the essay, or just need some extra help, there are many sources of assignment help online available to help you create an impressive cause and effect essay.

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Cause and Effect Essay Topics

That’s why cause-and-effect essays are one of the most commonly assigned writing assignments in all of academia. They test a student’s ability to draw connections and make logical arguments as well as research abilities and writing skills. 

They can be very enjoyable to write if you know the fundamentals of essay writing, understand what this type of essay requires, and choose the right topic. In this article, you’ll get a brief overview of what a cause and effect essay is, tips on how to choose the right topic, and a list of over 150 topics to inspire you!

What is a Cause and Effect Essay?

A cause and effect essay is a writing assignment that asks you to explore the causes of certain events and link them to their outcomes. These types of essays can be focussed on the causes, the effects, or both. They can follow the typical 5 paragraph essay format, or they can have more body paragraphs than usual, depending on the complexity of the topic chosen. 

How to Choose a Cause and Effect Essay Topic

Since the entire paper will be about the causes and effects of your topic, choosing the right topic is vitally important for this type of essay. Sometimes teachers give a general theme to follow which makes it easier to choose a specific topic. Having the freedom to choose any topic you want can be daunting but as long as you keep the following points in mind, you’ll find an excellent topic to write about. 

• If you’ve been assigned a theme, spend time brainstorming several ideas to get a unique and interesting topic.
• Get ideas about what you want to write about from articles you’ve recently read. This will also give you a headstart on research.
• Take a broad topic and narrow it down to specific issues and relationships.
• The scope of your essay shouldn’t be too broad or too narrow. Think about your word count and choose a topic you can explore properly within that limit.
• You should always have facts and research to back up any claims you’re making, so choose a topic that has credible information available.
• Use personal conversations and experiences to narrow down the list of potential topics.
• Make sure there are a clear cause and effect relationship to explore in your topic. 
• Always try and choose a topic that you feel personally interested in. Passion will make the research more enjoyable, make your writing more interesting, and cut down on the amount of time you spend on the assignment.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics List for Students

Cause and effect essay topics for high school.

20 topics for cause and effect essay for high school students related to their experiences and chosen to match the level of complexity expected. 

Can student activism cause changes in the world?

What is the impact of growing up a child of divorce?

What are the main causes of anxiety in high school?

What are the effects of having very rich or famous parents?

How does having a messy room impact productivity?

What are the reasons that comic book movies rarely get Academy Awards?

Why is music better today, or why was it better in the past?

Why do students cheat?

What are the effects of playing group sports on social bonding?

What should people do to avoid getting sick?

Can online shopping cause shopping addiction?

Why are some video games more fun than others?

Why are oil spills so bad for marine ecosystems?

Why does weight have such a large impact on self-esteem?

What is the effect of family vacation on family relationships?

Why are people afraid of trying new things?

Why should humans protect endangered species?

How does theoretical physics affect the real world?

What are the long-term effects of vaping?

Is there a connection between bullying culture and school violence?

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Cause and Effect Essay Topics for College Students

Here’s a collection of 20 unique topics for college-level papers that will benefit from research and deep analytical skills.

Why do so many Americans still live in poverty?

What is the impact of underage drinking?

How does fasting impact your overall health?

What would be the difference if an asteroid impacted land or ocean?

Why do we buy so many things we don’t need?

What is the UN doing to combat modern-day slavery?

What is the impact of religious oppression in a country?

Why do sports and physical activity release endorphins?

Why is Japan more technologically advanced than many countries in the world?

How has the internet affected education in remote villages in developing nations?

How did Christianity shape colonialism?

Why is it dangerous not to finish a course of prescription medication?

What are the effects of picture and video apps on self-esteem?

Should standardized testing have such a large impact on a student’s future?

What is the impact of colonialism on modern-day Africa?

What is the impact of distance learning on mental health?

What are the benefits of studying in a group versus studying alone?

Is it possible to date and still be focused on academics?

Do violent movies and video games lead to real-life violence?

What is the impact of being raised in a multi-generational household?

Cause and Effect Essay Topics for Middle School

These 20 topics are perfect for teenagers to think about and should inspire them to write a fantastic essay. 

What is the effect of bullying on school culture and school spirit?

Why is it important to think about the environment?

What are the effects of spending time in nature?

What were the causes of World War II?

How has Covid-19 changed your daily routine?

What would happen if everybody did only what they wanted to?

What is the connection between music and mathematics?

How can social media and the internet reduce loneliness?

Why was the invention of the steam engine so important?

Describe a society where people learned to get along with each other.

Should famous people who say or do bad things lose their fans?

Why do countries close to the equator usually have spicy food?

What has been the effect of rap lyrics on poetry?

What are some of the benefits of colonizing Mars?

How do video games affect academic achievement?

What is the role of parental punishment on motivation?

What are the benefits of celebrating holidays from different religions?

What is the fallout from posting an unpopular story on Instagram?

How can you build a successful social media channel?

How does having a fun teacher affect student motivation?

Cause and Effect Essay Topics for Elementary Level

While these types of essays can become very complex, it is important for young children to start understanding the connection between things and exploring causes and effects at an early age. Here are 20 topics perfect for kids!

Why is it important to learn to share?

Why is it important to eat a good breakfast?

What have you learned from your favorite cartoon character?

How does the weather impact your mood?

Why should children get more time to play?

How do you feel after getting a good night’s sleep?

Why should Santa Claus bring you the toys you want?

What would you do if you saw an injured animal?

Why are birthdays important?

Why is riding a bike good for the environment?

How would having a smartphone improve your life?

How does being an older brother or sister make you different?

How does being a younger brother or sister make you different?

Why is it important to learn math?

Do having pets make you more responsible?

What are the effects of bullying on the bully?

What is the impact of your favorite Marvel superhero on the plot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

What are the causes and effects of being popular?

Why is littering bad for society?

Why is it important to eat vegetables?

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Cause and Effect Essay Topics Ideas

Fun cause and effect essay topics.

20 good cause and effect essay topics that are just plain fun to think about!

How are esports going to change the future?

What would it be like to give up all social media as a high school student?

Should people with more money be taxed at a higher rate?

Are periodic revolutions good for the progression of society?

How does smiling affect how long you live?

What are the benefits of owning a pet?

What started the domestication of animals by humans?

How has the use of cell phones affected in-person interaction?

What would be the impact on society if people could directly vote for every important issue?

What makes Elon Musk such a magnetic person?

What would the world be like if Facebook never existed?

Why are young people better at gaming than older people?

How is virtual reality going to change entertainment?

Why have science fiction movies become so popular over the last decade?

What responsibilities should social media influencers automatically be aware of?

What was the impact of Star Wars on the film industry?

How did YouTube change the way humans create and consume media?

Would Harry Potter have been less popular if the main character was a woman?

What effect does the language you speak have on the way you think?

What would the impact of raising the minimum wage be?

Easy Cause and Effect Essay Topics

You don’t have to write something too complicated to get a good grade! Here are 20 easy essay topic examples for your paper. 

What are the main causes of teenage smoking?

How do school uniforms improve cohesion and morale?

What is the impact of sweet fruit juices on health?

What role does the media have on public opinion?

What are the benefits of traveling abroad?

Do people feel better after crying?

Does using a smartphone right before sleeping negatively impact sleep quality?

Why is it more difficult for immigrants to find a job?

What are the effects of working out too much?

Does online dating make people have lower social skills?

How can improving time management reduce stress?

What is the impact of family stability on academic performance?

How does attending college impact lifelong earning potential?

Why is Google the most popular search engine?

How is carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas?

Why was the #Metoo movement so important?

What are the benefits of reading for pleasure as a child?

How has globalization impacted the role of women in societies?

What are the negative impacts of sound pollution?

How can a single species impact large ecosystems?

Personal Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Go over these 20 essay topics to write an essay that relies more on self reflection and personal growth. 

How has your favorite book impacted your life?

Is parenthood always a rewarding experience?

How does being selfish eventually impact oneself negatively?

What are the impacts of optimism on happiness?

How can a single individual make a significant change in the world?

How can meditation improve quality of life?

How has guilt affected your life personally?

How do people do bad things without realizing it?

Why are people afraid of commitment?

How does being in an abusive relationship impact both people?

What is the impact of being a minority on self-identity?

What is the connection between overthinking and depression?

How has the most significant relationship in your life shaped you?

How does getting older impact the ability to learn new things?

Why do people chase a feeling of control?

What are the impacts of living with someone with a mental disorder?

How long does it take to get over a serious breakup?

What are the reasons you want to be rich?

What would make you happy?

What is the best way of using social power?

Interesting Cause and Effect Essay Topics

20 interesting essay topics that will make your essay stand out amongst the crowd. 

What are some of the ways the world would have been different if the axis powers won WWII?

Do strikes and protests work effectively for different types of issues?

What would happen to coastal populations if ocean levels increased by 2 meters?

How much do tv shows and movies impact the way people think about other countries?

What has been the impact of rising internet penetration rates in developing countries?

What social care measures should countries implement in the face of catastrophes like Covid-19?

What is the connection between science and religion?

What would you do if you could become president of the world for 1 year?

How do phytoplankton in the ocean impact life on Earth?

Why is going to college an indicator of long-term happiness?

Why are certain video games popular amongst certain groups?

How does someone decide which music genre is their favorite?

How is artificial intelligence going to change the military and therefore the world?

What makes someone exceptional in their chosen field?

What are the most important characteristics of a good boss?

Can escapism be beneficial in situations such as trauma?

Does living together before marriage hurt or harm the long-term relationship?

What effect do different colors have on mood?

Is the continued growth of technology going to make people value in-person events more?

How has the first amendment impacted countries around the world?

Controversial Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Here are 20 controversial topics to think about. Be warned! You’ll have to do really solid research and make your point eloquently.

What was the impact of American foreign policy during the Cold War?

Does stem cell research have the potential to save millions of lives?

How do genetically modified crops impact the human body?

How do increasing temperatures impact rates of transmissible diseases?

How do oil-producing companies and their lobbies impact the search for renewable energy?

How do fashion companies end up employing children in sweatshops?

Can pizza now be considered an American food?

How do kings, queens, or any form of royalty impact the society of a country?

What are some of the negative outcomes of social Darwinism?

Why did the communism of the Soviet Union fail?

What has China’s one-child policy done to advance economic growth in the country?

How have sedition laws been used to censor free speech?

If artificial intelligence develops sentience, should they be given human rights?

How does a bad president impact that country's international reputation?

What are the roots of Russia’s aggressive international policies?

What are the negative impacts of the introduction of nonnative species?

What are the effects of gun regulation laws on murder rates around the world?

Are certain drugs beneficial for psychiatric treatment?

What was the root of the eugenics movement around the world in the early 1900s?

What has the impact of animal testing been on human health?

Final Thoughts

If you want to delve deep into a particular topic and analyze the causes and effects, a cause and effect essay is the perfect choice for you. It can be a fascinating process if you choose the right topic. This article has provided you with 180 topics to consider and guidelines on selecting a topic. If you need any help with coursework writing , research paper writing service , or custom essay writing , Studyfy's team of professional writers and dissertation writing services can guide you in the right direction. Additionally, their essay editing and proofreading services can help you improve your essay and make it stand out. Choose Studyfy, the best essay service , to help you achieve academic success.

