cause and effect essay about college

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 .

Tips and Common Mistakes from Our Expert Writers

Check out Handmadewriting paper writing Guide to learn more about academic writing!

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How to Write an Impressive Cause and Effect Essay for College [+ 10 Topic Ideas]

Table of contents

Do you remember studying Newton's Third Law in school, where every action has an equal and opposite reaction? The same holds true in life — and that’s what cause-and-effect essays are about.

It could be individual or societal, unexpected or circumstantial, joyous or unfortunate -- but if there’s a cause, you can be certain there will be an effect that follows.

So, how do you write a cause-and-effect essay for college?

In this article, we’ll tell you how to write a cause and effect for college, along with practical tips and topic ideas to help you along the way.

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How to write a cause and effect essay in 7 steps.

A cause-and-effect essay examines the reasons behind a situation or issue and evaluates the impact of those reasons.

For example, eating disorders can be the situation (cause), and the consequences (effect) can range from deteriorating mental health conditions to malnutrition and drug addiction.

Here’s how you can write a cause-and-effect essay for college in seven steps.

Brainstorm essay topics

The first thing that your professor sees is your essay topic , so you need to come up with a good one.

Cause and effect essays require critical thinking and a smooth structure, and coming up with a good topic for these essays involves observing the world and the environment and speculating for possible causes from it that you can pick out.

Choose a topic that you are passionate about and something your readers would want to learn more from. Here are a few topic areas you can consider:

• social and cultural movements;
• human body;
• works of literature;
• natural phenomenon;
• technology;
• human rights and the political system.

This will help you write a more genuine and interesting essay, helping you achieve better grades.

Create an outline

Once you know your topic, your next step is to figure out the outline technique for the essay.

Some of the topics that you brainstorm will require you to use focus on causes and focus on effects technique, while some of the topics can use the block or the chain method, which studies and analyzes the causes and effects of the selected topic simultaneously.

In the block method of outlining, the causes are listed first, followed by the expanded effects that come along with it. In the chain method of outlining, you can write each cause with its effect right after.

After establishing a thesis statement in the introduction, your body paragraphs should define proper examples and facts and come back to why the thesis statement is true. Outlining each portion of the cause-and-effect essay will help explore the relationship between the effects and their causes.

Establish a thesis statement

Crafting a strong thesis for your cause-and-effect essay is crucial when writing quality academic papers for top grades. As you read through and research your topic , you will find out your stance on the subject.

This stance will be subjected to the thesis statement on which your essay will be based. The thesis statement shows why you are holding onto your position for the essay and will give significance to the subject. It will also let your professor know what they should expect to learn from your essay.

Keep in mind to mention your position in your thesis statement or the introduction paragraph and the technique you will be using to write your essay.

Research and organize your data

Conduct thorough and proper research for your cause-and-effect essay, and avoid using sources such as personal blogs, unverified websites, or Wikipedia for your reference. Instead, look for credible sources, publications, research work, etc., as your primary source of information.

To make your essay flawless, you need to find valid and significant arguments, facts, examples, and responses that support your thesis statement for your cause-and-effect topic. This step will also help you gather additional questions, common trends, and other pivotal information about your topic.

This collected information needs to be organized into a structure that is easy for you to frame your essay and for your audience to understand the flow of the write-up without any trouble.

Divide all these sections into the introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs, and build a coherent, clear, and interesting cause-and-effect essay .

Here’s an interesting video by Caro Porras on structuring a cause-and