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Free Cause and Effect Essay Examples

The title of this essay genre dispels all your concerns about the needed contents. You should build the link between two events or phenomena based on their cause-and-effect relationships. Mind that if one comes after another does not necessarily mean there is causality between them. Be sure to mention if the event or idea you describe is only a tiny part of the general structure.

The samples below comprise subjects ranging from history and economy to ecology and personal health.

Explore our cause-and-effect essay examples for free to boost your inspiration and get a general idea of how the writing should be done.

146 Best Cause and Effect Essay Examples

Political landscape in the us.

• Subjects: Government Politics & Government
• Words: 1989

Enlightenment and Revolution

• Subjects: History Western Europe
• Words: 3089

Clean Air Act Formation and Impact

• Subjects: Environmental Law Law

The Causes of Obesity and Its Effects on Fertility

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Healthy Nutrition

Identifying and Assessing the Economic Costs and Benefits of WTO Negotiations Failure

• Subjects: Economics Trade
• Words: 4789

The Implications of Global Loss of Mangrove Ecosystems?

• Subjects: Ecosystem Environment
• Words: 5155

The Position of Wage Labor in the United States

• Subjects: Labor Law Law
• Words: 2034

Battle of Omdurman Consequences

• Subjects: Asia History

Role of International Financial Institutions in 2008 Financial Crisis

• Subjects: Economics Financial Growth
• Words: 4455

The Caste War of Yucatan

• Subjects: History Native Americans History

US’s Financial Crises in 2008

• Subjects: Economic Systems & Principles Economics
• Words: 5016

Universal Healthcare in The United States

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Healthcare Institution
• Words: 1934

Causes of Depression in the 1890s

• Subjects: History United States
• Words: 2809

Chinese Manhua History Development

• Subjects: Cultural Studies Culture
• Words: 5401

The Role of the Railroads in the Settlement of the Great West

• Subjects: Railway Transport Transportation

The Homestead Strike

• Words: 2004

Russian Revolution: What Went Down?

• Subjects: Eastern Europe History

Financial Effects of Globalization

• Subjects: Economics Globalization

Procedural Programming Languages

• Subjects: Programming Tech & Engineering

Business & Empire – The British Ideal of an Orderly World

• Subjects: History Medieval History
• Words: 2271

New Deal Programs: Key Elements and Effects

• Words: 1113

Fire and Community Evacuation in Apex, NC

• Subjects: Business Impact of Business Issues

Causes and Effects of Divorce

• Subjects: Family, Life & Experiences Relationships
• Words: 1169

Mineral Resource Rent Tax Policy

• Subjects: Economics Taxation
• Words: 4483

Scarcity of Water in Saudi Arabia, Africa and Australia

• Subjects: Ecology Environment
• Words: 1713

The Financial and European Economic Crisis 2008 – 2012

• Words: 1119

Asian Drivers of Global Change

• Subjects: Economics International Trade Policy
• Words: 2654

Problem of Sleep Deprivation

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Neurology
• Words: 1408

The Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire

• Subjects: Accidents & Protection Tech & Engineering

The Impacts of FDIs and Trade to the Asian Pacific Regions

• Subjects: Economic Problems Economics
• Words: 2317

The Effect of Famine in North Korea

• Words: 1679

The Impact of the Pilkington Report on the British Television in the 1960s

• Subjects: Entertainment & Media TV
• Words: 2755

How and in what ways, did the use of print change the lives of early modern Europeans?

• Words: 1933

Technological Development in Trade and Its Impacts on Poverty

• Words: 1981

The Environment, Resources, and Their Economic Effects

• Subjects: Environment Environmental Studies
• Words: 2180

The Rules of Engagement and the Laws of Armed Conflict

• Subjects: International Relations Politics & Government
• Words: 1918

Spain’s Financial Crisis

Effects of alcohol abuse on women.

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Pharmacology

Children’s Personal and Social Development

• Subjects: Development Psychology
• Words: 1720

World War 2 Consequences

• Subjects: Warfare World War II
• Words: 1085

Global Financial Crisis Causes and Impacts

• Words: 1646

Impact of Plastics on the Environment

The causes and consequences of world war two, theoretical perspective on the giraffe’s adaptation.

• Subjects: Sciences Zoology

Effects of Internet Use in Society

• Subjects: Internet Tech & Engineering

Russian Popular Culture: History, Development, and Effect of Technologies

• Subjects: Culture Worldwide Cultures
• Words: 2210

The Effects of Background Television on the Toy Play Behavior of Very Young Children

• Words: 1356

Cruise Competition in Tourism Industry

• Subjects: Tourism Trips and Tours

Reform-Women’s Rights and Slavery

Water shortage’ major causes and implication.

• Words: 1368

Divorce and its Impacts on Family Members

• Words: 1657

British Policy and the Indian Mutiny

• Subjects: History World History
• Words: 1135

Impact of Regional Azerbaijan-Armenia War on Neighbouring Countries and Foreign Policies

• Words: 2329

The Rise and fall of Napoleon and The Cause of Revolution

• Words: 1348

Consequences of the New Age of the Image on Writing and Reading

• Subjects: Literature Modernist Literature

Sale of Forests in United Kingdom

• Subjects: Ecological Identity Environment
• Words: 1065

How Non-Sales Factors Affect Sales in an Organisation

• Subjects: Business Marketing

Why Europe Went to War

• Subjects: Warfare World War I
• Words: 1941

Risks and Benefits of Greater EU Integration for International Business

• Words: 1372

Effect of a Permanent Increase in Oil Price on Inflation and Output

• Subjects: Economics Inflation

Competition in an Oligopolistic Market

Wwi-war: revolution, and reconstruction, the influence on health of economic inequality.

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Public Health
• Words: 1952

Current and Future Population Problems in Pakistan

• Subjects: Overpopulation Sociology
• Words: 2430

The Impact of Racial Thought on the Aboriginal People in Relation to Australian History

• Words: 1361

Global Financial Crisis Impact on Australian and World Economies

• Words: 1429

Global Warming Effects: Greenhouse Gas and the Earth’s Atmosphere

• Subjects: Environment Global Warming

Life Expectancy in the Developing World

Chinas history and relations, the asian pacific americans.

• Subjects: Immigration Sociology
• Words: 1742

Air law- does criminalisation of the operator prevent an accident from happening again?

• Subjects: Law Transportation Law
• Words: 2163

Cause and Effect of Child Abuse

• Subjects: Child Psychology Psychology

Effects of Globalization on Native Non-Western Cultural Practices

• Subjects: Cultural Issues Culture
• Words: 1689

Saudi Oil and Global Economic

• Subjects: Business Industry
• Words: 1070

Indigenous animals in the Gulf

• Words: 1130

The Global Economic Recession of the United States

• Words: 1360

Expensive Healthcare in the USA: What are the causes?

Role of marriage/family & singlehood.

• Subjects: Sociological Issues Sociology

The long run effect of the Eurozone crisis in Germany and Greece

• Subjects: Economics Macroeconomics
• Words: 2263

Urban Sprawl and Environmental and Social Problems

• Subjects: Air Pollution Environment

Causes and Effects of Studying In Australia

• Subjects: Education Education Abroad

How Harley Davidson Affected American Motorcycle Riding Today

• Subjects: Business Company Analysis
• Words: 1144

Tailor-made work programs: Their Impact on Young People in a Modern Society

• Subjects: Education Education Issues
• Words: 1926

Consequences of Illegal Immigrants on America’s Economy

• Words: 1079

Causes and Effects of Iran’s Continued Quest for a Nuclear Weapons Program

How the aftermath of the war of independence affected the lives of african slaves in the north and south.

• Subjects: African American Studies History

Cause of the Financial Crisis

• Words: 1675

Migration Flows Cause and Effect in US

Factor that cause immigration, technology impact on society and environment.

• Subjects: Tech & Engineering Technology Effect

Violence in Movies and Its Effects

• Subjects: Entertainment & Media Movies

The Causes and Effect of the Computer Revolution

• Words: 1094

Cause and effect analysis of tourism

• Words: 1021

Cause and effect analysis of camping

• Words: 1080

The Effects of Noise Pollution

Violent movies and children, cuban americans throughout the u.s. history.

• Words: 3184

Infrastructure in Lebanon

• Subjects: Economics Influences on Political Economy
• Words: 1376

Use of Marijuana and Its Consequences

• Subjects: Drug and Alcohol Addiction Sociology

Cause and Effect of Getting Married

Causes of civil war.

• Words: 1658

Alcoholism and the Impact Colonization Has Had on Aboriginals

• Words: 2734

Arguing on Planet Earth – Environmental issues: Outline

• Words: 1345

Social Networks and Self-Esteem

Teenage pregnancy causes and effects.

• Subjects: Socialization Sociology

Climate Change Definition and Description

• Subjects: Climate Change Environment
• Words: 1627

Procrastination Issues: Cause and Effect

• Subjects: Philosophical Concept Philosophy

Cause and Effect of Oil Prices on the U.S. and World Economy

The side effects of drinking alcohol.

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Healthcare Research
• Words: 1096

Cause and effects of the mortgage crisis

Modern europe formation: east european studies, cheating on college exams is demoralizing, the impact of media on society.

• Subjects: Entertainment & Media Media and Society

Constitution and Government System

• Words: 1212

How Did Religion Affect the Pattern of Colonization in America and Life in Those Colonies?

Social & historical transformations caused by the ‘book’ as the first mass medium.

• Subjects: Advertising Entertainment & Media

Historical US Relationships With Native American

• Subjects: Culture Ethnicity Studies
• Words: 1387

Climate Change: Causes and Effects

What are the causes of the increased lack of internet privacy, the rise of democracy.

• Words: 1105

• Grades 6-12
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137 Intriguing Cause & Effect Essay Topics for Students

Teach critical thinking, logic, and the art of persuasion.

Cause-and-effect essays aren’t just a way to help students strengthen their writing skills. They’ll also learn critical thinking, logic, and the art of persuasion. In addition, they teach students to demonstrate how one thing directly influences another. Coming up with engaging cause-and-effect essay topics can be challenging, but we have you covered. This list of ideas includes a variety of topics that range from social and cultural movements to mental health and the environment.

Science and Environment Cause & Effect Essay Topics

• Describe the effect of urbanization on the environment.
• What is the impact of air pollution on health?
• What are the causes and consequences of plastics on marine life?
• What is the impact of rising sea temperatures on fish and marine life?
• Describe the impact of human behavior on global warming.

• What is the effect of social media on environmentalism?
• What causes volcanic eruptions?
• What causes trees to die?
• What are the effects of gravity?
• Why are plants green?
• Why do trees shed their leaves?
• What causes a species to become endangered?
• What are some of the causes of animals losing their habitats?
• Describe the effect of overpopulation on the environment.
• What are the effects of famine on human population?
• What are the causes and effects of Antarctica floods?
• What are the effects of pollution on the ocean?
• What effect do cars have on the environment?
• Why is it important to manage wildfires?
• What has been the impact of DNA on crime scene processing?

• What are the impacts of deforestation in Brazil?
• What are the effects of GMO foods on human health?
• What are the impacts of immunizations on human health?

Technology and Social Media Cause & Effect Essay Topics

• What are the effects of social media on adolescent development?
• How does technology affect productivity?
• What are the effects of video games on childhood development?
• How do cell phones affect human relationships?
• What are some reasons a teacher might ban cell phones from class?

• What effects do cell phones have on sleep?
• What effects did the invention of the Internet have on technology?
• What were the origins of cyberbullying?
• What are the effects of tablet use on small children?
• How has online dating changed relationships?
• What makes some people less likely to use social media?
• What are the effects of social media on privacy?
• How does the rise of TikTok affect Facebook and Instagram?
• In what ways could social media lead to extremism?
• What is the impact of social media on the increasing popularity of plastic surgery and other enhancements?

• What are some of the benefits of owning a smartphone and what are some of the drawbacks?
• What has been the impact of online shopping on brick-and-mortar stores?
• What has been the impact of smartphones on marriages and relationships?
• What are the causes and effects of texting while driving?
• What has the rise of “influencers” meant for Hollywood?
• In what ways have photo filters influenced young people’s self-esteem?

Culture and Social Issues Cause & Effect Essay Topics

• What are some of the reasons for substance abuse in young people?
• What are some of the effects of bullying?
• How does economic status affect the quality of health care?
• What are some of the causes of homelessness?
• Explain the effects of ignorance on discrimination.
• What are the impacts of death sentences on social justice?

• How does financial success affect societal privilege?
• What effects does growing up poor have on children?
• In what ways does religion influence society?
• What are the effects of immigration on a host country?
• What are the effects of ageism on job opportunities?
• What is the impact of LGBTQ+ representation in TV and movies?
• What are the effects of school shootings on politics?
• How do school uniforms affect students?
• What are the impacts of high student debt?
• What are the impacts of body shaming on people?
• What were the lasting impacts of the AIDS epidemic on society?

• What impact does banning abortion have in the United States?
• What has been the impact of marriage equality in the United States?
• What are the causes and effects of noise pollution?
• What are the causes and effects of inflation on the economy?
• What are the effects of TV shows on our behavior?

Sports Cause & Effect Essay Topics

• Examine the effects of exercise on mental health.
• What led to baseball being an iconic American sport?
• What drives people to participate in extreme sports?
• In what ways did globalization affect modern sports?
• What were the effects of doping on amateur and professional sports?
• Select a sport and write about the historical factors that led to the popularization of that sport.

• Describe the ways in which youth sports influence a child’s development.
• What were the driving forces behind the first Olympics?
• How can team sports help develop social skills?
• How have e-sports changed the sporting landscape?
• In what ways do race biases influence sports?

• What are the effects of regular workouts on immunity?
• How does participating in sports affect leadership skills?
• In what ways can sports lead to character development?
• What effect does famous athletes’ social commentary have on their fans?

History Cause & Effect Essay Topics

• What are the effects of the war in Syria on the United States?
• What have been the lasting effects of the Civil Rights Movement?
• What were the causes and effects of the attack on Pearl Harbor?
• What led up to the Berlin Wall being torn down and what effects did that have?

• What lasting impact did 9/11 have on modern American society?
• What were the causes of the Salem Witch Trials?
• What was the cultural impact of the Spanish-American War?
• How has globalization led to modern-day slavery?
• What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
• What were the impacts of the Great Depression on women’s employment?
• How did cartels come into existence? What effect have they had on the United States and Mexico?
• What were the causes and effects of the Women’s Liberation Movement?
• Give an example of colonialism in history and name the resulting impact to the affected society.

• What led to the rise of ISIS and what has the impact been on international security?
• What factors led to the Titanic’s sinking?
• What were the causes and effects of the Vietnam War?
• Choose an American president. What led him to become president and what were the effects of his presidency?

Mental Health Cause & Effect Essay Topics

• How can stress affect the immune system?
• How does social anxiety affect young people?
• How can high academic expectations lead to depression?
• What are the effects of divorce on young people?
• How does service in the armed forces lead to post-traumatic stress disorder?

• What are the effects of mindfulness on mental health?
• Describe the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted mental health.
• How does childhood trauma impact childhood development?
• What impact does witnessing violence have on mental health?
• What is behind increasingly high levels of anxiety in modern American society?

• What are the causes and effects of panic attacks?
• What are the causes and consequences of high stress in the workplace?
• What are some of the causes of insomnia and in what ways does it affect mental health?
• What is the impact of staying home for an extended period of time?

Current Events Cause & Effect Essay Topics

• Choose a local public education campaign. What are the effects of that campaign?
• What are the causes and effects of migration?
• What are the causes and effects of terrorist attacks?

• What are the effects of legalizing genetic engineering research?
• How do low voting rates impact elections and government?
• What is the effect of raising the minimum wage?
• What are the effects of globalization on society?
• How does gerrymandering affect election outcomes?
• What are the causes and effects of police brutality?
• What are the causes and effects of political polarization?

• What are the causes and effects of fake news?
• What are the effects of global war on citizens?
• What is the effect of international aid on poverty or health?
• Why do some countries have nuclear weapons, and what does this mean for other countries?

Education Cause & Effect Essay Topics

• What are the effects of teacher quality on student success?
• What are the causes and effects of student loan debt?
• What are the causes and effects of low graduation rates?

• What are the effects of assigning homework?
• What are the causes and effects of school funding disparities?
• What are the causes and effects of the digital divide in education?
• What is the effect of AI on education?
• What are the causes and effects of student burnout?
• Should students be required to study a foreign language in school, and what are the effects of learning a foreign language?

• What effect has the COVID pandemic had on education?
• What are the effects of same-sex classrooms or schools?

What are your best cause-and-effect essay topics for students? Come exchange ideas in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out our list of interesting persuasive essay topics for kids and teens..

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Cause And Effect Essay Writing

How to Write Cause and Effect Essays in Simple Steps

11 min read

Published on: Mar 13, 2020

Last updated on: Mar 25, 2024

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Are you struggling to wrap your head around cause and effect essays? Don’t worry; you’re not alone. 

These essays might seem complex at first glance, but with the right approach, they can become easier to write.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll look into what cause and effect essays are, how to structure them, and provide valuable tips and examples to help you understand this type of writing.

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What is a Cause and Effect Essay?

A cause and effect essay is a type of essay writing that explores the relationship between events, actions, or phenomena (causes) and their outcomes or consequences (effects) . 

In this type of essay, the writer analyzes how one event leads to another, providing insights into the underlying causes and the resulting effects. Cause and effect essays aim to explain the connections between various occurrences and explain the reasons behind certain outcomes. 

They often require critical thinking, careful analysis, and the use of evidence and examples to support arguments.

You may confuse cause-and-effect essays with compare and contrast essays . While cause and effect essays focus on analyzing the relationship between events, compare and contrast essays examine similarities and differences between two or more subjects or ideas.

How to Structure a Cause and Effect Essay

There are two main structural types commonly used to write a cause and effect essay: the block structure and the chain structure.

Block Structure

In the block structure, the writer first discusses all the causes of the event in one section, followed by a separate section dedicated to discussing all the effects.

This cause and effect essay format allows for a clear separation between the causes and effects, making it easier for the reader to understand the relationships between them.

Use the block structure when:

• There are multiple causes and effects to discuss, and you want to provide a comprehensive overview of each.
• You prefer a clear separation between causes and effects for easier understanding.

Chain Structure

In the chain structure, each cause is followed immediately by its corresponding effect(s), creating a chain-like sequence of events.

This structure emphasizes the direct relationship between each cause and its effect, providing a more immediate and interconnected narrative.

Use the chain structure when:

• You want to emphasize the direct relationship between each cause and its effect.
• You're discussing a series of events that occur in a linear or chronological order.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Creating an outline is essential for organizing your thoughts and structuring your cause and effect essay effectively. 

Here's a basic outline to guide you through the writing process:

Need a detailed outline guide? Be sure to check out our blog on " Cause and Effect Essay Outline " for a comprehensive breakdown of how to organize your essay.

How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay

Writing a cause and effect essay involves examining the reasons (causes) and outcomes (effects) of a particular event, phenomenon, or situation. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you craft an effective cause and effect essay:

Step 1: Choose a Topic

Start by selecting a topic that interests you and has clear cause-and-effect relationships. It could be a social issue, scientific phenomenon, historical event, or any other subject with identifiable causes and effects. 

For example, "The Effects of Climate Change on Wildlife Populations" or "Causes of Obesity in Developed Countries."

Step 2: Conduct Research

Gather relevant information and evidence to support your thesis statement . Look for credible sources such as academic journals, books, government reports, and reputable websites. 

Ensure you have a thorough understanding of both the causes and effects related to your chosen topic.

Step 4: Develop a Thesis Statement

Craft a clear and concise thesis statement that outlines the main causes and effects you will discuss in your essay. Your thesis should provide a roadmap for the reader and clearly state your position on the topic. 

For instance, "The rise in carbon emissions from human activities is leading to severe consequences for global ecosystems."

Step 5: Outline your Essay

Create a structured outline that organizes your ideas and arguments logically. Divide your essay into introduction , body paragraphs (each discussing a specific cause or effect), and conclusion . 

Each body paragraph should focus on one cause or effect and provide supporting details and evidence.

Step 6: Write the Introduction

Begin with an engaging introduction that provides background information on the topic and introduces your thesis statement. 

Hook the reader's attention with an interesting fact, statistic, or anecdote related to your topic. Clearly state the purpose of your essay and preview the main points you will discuss.

Step 7: Body Paragraphs

In the body paragraphs, explore the causes or effects of the topic in detail. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the cause or effect you will be discussing. 

Then, provide evidence and examples to support your claim. Use data, statistics, expert opinions, and real-life examples to strengthen your arguments. Make sure to explain the causal relationship between the factors you're discussing.

Step 8: Transition Between Paragraphs

Use transition words and sentences to smoothly transition between paragraphs and maintain coherence throughout your essay. 

These transitions help guide the reader through your arguments and ensure a logical flow of ideas.

Step 9: Write the Conclusion

Summarize the main points of your essay in the conclusion and restate your thesis statement. Reflect on the significance of your findings and emphasize the importance of understanding the causes and effects of the topic. 

Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion; instead, offer insights or suggestions for further research or action.

Step 10: Revise and Edit

Review your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy. Make sure each paragraph contributes to the overall argument and that your ideas are well-supported by evidence.

Once you've made revisions and edits, finalize your essay by formatting it according to the guidelines provided by your instructor or publication. 

Double-check citations and references to ensure they are accurate and properly formatted according to the required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).

Cause and Effect Essay Examples

When writing a cause and effect essay for the first time, it is recommended to go through a few examples. It will help you understand the structure and how to use a method effectively.

The following are some of the great cause and effect examples free to use.

Cause and Effect Essay

Cause and Effect Essay Sample

Climate Change Cause and Effect Essay

Poverty Cause and Effect Essay

Air Pollution Cause and Effect Essay

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Here are some cause and effect essay topics:

• The Impact of Climate Change on Extreme Weather Events
• The Rise of Mental Health Disorders Among Adolescents
• The Effects of Social Media on Political Polarization
• The Consequences of Deforestation on Biodiversity Loss
• The Relationship Between Income Inequality and Social Mobility
• The Impact of Technology on Human Relationships
• The Causes and Effects of the Global Obesity Epidemic
• The Effects of Air Pollution on Public Health
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employment
• The Causes and Consequences of Refugee Crises

These topics reflect current societal concerns and offer opportunities for in-depth analysis of cause-and-effect relationships. If you need more such ideas check out our cause and effect essay topics  blog!

Tips for Writing a Cause and Effect Essay

Here are additional tips for writing a cause and effect essay:

• Establish Clear Connections: Clearly establish the causal relationships between different factors to help readers understand the cause-and-effect dynamics of the topic.
• Avoid Oversimplification: Recognize that most events have multiple causes and effects, so avoid oversimplifying complex phenomena by considering various factors and their interactions.
• Consider Chronology: When discussing historical events, consider the chronological sequence of causes and effects to provide a clear narrative structure.
• Focus on Significance: Highlight the significance of your findings by discussing the broader implications of the causes and effects you've identified.
• Reflect and Synthesize: In the conclusion, reflect on the insights gained from analyzing the causes and effects and synthesize your findings to provide a cohesive understanding of the topic.

To conclude, writing a cause and effect essay can be a rewarding experience that allows you to look into complex issues. By following the guidelines outlined in this guide and applying your critical thinking skills, you can create compelling essays that inform and engage your audience. 

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6.6: Cause and Effect

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Learning Objectives

• Determine the purpose and structure of cause and effect in writing.
• Understand how to write a cause-and-effect essay.

The Purpose of Cause and Effect in Writing

It is often considered human nature to ask, “why?” and “how?” We want to know how our child got sick so we can better prevent it from happening in the future, or why our colleague a pay raise because we want one as well. We want to know how much money we will save over the long term if we buy a hybrid car. These examples identify only a few of the relationships we think about in our lives, but each shows the importance of understanding cause and effect.

A cause is something that produces an event or condition; an effect is what results from an event or condition. The purpose of the cause-and-effect essay is to determine how various phenomena relate in terms of origins and results. Sometimes the connection between cause and effect is clear, but often determining the exact relationship between the two is very difficult. For example, the following effects of a cold may be easily identifiable: a sore throat, runny nose, and a cough. But determining the cause of the sickness can be far more difficult. A number of causes are possible, and to complicate matters, these possible causes could have combined to cause the sickness. That is, more than one cause may be responsible for any given effect. Therefore, cause-and-effect discussions are often complicated and frequently lead to debates and arguments.

Use the complex nature of cause and effect to your advantage. Often it is not necessary, or even possible, to find the exact cause of an event or to name the exact effect. So, when formulating a thesis, you can claim one of a number of causes or effects to be the primary, or main, cause or effect. As soon as you claim that one cause or one effect is more crucial than the others, you have developed a thesis.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Consider the causes and effects in the following thesis statements. List a cause and effect for each one on your own sheet of paper.

• The growing childhood obesity epidemic is a result of technology.
• Much of the wildlife is dying because of the oil spill.
• The town continued programs that it could no longer afford, so it went bankrupt.
• More young people became politically active as use of the Internet spread throughout society.
• While many experts believed the rise in violence was due to the poor economy, it was really due to the summer-long heat wave.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

Write three cause-and-effect thesis statements of your own for each of the following five broad topics.

• Health and nutrition

The Structure of a Cause-and-Effect Essay

The cause-and-effect essay opens with a general introduction to the topic, which then leads to a thesis that states the main cause, main effect, or various causes and effects of a condition or event.

The cause-and-effect essay can be organized in one of the following two primary ways:

• Start with the cause and then talk about the effects.
• Start with the effect and then talk about the causes.

For example, if your essay were on childhood obesity, you could start by talking about the effect of childhood obesity and then discuss the cause or you could start the same essay by talking about the cause of childhood obesity and then move to the effect.

Regardless of which structure you choose, be sure to explain each element of the essay fully and completely. Explaining complex relationships requires the full use of evidence, such as scientific studies, expert testimony, statistics, and anecdotes.

Because cause-and-effect essays determine how phenomena are linked, they make frequent use of certain words and phrases that denote such linkage. See Table \(\PageIndex{1}\): “Phrases of Causation” for examples of such terms.

Table \(\PageIndex{1}\): Phrases of Causation

The conclusion should wrap up the discussion and reinforce the thesis, leaving the reader with a clear understanding of the relationship that was analyzed.

Be careful of resorting to empty speculation. In writing, speculation amounts to unsubstantiated guessing. Writers are particularly prone to such trappings in cause-and-effect arguments due to the complex nature of finding links between phenomena. Be sure to have clear evidence to support the claims that you make.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)

Look at some of the cause-and-effect relationships from Note 10.83 “Exercise 2” . Outline the links you listed. Outline one using a cause-then-effect structure. Outline the other using the effect-then-cause structure.

Writing a Cause-and-Effect Essay

Choose an event or condition that you think has an interesting cause-and-effect relationship. Introduce your topic in an engaging way. End your introduction with a thesis that states the main cause, the main effect, or both.

Organize your essay by starting with either the cause-then-effect structure or the effect-then-cause structure. Within each section, you should clearly explain and support the causes and effects using a full range of evidence. If you are writing about multiple causes or multiple effects, you may choose to sequence either in terms of order of importance. In other words, order the causes from least to most important (or vice versa), or order the effects from least important to most important (or vice versa).

Use the phrases of causation when trying to forge connections between various events or conditions. This will help organize your ideas and orient the reader. End your essay with a conclusion that summarizes your main points and reinforces your thesis. See below to read a sample cause-and-effect essay:

Effects of Video Game Addiction

Video game addition is a serious problem in many parts of the world today and deserves more attention. It is no secret that children and adults in many countries throughout the world, including Japan, China, and the United States, play video games every day. Most players are able to limit their usage in ways that do not interfere with their daily lives, but many others have developed an addiction to playing video games and suffer detrimental effects.

An addiction can be described in several ways, but generally speaking, addictions involve unhealthy attractions to substances or activities that ultimately disrupt the ability of a person to keep up with regular daily responsibilities. Video game addiction typically involves playing games uncontrollably for many hours at a time—some people will play only four hours at a time while others cannot stop for over twenty-four hours. Regardless of the severity of the addiction, many of the same effects will be experienced by all.

One common effect of video game addiction is isolation and withdrawal from social experiences. Video game players often hide in their homes or in Internet cafés for days at a time—only reemerging for the most pressing tasks and necessities. The effect of this isolation can lead to a breakdown of communication skills and often a loss in socialization. While it is true that many games, especially massive multiplayer online games, involve a very real form of e-based communication and coordination with others, and these virtual interactions often result in real communities that can be healthy for the players, these communities and forms of communication rarely translate to the types of valuable social interaction that humans need to maintain typical social functioning. As a result, the social networking in these online games often gives the users the impression that they are interacting socially, while their true social lives and personal relations may suffer.

Another unfortunate product of the isolation that often accompanies video game addiction is the disruption of the user’s career. While many players manage to enjoy video games and still hold their jobs without problems, others experience challenges at their workplace. Some may only experience warnings or demerits as a result of poorer performance, or others may end up losing their jobs altogether. Playing video games for extended periods of time often involves sleep deprivation, and this tends to carry over to the workplace, reducing production and causing habitual tardiness.

Video game addiction may result in a decline in overall health and hygiene. Players who interact with video games for such significant amounts of time can go an entire day without eating and even longer without basic hygiene tasks, such as using the restroom or bathing. The effects of this behavior pose significant danger to their overall health.

The causes of video game addiction are complex and can vary greatly, but the effects have the potential to be severe. Playing video games can and should be a fun activity for all to enjoy. But just like everything else, the amount of time one spends playing video games needs to be balanced with personal and social responsibilities.

Online Cause-and-Effective Essay Alternatives

Lawrence Otis Graham examines racism, and whether it has changed since the 1970s, in The “Black Table” Is Still There :

• http://scremeens.googlepages.com/TheBlackTableessay.rtf

Robin Tolmach Lakoff discusses the power of language to dehumanize in From Ancient Greece to Iraq: The Power of Words in Wartime :

• http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/18/science/essay-from-ancient-greece-to-iraq-the-power-of-words-in-wartime.html

Alan Weisman examines the human impact on the planet and its effects in Earth without People :

• http://discovermagazine.com/2005/feb/earth-without-people

Exercise \(\PageIndex{4}\)

Choose one of the ideas you outlined in Note 10.85 “Exercise 3” and write a full cause-and-effect essay. Be sure to include an engaging introduction, a clear thesis, strong evidence and examples, and a thoughtful conclusion.

Key Takeaways

• The purpose of the cause-and-effect essay is to determine how various phenomena are related.
• The thesis states what the writer sees as the main cause, main effect, or various causes and effects of a condition or event.
• Start with the cause and then talk about the effect.
• Start with the effect and then talk about the cause.
• Strong evidence is particularly important in the cause-and-effect essay due to the complexity of determining connections between phenomena.
• Phrases of causation are helpful in signaling links between various elements in the essay.

Cause and Effect in Writing for Success by University of Minnesota is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 unless where otherwise noted.

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Cause & effect essays Aka reason and result

The Cause and effect essay is another common essay type, either as an essay type on its own, or as part of a larger essay which includes one or more paragraphs examining causes and effects. This page gives information on what a cause and effect essay is , how to structure this type of essay, and how to use cause and effect structure words (transition signals) for this type of essay. There is also an example cause and effect essay on the topic of women at work, as well as some exercises to help you practice this area.

What are cause & effect essays?

For another look at the same content, check out YouTube » or Youku » , or this infographic » .

A cause and effect essay looks at the reasons (or causes) for something, then discusses the results (or effects). For this reason, cause and effect essays are sometimes referred to as reason and result essays. They are one of the most common forms of organisation in academic writing. Sometimes the whole essay will be cause and effect, though sometimes this may be only part of the whole essay. It is also possible, especially for short exam essays, that only the causes or the effects, not both, are discussed. See the examples below.

• Discuss the causes and effects of global warming ['cause and effect' essay]
• Explain the high death rate in Chernobyl ['causes' only essay]
• Discuss the WTO and its effects on the Chinese economy ['effects' only essay]

There are two main ways to structure a cause and effect essay. These are similar to the ways to structure problem-solution essays , namely using a block or a chain structure. For the block structure, all of the causes are listed first, and all of the effects are listed afterwards. For the chain structure, each cause is followed immediately by the effect. Usually that effect will then be the cause of the next effect, which is why this structure is called 'chain'. Both types of structure have their merits. The former is generally clearer, especially for shorter essays, while the latter ensures that any effects you present relate directly to the causes you have given.

The two types of structure, block and chain , are shown in the diagram below.

Cause and Effect Structure Words

Cause and effect structure words are transition signals which show the cause and effect relationships. It is important to be clear which is the cause (or reason) and which is the effect (or result), and to use the correct transition word or phrase. Remember that a cause happens first , and the effect happens later .

Below are some common cause and effect structure words. X is used to indicate a cause, while Y is used to indicate the effect.

• The first cause of (Y) is (X)
• The next reason is (X)
• Because of (X), (Y)
• As a result of (X), (Y)
• As a consequence of (X), (Y)
• because/since/as (X)
• to result from (X)
• (X) results in (Y)
• to be the result of (X)
• (Y) is due to (X)
• Owing to (X), (Y)
• (Y) is because of (X)
• (Y) is the effect of (X)
• (Y) is the consequence of (X)
• Worsening pollution levels in cities are due to the increased use of cars.
• Because of the increased use of cars, pollution levels in cities are worsening.
• As a result of the increased use of cars, pollution levels in cities are worsening.
• The effect of the increased use of cars is a worsening of pollution levels in cities.
• The first effect of (X) is (Y)
• Another result of (X) is (Y)
• As a result, (Y)
• As a consequence, (Y)
• Consequently (Y)
• Therefore, (Y)
• (X) causes (Y)
• (X) has an effect on (Y)
• (X) affects (Y)
• (X) is one of the causes of (Y)
• (X) is the reason for (Y)
• Cars are used increasingly for urban transport. As a consequence , pollution levels in cities are worsening.
• Increased use of cars for urban transport adversely affects pollution levels in cities.
• Increased use of cars for urban transport is one of the causes of worsening pollution levels in cities.

Example essay

Below is a cause and effect essay. This essay uses the block structure . Click on the different areas (in the shaded boxes to the right) to highlight the different structural aspects in this essay, i.e. Causes, Effects, and structure words. This will highlight not simply the paragraphs, but also the thesis statement and summary , as these repeat the causes and effects contained in the main body.

Title: More and more women are now going out to work and some women are now the major salary earner in the family. What are the causes of this, and what effect is this having on families and society?

In the past, most women stayed at home to take care of domestic chores such as cooking or cleaning. Women's liberation and feminism have meant that this situation has been transformed and in contemporary society women are playing an almost equal role to men in terms of work. This has had significant consequences , both in terms of the family , for example by improving quality of life and increasing children's sense of independence , and also for society itself with greater gender equality . The main reasons behind the increase of women in the workplace are women's liberation and feminism. The women's liberation movement originated in the 1960s and was popularised by authors such as Simone de Beauvoir. As a consequence of this, new legislation emerged, granting women equal rights to men in many fields, in particular employment. Because of feminist ideas, men have taken up roles which were previously seen as being for women only, most importantly those related to child rearing. As a result of this, women have more time to pursue their own careers and interests. These have led to some significant effects, both to family life and to society as a whole. Although the earning capacity of a woman in her lifetime is generally much less than that of a man, she can nevertheless make a significant contribution to the family income. The most important consequence of this is an improved quality of life. By helping to maintain a steady income for the family, the pressure on the husband is considerably reduced, hence improving both the husband's and the wife's emotional wellbeing. Additionally, the purchasing power of the family will also be raised. This means that the family can afford more luxuries such as foreign travel and a family car. A further effect on the family is the promotion of independence in the children. Some might argue that having both parents working might be damaging to the children because of a lack of parental attention. However, such children have to learn to look after themselves at an earlier age, and their parents often rely on them to help with the housework. This therefore teaches them important life skills. As regards society, the most significant impact of women going to work is greater gender equality. There are an increasing number of women who are becoming politicians, lawyers, and even CEOs and company managers. This in turn has led to greater equality for women in all areas of life, not just employment. For example, women today have much stronger legal rights to protect themselves against domestic violence and sexual discrimination in the workplace. In conclusion, the increasing number of women at work has brought about some important changes to family life, including improved quality of life and increased independence for children, as well as affecting society itself. It is clear that the sexes are still a long way from being equal in all areas of life, however, and perhaps the challenge for the present century is to ensure that this takes place.

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Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.

Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).

Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.

Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).

Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.

Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.

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Cause And Effect Essay Guide

How To Write A Cause and Effect Essay - Outline & Examples

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Best Cause and Effect Essay Examples To Get Inspiration + Simple Tips

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How to Create a Cause and Effect Outline - An Easy Guide

Writing a cause and effect essay seems complicated and overwhelming, especially if you're unsure about where to start or how to structure your essay.

You might feel stuck, staring at a blank page, or confused by all the rules and guidelines. It's frustrating not to have clear examples and easy explanations to guide you through the process.

But don't worry!

In this blog, we will break down the complexities of cause and effect essays into simple, understandable steps. We will provide clear examples and straightforward tips, making essay writing easy. 

Let's read on.

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• 1. What is a Cause and Effect Essay 
• 2. Cause And Effect Essay Structure 
• 3. How To Write A Cause And Effect Essay 
• 4. Cause and Effect Essay Format
• 5. Cause And Effect Essay Examples 
• 6. Cause And Effect Essay Topics 
• 7. Tips for Writing Cause and Effect Essays

What is a Cause and Effect Essay 

According to cause and effect essay definition:

It is a type of academic writing that explores the reasons behind an event or situation (the cause) and the outcomes or consequences that result from it (the effect). 

In this essay, you have to dig deeper into the "why" and "what happens next" aspects of a particular topic.

Understanding Causes and Effects 

Consider the below questions to evaluate the effectiveness of a cause and effect essay:

• What are the causes and effects?
• What elements should be emphasized?
• Are there single or multiple effects and causes?
• How to list causes and effects in an essay?

The Purpose of a Cause and Effect Essay 

The primary goal of writing a cause and effect essay is to provide insights into how different elements relate to one another. It helps readers comprehend the underlying reasons for certain events or phenomena. It enables you to:

• Uncover Connections: Explore and explain the links between causes and their effects.
• Analyze Events: Break down complex events into manageable parts.
• Illustrate Patterns: Highlight recurring patterns and trends in various situations.

Cause And Effect Essay Structure 

A well-structured cause and effect essay outline is crucial for effectively conveying your ideas and insights. 

Here's how to craft an organized and compelling cause and effect essay:

How To Write A Cause And Effect Essay 

Writing a cause and effect essay can be a rewarding experience, allowing you to explore the relationships between events and their consequences. 

To help you craft an effective cause and effect essay, here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Choose the Essay Topic 

Begin by choosing a topic that has significance and relevance. Look for subjects with clear cause-and-effect relationships to ensure your essay has a solid foundation. 

Consider both personal interests and the potential appeal to your target audience.

Step 2: Conduct Thorough Research 

Research is a fundamental step. Gather reliable information, data, and examples related to your chosen topic. 

Understanding the causes and effects comprehensively is vital for crafting a well-informed and persuasive essay.

Step 3: Create a Strong Thesis 

Your thesis statement is the core of your essay. It should clearly state whether you are focusing on causes, effects, or both. 

A well-crafted thesis provides direction for your essay and helps readers understand your essay's purpose.

Step 4: Structure Your Essay with an Outline 

An outline serves as a roadmap for your essay. It should detail the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. 

Each paragraph should have a specific focus on a single cause or effect, ensuring a logical and organized flow.

Step 5: Craft Engaging Introduction 

The cause and effect essay introduction is your first impression. Use a compelling hook to capture the reader's attention. 

Provide necessary background information to help your audience understand the context. 

Clearly state your thesis to set the stage for what's to come in your essay.

Step 6: Develop Detailed Body Paragraphs 

The body of your essay is where you explore causes and effects in depth. Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence that introduces a specific cause or effect. 

Provide detailed explanations, supporting evidence, and illustrative examples to back your points. 

Use smooth transitions to maintain a coherent flow between paragraphs.

Step 7: Address Counter Arguments in the Antithesis Paragraph 

To present a well-rounded perspective, include an antithesis paragraph. This section allows you to acknowledge opposing viewpoints related to your topic. 

By addressing counter arguments, your essay becomes more comprehensive and persuasive.

Step 8: Write an Effective Conclusion 

The conclusion should wrap up your essay effectively. Restate your thesis statement for cause and effect essay to remind readers of your main argument. 

Summarize the key insights discussed throughout your essay. 

Conclude with a thought-provoking sentence that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.

Cause and Effect Essay Format

In addition to structuring your cause and effect essay effectively, adhering to formatting guidelines is essential.

Here are the key formatting guidelines to follow:

• Font Type: Opt for widely accepted fonts such as Times New Roman or Arial. These fonts are easy to read and maintain consistency in your document.
• Font Size: Keep the text within your essay at a 12-point font size. This standard size ensures that your content is legible and easily comprehensible.
• Line Spacing : You have two choices for line spacing: either 1.5 or double line spacing. Double spacing may be more suitable for lengthy essays, while 1.5 spacing strikes a balance between readability and conservation of space.
• Alignment: Align your text to justify, which means both the left and right margins are straight. This creates a clean and organized appearance for your essay, enhancing its overall professionalism.
• Margins: Maintain one-inch margins on all sides of the document to give your essay a neat and well-structured look.

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Cause And Effect Essay Examples 

To gain a better understanding of how cause and effect essays are structured and written, it's often helpful to explore examples of cause and effect essays. 

Here are a few cause and effect essay pdfs that you can use as a starting point to guide your writing:

Cause And Effect Essay Sample

Cause And Effect Essay On Global Warming

Cause And Effect Essay On Climate Change

Covid 19 Cause And Effect Essay

Social Media Cause And Effect Essay

Poverty Cause And Effect Essay

Air Pollution Cause And Effect Essay

Cause And Effect Essay Examples College

Looking for more examples? Check out this cause and effect essay examples blog!

Cause And Effect Essay Topics 

Selecting the right topic is the foundation of a compelling cause and effect essay.. Here's a collection of thought-provoking topics that can serve as a great starting point for your essay:

• The Causes and Effects of Bullying on Mental Health
• The Impact of Divorce on Children
• The Causes and Effects of Global Warming on Human Health
• The Long term Effects of Peer Pressure on Decision-Making
• The Causes of Stress in the Modern World
• The Impact of Online Shopping on Traditional Retail
• The Causes and Effects of Immigration
• The Causes and Effects of Teenage Rebellion
• The Impact of Cell Phones on Personal Relationships
• The Causes and Effects of Political Polarization

Need more topics? Read our cause and effect essay topics blog!

Tips for Writing Cause and Effect Essays

Crafting a compelling cause and effect essay requires a thoughtful approach. Here are some valuable tips to help you excel in your essay writing process:

• Hook Your Readers: Begin with a compelling hook in your introduction to engage your audience from the start.
• Provide Detailed Explanations: In your body paragraphs, offer detailed explanations, supporting evidence, and examples for causes and effects.
• Use Transitional Phrases: Employ transitional words and phrases to ensure a smooth and logical flow between ideas.
• Consider Opposing Views: Include an antithesis paragraph to acknowledge contrasting viewpoints on your chosen topic.
• Tailor to Your Audience: Think about your target readers and adapt your language and examples to their understanding and interest levels.
• Avoid Plagiarism: Properly cite and reference all sources to maintain academic integrity and prevent plagiarism.
• Maintain Objectivity: Keep an objective tone throughout your essay, focusing on presenting well-supported causes and effects rather than personal opinions.
• Revise for Clarity: Review your essay to ensure that your cause-and-effect relationships are effectively and clearly conveyed.

All in all, this complete guide, examples, and tips will surely help you learn how to write a cause and effect essay step by step. Moreover, it will also refine your skills to get a better grade.

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15.9 Cause-and-Effect Essay

Learning objective.

• Read an example of the cause-and-effect rhetorical mode.

Effects of Video Game Addiction

Video game addition is a serious problem in many parts of the world today and deserves more attention. It is no secret that children and adults in many countries throughout the world, including Japan, China, and the United States, play video games every day. Most players are able to limit their usage in ways that do not interfere with their daily lives, but many others have developed an addiction to playing video games and suffer detrimental effects.

An addiction can be described in several ways, but generally speaking, addictions involve unhealthy attractions to substances or activities that ultimately disrupt the ability of a person to keep up with regular daily responsibilities. Video game addiction typically involves playing games uncontrollably for many hours at a time—some people will play only four hours at a time while others cannot stop for over twenty-four hours. Regardless of the severity of the addiction, many of the same effects will be experienced by all.

One common effect of video game addiction is isolation and withdrawal from social experiences. Video game players often hide in their homes or in Internet cafés for days at a time—only reemerging for the most pressing tasks and necessities. The effect of this isolation can lead to a breakdown of communication skills and often a loss in socialization. While it is true that many games, especially massive multiplayer online games, involve a very real form of e-based communication and coordination with others, and these virtual interactions often result in real communities that can be healthy for the players, these communities and forms of communication rarely translate to the types of valuable social interaction that humans need to maintain typical social functioning. As a result, the social networking in these online games often gives the users the impression that they are interacting socially, while their true social lives and personal relations may suffer.

Another unfortunate product of the isolation that often accompanies video game addiction is the disruption of the user’s career. While many players manage to enjoy video games and still hold their jobs without problems, others experience challenges at their workplace. Some may only experience warnings or demerits as a result of poorer performance, or others may end up losing their jobs altogether. Playing video games for extended periods of time often involves sleep deprivation, and this tends to carry over to the workplace, reducing production and causing habitual tardiness.

Video game addiction may result in a decline in overall health and hygiene. Players who interact with video games for such significant amounts of time can go an entire day without eating and even longer without basic hygiene tasks, such as using the restroom or bathing. The effects of this behavior pose significant danger to their overall health.

The causes of video game addiction are complex and can vary greatly, but the effects have the potential to be severe. Playing video games can and should be a fun activity for all to enjoy. But just like everything else, the amount of time one spends playing video games needs to be balanced with personal and social responsibilities.

Online Cause-and-Effective Essay Alternatives

Lawrence Otis Graham examines racism, and whether it has changed since the 1970s, in The “Black Table” Is Still There :

• http://scremeens.googlepages.com/TheBlackTableessay.rtf

Robin Tolmach Lakoff discusses the power of language to dehumanize in From Ancient Greece to Iraq: The Power of Words in Wartime :

• http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/18/science/essay-from-ancient-greece-to-iraq-the-power-of-words-in-wartime.html

Alan Weisman examines the human impact on the planet and its effects in Earth without People :

• http://discovermagazine.com/2005/feb/earth-without-people

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• Published: 05 June 2024

Misunderstanding the harms of online misinformation

• Ceren Budak   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7767-3217 1 ,
• Brendan Nyhan   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7497-1799 2 ,
• David M. Rothschild   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7792-1989 3 ,
• Emily Thorson   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6514-801X 4 &
• Duncan J. Watts   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5005-4961 5  

Nature volume  630 ,  pages 45–53 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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The controversy over online misinformation and social media has opened a gap between public discourse and scientific research. Public intellectuals and journalists frequently make sweeping claims about the effects of exposure to false content online that are inconsistent with much of the current empirical evidence. Here we identify three common misperceptions: that average exposure to problematic content is high, that algorithms are largely responsible for this exposure and that social media is a primary cause of broader social problems such as polarization. In our review of behavioural science research on online misinformation, we document a pattern of low exposure to false and inflammatory content that is concentrated among a narrow fringe with strong motivations to seek out such information. In response, we recommend holding platforms accountable for facilitating exposure to false and extreme content in the tails of the distribution, where consumption is highest and the risk of real-world harm is greatest. We also call for increased platform transparency, including collaborations with outside researchers, to better evaluate the effects of online misinformation and the most effective responses to it. Taking these steps is especially important outside the USA and Western Europe, where research and data are scant and harms may be more severe.

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Many blame social media for poor mental health among teenagers, but the science is murky

If Jordy had a switch to instantly shut down social media, she would flip it.

"I'd switch it off, 100 per cent, even if it was for a week, just so people could have that taste of what it would be like," she said.

Now in her first year out of school, the 18-year-old studies nursing at university and works at a local cafe in Charleville, a small town 745 kilometres west of Brisbane, where she has lived most of her life.

Like Australian teenagers everywhere, she has another life online.

"It's like a second world, really," she said.

"You have reality and then you have social media — two extremely different things."

At the moment, she spends an average of five-and-a-half hours a day on her phone, but it's lower than her peak during high school.

"When I first got a phone I was on it constantly, probably like seven hours, eight hours a day," she said.

She has cut back since then because that second world was not always kind, especially when it came to body image — and despite the fact her parents were always strict about phone usage.

"Growing up, I've always been a big girl … and a sporty person — I'm pretty healthy," she said.

"But when we see images, it tends to be just very thin, skinny people.

"It can just take you down, with the click of your fingers."

Jordy was also being bullied at school, but social media meant it could happen around the clock, no matter where she was.

"A group of boys at my school had tagged me on TikTok telling me to go kill myself," she said.

"It was just so heartbreaking. I was just like, 'I go to school with you every day, we've never had an issue in the past.' That's probably the worst thing that's happened."

Jordy's mental health was tanking, and she began to withdraw from activities she used to love, like footy training or seeing friends.

"I just felt so scared to talk to my mum … I was just like, 'I don't want my mum to think I'm using social media the wrong way'," she said.

No matter how bad things got, logging off still felt impossible.

"It was like that fear of missing out, I guess. I think that's the addiction thing, right?" she said.

"You sort of just have to be on your phone to socialise."

Does more screen time cause worse mental health in teenagers?

Teen mental health has deteriorated at an accelerating rate in the last two decades — more or less exactly since social media and smartphones started to become widespread in 2007.

For obvious reasons, many people, especially concerned parents, have leapt to the conclusion that tech is the culprit.

But the science is surprisingly murky, even though there is a link — research shows more screen time is associated with higher rates of depression in adolescents.

"What we know about the link is there's a link, and that's pretty much what we know," said Aliza Werner-Seidler, a senior researcher at the Black Dog Institute.

"We have really good correlational data, there is a strong linear relationship, particularly in young girls.

"What we don't know is about causation — so is young people's mental health leading them to spend more time on social media and screens, or is it actually the other way around?

"We don't know the direction of the effect."

Dr Werner-Seidler is one of thousands of researchers around the world trying to solve that mystery.

Even if many people are convinced they already know the answer because of their own experience online.

"Personally I would say that it's both," Jordy said.

After a session doomscrolling perfect bodies on TikTok, she "would feel horrible" about herself.

"But then I'd continue to use it and then it made me feel even worse."

After 17 years, why don't we have the answers yet?

Despite 17 years of widespread smartphones and social media, researchers still don't have enough data to definitively say whether they're to blame for deteriorating teen mental health.

Getting those long-term studies done is particularly difficult because trends, algorithms and habits change so quickly.

"When I started this work, TikTok wasn't even a thing … Snapchat, really has only taken off in the last decade or so," Dr Werner-Seidler said.

"It's a very fast-moving field. And so it's very, very difficult to get a handle on it before the next thing comes out."

Part of the problem is that studies have focused on overall screen time, instead of looking at what people were doing online.

"Are they FaceTiming with Grandma? Are they viewing distressing content? Are they being groomed online?" Dr Werner-Seidler said.

"This idea of nuance and it matters what people do and how they do it and how long for and with whom.

"We can't tell any of this information just by looking at how long young people spend on screens."

What social media companies know but don't say

The National Mental Health Commission has been investigating the relationship between digital tech and teen mental health.

On Friday it released its findings after months of consultation, noting the lack of longitudinal evidence and calling for further research to be made a "top priority".

Frustratingly for Dr Werner-Seidler, and other researchers in this area, the data that might solve the mystery does exist — but they can't access it.

"Big tech companies have all of this information," she said.

"If they were to share it with academics and scientists, we would be able to learn so much more, so much more quickly."

The data that has so far emerged in other ways, courtesy of lawsuits and whistleblowers such as Frances Haugen in 2021, has been disturbing.

Ms Haugen, a former Facebook employee, revealed detailed internal research showing Instagram was harmful for teenage girls.

One slide from an in-house presentation reportedly said: "We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls."

The peak body for Australia's technology industry — whose members include social media companies Meta, Snapchat and TikTok — has defended the sector's contribution to public research.

"DIGI's relevant members have long-standing research and community partnerships in mental health and online safety, and specific policies … informed by that work," a spokesperson said.

Depending on the platform, those policies might include parental controls, avenues to report inappropriate content and seek help, customisable settings, and age limits.

Adherence to those age limits has been mostly voluntary, and the federal government is spending $6.5 million on an age verification trial in the hopes of introducing a higher standard of proof.

Some social media companies are trying to get ahead of any future legislation.

Facebook's parent company Meta announced this week it would no longer allow Facebook users to edit their birthdate to say they're over 18 without verification — a feature that's been in place on Instagram in Australia since last year.

A window for change

The public and political mood when it comes to big tech has rarely been darker.

"I've never seen the appetite [for change] as strong as it is right now," said Alice Dawkins, executive director of Reset Tech Australia.

She says there's a window for change with the federal government currently reviewing its key legislation, the Online Safety Act.

"Our online safety laws are geared at protecting people from [one] another online … [but] there's virtually nothing that can be done about protecting people from the tech itself."

As it stands, companies are rarely obliged to share information on how their products, and not just the people using them, may cause harm.

"It's highly exceptional — think about other sectors, like food, like medicine, like toys — it's incredibly routine in those sectors to have risk assessment and risk mitigation of products," Ms Dawkins said.

"There's compounding public awareness of the problem … it's never been a more appropriate time for the government to legislate."

Dr Werner-Seidler said that for now, internal data was being used by big tech to keep users scrolling for as long as possible.

"These are commercial big companies [and] they use a whole bunch of engagement strategies to keep people coming back, and that is their goal," she said.

The conversation you need to have with your kids

Jordy eventually found the courage to tell her mum what was happening to her online.

"When it got really bad I was just like, 'Mum, I need to show you … this is what's happening.'"

After that, her parents insisted she cut back her screen time but, despite everything that had already happened, she still fought it.

"I was so mean to her … I would get so angry, I'd be like, 'Mum, it's not your life,'" she said.

But that was before Jordy noticed a big improvement in her mood and her grades.

"I'm thankful every day that my mum did what she did.

"You can't ever change the fact that your kids are going to use social media," said Jordy, although boundaries were useful in her case.

"Saying to your kids, 'What are you using social media for? Why do you have to be on social media?'

"For parents out there that are struggling, I think it's that conversation you need to have with your kids.

"As a kid, you're going to get frustrated, but it's really just parents trying to protect their kids from what's out there."

Mental health disorders among young people have soared by nearly 50 per cent in 15 years. The ABC is talking to youth, parents, and researchers about what's driving this pattern, and what can be done to turn things around.

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Why climate change is still the greatest threat to human health

Polluted air and steadily rising temperatures are linked to health effects ranging from increased heart attacks and strokes to the spread of infectious diseases and psychological trauma.

People around the world are witnessing firsthand how climate change can wreak havoc on the planet. Steadily rising average temperatures fuel increasingly intense wildfires, hurricanes, and other disasters that are now impossible to ignore. And while the world has been plunged into a deadly pandemic, scientists are sounding the alarm once more that climate change is still the greatest threat to human health in recorded history .

As recently as August—when wildfires raged in the United States, Europe, and Siberia—World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement that “the risks posed by climate change could dwarf those of any single disease.”

On September 5, more than 200 medical journals released an unprecedented joint editorial that urged world leaders to act. “The science is unequivocal,” they write. “A global increase of 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average and the continued loss of biodiversity risk catastrophic harm to health that will be impossible to reverse.”

Despite the acute dangers posed by COVID-19, the authors of the joint op-ed write that world governments “cannot wait for the pandemic to pass to rapidly reduce emissions.” Instead, they argue, everyone must treat climate change with the same urgency as they have COVID-19.

Here’s a look at the ways that climate change can affect your health—including some less obvious but still insidious effects—and why scientists say it’s not too late to avert catastrophe.

Air pollution

Climate change is caused by an increase of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere, mostly from fossil fuel emissions. But burning fossil fuels can also have direct consequences for human health. That’s because the polluted air contains small particles that can induce stroke and heart attacks by penetrating the lungs and heart and even traveling into the bloodstream. Those particles might harm the organs directly or provoke an inflammatory response from the immune system as it tries to fight them off. Estimates suggest that air pollution causes anywhere between 3.6 million and nine million premature deaths a year.

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“The numbers do vary,” says Andy Haines , professor of environmental change and public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and author of the recently published book Planetary Health . “But they all agree that it’s a big public health burden.”

People over the age of 65 are most susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollution, but many others are at risk too, says Kari Nadeau , director of the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research at Stanford University. People who smoke or vape are at increased risk, as are children with asthma.

Air pollution also has consequences for those with allergies. Carbon dioxide increases the acidity of the air, which then pulls more pollen out from plants. For some people, this might just mean that they face annoyingly long bouts of seasonal allergies. But for others, it could be life-threatening.

“For people who already have respiratory disease, boy is that a problem,” Nadeau says. When pollen gets into the respiratory pathway, the body creates mucus to get rid of it, which can then fill up and suffocate the lungs.

Even healthy people can have similar outcomes if pollen levels are especially intense. In 2016, in the Australian state of Victoria, a severe thunderstorm combined with high levels of pollen to induce what The Lancet has described as “the world’s largest and most catastrophic epidemic of thunderstorm asthma.” So many residents suffered asthma attacks that emergency rooms were overwhelmed—and at least 10 people died as a result.

Climate change is also causing wildfires to get worse, and wildfire smoke is especially toxic. As one recent study showed, fires can account for 25 percent of dangerous air pollution in the U.S. Nadeau explains that the smoke contains particles of everything that the fire has consumed along its path—from rubber tires to harmful chemicals. These particles are tiny and can penetrate even deeper into a person’s lungs and organs. ( Here’s how breathing wildfire smoke affects the body .)

Extreme heat

Heat waves are deadly, but researchers at first didn’t see direct links between climate change and the harmful impacts of heat waves and other extreme weather events. Haines says the evidence base has been growing. “We have now got a number of studies which has shown that we can with high confidence attribute health outcomes to climate change,” he says.

Most recently, Haines points to a study published earlier this year in Nature Climate Change that attributes more than a third of heat-related deaths to climate change. As National Geographic reported at the time , the study found that the human toll was even higher in some countries with less access to air conditioning or other factors that render people more vulnerable to heat. ( How climate change is making heat waves even deadlier .)

That’s because the human body was not designed to cope with temperatures above 98.6°F, Nadeau says. Heat can break down muscles. The body does have some ways to deal with the heat—such as sweating. “But when it’s hot outside all the time, you cannot cope with that, and your heart muscles and cells start to literally die and degrade,” she says.

If you’re exposed to extreme heat for too long and are unable to adequately release that heat, the stress can cause a cascade of problems throughout the body. The heart has to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the organs, while sweat leeches the body of necessary minerals such as sodium and potassium. The combination can result in heart attacks and strokes .

Dehydration from heat exposure can also cause serious damage to the kidneys, which rely on water to function properly. For people whose kidneys are already beginning to fail—particularly older adults—Nadeau says that extreme heat can be a death sentence. “This is happening more and more,” she says.

Studies have also drawn links between higher temperatures and preterm birth and other pregnancy complications. It’s unclear why, but Haines says that one hypothesis is that extreme heat reduces blood flow to the fetus.

Food insecurity

One of the less direct—but no less harmful—ways that climate change can affect health is by disrupting the world’s supply of food.

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Here’s what extreme heat does to the body

Climate change both reduces the amount of food that’s available and makes it less nutritious.   According to an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report , crop yields have already begun to decline as a result of rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events. Meanwhile, studies have shown that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can leech plants of zinc, iron, and protein—nutrients that humans need to survive.

Malnutrition is linked to a variety of illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. It can also increase the risk of stunting, or impaired growth , in children, which can harm cognitive function.

Climate change also imperils what we eat from the sea. Rising ocean temperatures have led many fish species to migrate toward Earth’s poles in search of cooler waters. Haines says that the resulting decline of fish stocks in subtropic regions “has big implications for nutrition,” because many of those coastal communities depend on fish for a substantial amount of the protein in their diets.

This effect is likely to be particularly harmful for Indigenous communities, says Tiff-Annie Kenny, a professor in the faculty of medicine at Laval University in Quebec who studies climate change and food security in the Canadian Arctic. It’s much more difficult for these communities to find alternative sources of protein, she says, either because it’s not there or because it’s too expensive. “So what are people going to eat instead?” she asks.

Infectious diseases  

As the planet gets hotter, the geographic region where ticks and mosquitoes like to live is getting wider. These animals are well-known vectors of diseases such as the Zika virus, dengue fever, and malaria. As they cross the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, Nadeau says, mosquitoes and ticks bring more opportunities for these diseases to infect greater swaths of the world.

“It used to be that they stayed in those little sectors near the Equator, but now unfortunately because of the warming of northern Europe and Canada, you can find Zika in places you wouldn’t have expected,” Nadeau says.

In addition, climate conditions such as temperature and humidity can impact the life cycle of mosquitoes. Haines says there’s particularly good evidence showing that, in some regions, climate change has altered these conditions in ways that increase the risk of mosquitos transmitting dengue .

There are also several ways in which climate change is increasing the risk of diseases that can be transmitted through water, such as cholera, typhoid fever, and parasites. Sometimes that’s fairly direct, such as when people interact with dirty floodwaters. But Haines says that drought can have indirect impacts when people, say, can’t wash their hands or are forced to drink from dodgier sources of freshwater.

Mental health

A common result of any climate-linked disaster is the toll on mental health. The distress caused by drastic environmental change is so significant that it has been given its own name— solastalgia .

Nadeau says that the effects on mental health have been apparent in her studies of emergency room visits arising from wildfires in the western U.S. People lose their homes, their jobs, and sometimes their loved ones, and that takes an immediate toll. “What’s the fastest acute issue that develops? It’s psychological,” she says. Extreme weather events such as wildfires and hurricanes cause so much stress and anxiety that they can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder and even suicide in the long run.

Another common factor is that climate change causes disproportionate harm to the world’s most vulnerable people. On September 2, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an analysis showing that racial and ethnic minority communities are particularly at risk . According to the report, if temperatures rise by 2°C (3.6°F), Black people are 40 percent more likely to live in areas with the highest projected increases in related deaths. Another 34 percent are more likely to live in areas with a rise in childhood asthma.

Further, the effects of climate change don’t occur in isolation. At any given time, a community might face air pollution, food insecurity, disease, and extreme heat all at once. Kenny says that’s particularly devastating in communities where the prevalence of food insecurity and poverty are already high. This situation hasn’t been adequately studied, she says, because “it’s difficult to capture these shocks that climate can bring.”

Why there’s reason for hope

In recent years, scientists and environmental activists have begun to push for more research into the myriad health effects of climate change. “One of the striking things is there’s been a real dearth of funding for climate change and health,” Haines says. “For that reason, some of the evidence we have is still fragmentary.”

Still, hope is not lost. In the Paris Agreement, countries around the world have pledged to limit global warming to below 2°C (3.6°F)—and preferably to 1.5°C (2.7°F)—by cutting their emissions. “When you reduce those emissions, you benefit health as well as the planet,” Haines says.

Meanwhile, scientists and environmental activists have put forward solutions that can help people adapt to the health effects of climate change. These include early heat warnings and dedicated cooling centers, more resilient supply chains, and freeing healthcare facilities from dependence on the electric grid.

Nadeau argues that the COVID-19 pandemic also presents an opportunity for world leaders to think bigger and more strategically. For example, the pandemic has laid bare problems with efficiency and equity that have many countries restructuring their healthcare facilities. In the process, she says, they can look for new ways to reduce waste and emissions, such as getting more hospitals using renewable energy.

“This is in our hands to do,” Nadeau says. “If we don’t do anything, that would be cataclysmic.”

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Climate Change Added a Month’s Worth of Extra-Hot Days in Past Year

Since last May, the average person experienced 26 more days of abnormal warmth than they would have without global warming, a new analysis found.

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By Raymond Zhong

Over the past year of record-shattering warmth, the average person on Earth experienced 26 more days of abnormally high temperatures than they otherwise would have, were it not for human-induced climate change, scientists said Tuesday.

The past 12 months have been the planet’s hottest ever measured, and the burning of fossil fuels, which has added huge amounts of heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere, is a major reason. Nearly 80 percent of the world’s population experienced at least 31 days of atypical warmth since last May as a result of human-caused warming, the researchers’ analysis found.

Hypothetically, had we not heated the globe to its current state , the number of unusually warm days would have been far fewer, the scientists estimated, using mathematical modeling of the global climate.

The precise difference varies place to place. In some countries, it is just two or three weeks, the researchers found. In others, including Colombia, Indonesia and Rwanda, the difference is upward of 120 days.

“That’s a lot of toll that we’ve imposed on people,” said one of the researchers who conducted the new analysis, Andrew Pershing, the vice president for science at Climate Central, a nonprofit research and news organization based in Princeton, N.J., adding, “It’s a lot of toll that we’ve imposed on nature.” In parts of South America and Africa, he said, it amounts to “120 days that just wouldn’t be there without climate change.”

Currently, the world’s climate is shifting toward the La Niña phase of the cyclical pattern known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. This typically portends cooler temperatures on average. Even so, the recent heat could have reverberating effects on weather and storms in some places for months to come. Forecasters expect this year’s Atlantic hurricane season to be extraordinarily active, in part because the ocean waters where storms form have been off-the-charts warm.

The analysis issued Tuesday was a collaboration between several groups: Climate Central, the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre and World Weather Attribution, a scientific initiative that examines extreme weather episodes. The report’s authors considered a given day’s temperature to be abnormally high in a particular location if it exceeded 90 percent of the daily temperatures recorded there between 1991 and 2020.

The average American experienced 39 days of such temperatures as a result of climate change since last May, the report found. That’s 19 more days than in a hypothetical world without human-caused warming. In some states, including Arizona and New Mexico in the Southwest and Washington and Oregon in the Northwest, the difference is 30 days or more, a full extra month.

The scientists also tallied up how many extreme heat waves the planet had experienced since last May. They defined these as episodes of unseasonable warmth across a large area, lasting three or more days, with significant loss of life or disruption to infrastructure and industry.

In total, the researchers identified 76 such episodes over the past year, affecting 90 countries, on every continent except Antarctica. There was the punishing hot spell in India last spring. There was the extreme heat that worsened wildfires and strained power grids in North America, Europe and East Asia last summer. And, already this year, there has been excessive warmth from Africa to the Middle East to Southeast Asia .

Raymond Zhong reports on climate and environmental issues for The Times. More about Raymond Zhong

Our Coverage of Climate and the Environment

News and Analysis

Over the past year of record-shattering warmth, the average person on Earth experienced 26 more days of abnormally high temperatures  than they otherwise would have, were it not for human-induced climate change, scientists said.

The Biden administration laid out for the first time a set of broad government guidelines around the use of carbon offsets  in an attempt to shore up confidence in a method for tackling global warming that has faced growing criticism.

A group of health experts, economists and U.S. government lawyers are working to address a growing crisis: people dying on the job from extreme heat. They face big hurdles .

Adopting Orphaned Oil Wells:  Students, nonprofit groups and others are fund-raising to cap highly polluting oil and gas wells  abandoned by industry.

Struggling N.Y.C. Neighborhoods:  New data projects are linking social issues with global warming. Here’s what that means for five communities in New York .

Biden Environmental Rules:  The Biden administration has rushed to finalize 10 major environmental regulations  to meet its self-imposed spring deadline.

F.A.Q.:  Have questions about climate change? We’ve got answers .

• International

June 4, 2024 - Modi declares victory in India election as BJP party faces shock setbacks

By Rhea Mogul, Jessie Yeung, Diksha Madhok, Antoinette Radford and Tori B. Powell, CNN

Our live coverage for the day has ended. Follow the latest India election news  or read through the updates below.

Photos: Scenes from India's general election

The votes were counted Tuesday after the world's largest election was held in India.

From April 19 to June 1, more than 640 million people cast their vote at polling stations from the high peaks of the Himalayas to the remote jungles of the west.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  declared victory on Tuesday – but his goal of winning an unassailable majority lay in tatters with early results showing voters reduced the extent of his party’s grip on power.

Analysis: Modi, Ambani and Adani — the men shaping India’s economy 

Analysis from CNN’s Diksha Madhok 

In less than a decade, Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani has upended India’s telecom sector and become a top player in sectors ranging from media to retail as chairman of India’s most valuable private company: Reliance Industries.  

His ambition and breathless pace of expansion is matched by Gautam Adani, founder of the Adani group, who helms businesses ranging from ports and power to defense and aerospace. 

Reliance Industries and the Adani Group are sprawling conglomerates worth over $200 billion each, with businesses in sectors ranging from fossil fuels and clean energy to media and technology. 

Investors have been cheering the duo’s ability to adroitly bet on sectors prioritized for development by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

As a result, these three men — Modi, Ambani and Adani — are playing a fundamental role in shaping the economic superpower India will become in the coming decades. 

The South Asian country is poised to become a 21st-century economic powerhouse, offering a real alternative to China for investors hunting for growth and manufacturers looking to reduce risks in their supply chains. 

Worth $3.7 trillion in 2023, India is the world’s fifth largest economy, jumping four spots in the rankings during Modi’s decade in office and leapfrogging the United Kingdom. 

Sustained expansion will push India higher up the ranks of the world’s biggest economies, with some observers forecasting the South Asian nation to become number three behind only the US and China by 2027. 

Despite these successes, soaring youth unemployment and inequality remain stubbornly persistent problems. In 2022, the country ranked a lowly 147 on gross domestic product (GDP) per person, a measure of living standards, according to the World Bank. 

To spur growth, the Modi government has begun a massive infrastructure transformation and heavily promoting digital connectivity — with Adani and Ambani becoming key allies. 

Both tycoons are considered vocal champions of Modi, and prominent politicians from opposition parties in India have often questioned Modi’s ties with India’s super-rich. 

Read the full analysis.  

CNN’s Jessie Yeung contributed to this report from Mumbai.  

Analysis: Is India's free press not so free after a decade of Modi?

Analysis from CNN’s Aishwarya S. Iyer 

India is one of the largest media markets in the world , according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), with more than 20,000 daily newspapers across the country and about 450 privately owned channels dedicated to news, which broadcast in dozens of languages. 

Yet despite its size and diversity, critics say the media industry is growing increasingly subservient to Modi’s government.  

“There was a blend of public service, public interest and corporate private media that served a burgeoning urban middle class, but also showed interest in issues of rural development. Journalists were respected… Regulatory mechanisms were weak but not completely absent,” said Shakuntala Banaji, media professor at the London School of Economics.  “They have been all but destroyed in the last 10 years.” 

India fell 25 places on the Press Freedom Index between 2015 and 2023, to 161st place — below neighboring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. In the latest index for this year it rose slightly to 159th place but remains below all neighbors except Bangladesh (165th). 

“There has been a sharp deterioration in the status of media over the last 10 years,” Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) India representative Kunal Majumder told CNN, adding that this included imprisonment and invoking terror laws to criminalize journalists. 

There has also been an uptick, it said, in the use of anti-terror laws — which allow for detention without trial or charge for up to 180 days — against reporters. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not taken a single solo press conference in his decade-long rule. 

The government of the popular but divisive leader stands accused by opponents of suppressing media pluralism. 

Modi critics fear further erosion of the protections afforded to India’s free press if he is elected. 

Meet the winners of India's economic boom 

From CNN's Jessie Yeung, Priti Gupta and Esha Mitra 

More than 40% of India’s 1.4 billion people are under 25: a tech-savvy and mostly English-speaking labor force. Like millions of migrants, many of them are drawn to the country’s financial capital Mumbai, full of aspiration and ambition. And it’s stories like these that inspire them. 

The tech developer: Growing up in the slums of Mumbai, Javed Khatri never used a smartphone or computer.  

“In the region where I used to stay, one of the best things that one could think of was just to complete 10th grade, and then work at a call center or sell vegetables or work at a garage or do some kind of odd jobs,” says Khatri, now 30. “That was our topmost ambition.” 

But unlike many children in the slums, he completed 10th grade – the first person in four generations of his family to do so – then studied computer science at an engineering college.  

He is now building an online platform to connect tech firms with engineers. He moved his family out of the slum, and supports his parents. Both his siblings went to college and pursued their own careers. 

None of this would have been possible a generation ago, he says. 

The influencer: Apoorva Mukhija hadn’t planned to be a content creator, so after graduation she took a job with a tech firm in Bangalore, the southern city known as “India’s Silicon Valley.” 

“Then one day I just woke up, realized … (my job) just didn’t pay as well as content did, and I hated living in that city,” Mukhija, 22, tells CNN from a pastel-pink couch at her new apartment in Mumbai, which she says is her “dream city.” 

Her career has thrived, winning her recognition from local media and amassing 1.3 million Instagram followers. 

The internet holds a wealth of opportunities for young Indians. The country’s influencer marketing industry is expected to be worth more than $281 million in 2024, according to consultancy EY India. Smartphones and social media are fueling this growth.  

The shoemaker: At age 13, Jameel Shah ran away from his village in Bihar, India’s poorest state, where his father wasn’t earning enough from farming to send the kids to school.  

In Mumbai, he saw an opportunity in the expensive imported dance shoes required for dance classes. 

He took two samples back to the narrow alleys of Dharavi, a hub for leather and textile manufacturers. With their expertise, and his own experience working in bag and wallet factories, Shah began experimenting. 

The business grew, attracting stylists and choreographers who redistributed the shoes to dance studios. And they even made it onto the big screen. 

Almost two decades later, Shah Shoes has helped support his family. He’s bought a house for his parents and started an education center in his home village teaching literacy to those who can’t afford school. 

A key tool was the rise of social media, particularly Facebook, helping him find customers – which Shah credited to Prime Minister Modi’s push for a “digital India.” 

Read the full story.  

Analysis: Under Modi, India's military has grown stronger 

Analysis from CNN’s Brad Lendon 

India’s armed forces, the world’s second-largest in terms of personnel, have made big improvements in their abilities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi — but face challenges no matter who wins the election, an analyst said. 

Viraj Solanki, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the armed forces have centralized control under Modi while making improvements to joint operations based on the theater where forces are deployed, rather than what each service would like to do. 

Those include setting up integrated battle groups along the country’s borders with China and Pakistan, Solanki said. 

China, whose People’s Liberation Army is the world’s biggest military force, represents India’s biggest worry going forward, he said. 

“India’s ‘military clout’ remains clearly below China’s” and can be expected to remain so, especially since Beijing’s defense budget is three times as large as New Delhi’s, Solanki added.  

The Modi government has stepped up defense ties with the United States, Japan and Australia — members of the Quad partnership along with India — as a way to offset China’s advantages. 

But Solanki said improvements to the Indian military are hamstrung by two key factors. More than half of its defense budget is spent on personnel and pensions, and much of its hardware is of Russian or Soviet origin, meaning spare parts and upgrades may be in short supply as Moscow’s war in Ukraine soaks up those resources. 

Analysis: India has grown closer to US under Modi 

From CNN’s Rhea Mogul  

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was once shunned by the United States.  

Denied a visa for “severe violations of religious freedom,” he was effectively banned from entering the country for nearly a decade.  

But in the years since that ban was lifted, Modi has been progressively embraced by the White House. 

While the US has positioned itself as a democratic protector in an increasingly populist and polarized era, it has seemingly turned a blind eye to New Delhi’s alleged human rights abuses at home — where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has come under scrutiny from rights groups and opposition lawmakers for its increasingly strident brand of Hindu nationalist politics and an ongoing crackdown on dissent. 

Modi and India, the world’s largest democracy, are necessarily a lynchpin in Biden’s strategy in Asia. As the world’s most populous country, no major global challenge, from climate change to advances in technology, can be addressed without India’s buy-in, in Biden’s view.   

Both New Delhi and Washington are becoming increasingly uneasy about Beijing’s growing military might, aggressive territorial claims on land and at sea, and growing economic influence over its smaller neighbors. 

In an era of growing tensions between the US and China, there are few partners that Biden is more eager to cultivate. 

What's changed since India's first election? 

From Esha Mitra in New Delhi 

India’s first general elections began in October 1951, four years after it gained independence from British rule, and soon after it became a republic in 1950.  

The election lasted about four months and the Indian National Congress emerged victorious in February 1952.  

Population boom: India then had a population of about 361 million people with 173 million registered electors.  

Since then, the population has increased nearly four-fold to 1.429 billion , with more than five times the number of eligible voters, according to the Election Commission of India. 

From paper to voting machines: In the first elections, Indians used paper ballots to cast their votes.  

Electronic voting machines were first used in the state of Kerala in 1982. But because there was no law prescribing their use, the Supreme Court struck down that election. In 1989 laws were amended to allow the use of voting machines after consensus was reached.  

In recent years, the validity of voting machines has again been questioned — this time by opposition parties that say they are being misused to favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — an allegation the BJP denies. 

In an India divided by prosperity and poverty, whose dreams come true?

From CNN's Jessie Yeung, Priti Gupta and Esha Mitra

At 7 a.m., Rupali Rao Kilare starts getting ready for the day in the cramped home she shares with five family members.

Though the sun has long risen, some alleys remain pitch dark as she weaves through the slum where she lives in Mumbai’s Goregaon West neighborhood, its narrow walls wedged between tightly packed buildings that block the light.

Kilare, 22, must hurry to beat the crowds at the slum’s communal toilets, before taking a three-wheeled auto-rickshaw to her boss’ home for her cleaning shift.

Just 3 miles (about 5 kilometers) away in Goregaon East, Shreya Verma, 26, stirs awake in her air-conditioned bedroom, pulls back the curtains and takes in the view of greenery and high-rise buildings.

Throwing on a blazer and heels, she hops in an Uber to her marble-floored office at an international tech firm.

Though the two women are separated by only a few years in age and a 20-minute drive, their starkly different lives illustrate India’s deepening wealth divide – and the inequality that has empowered some to reach new heights alongside the country’s fast-growing economy, while others are left behind.

That inequality has come under particular scrutiny during India's election.

Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been credited with advancing India’s $3.7 trillion economy and bringing the country closer to becoming a global superpower, India remains a largely impoverished nation and its wealth gap is more unequal than it was during British rule.

Read the full story.

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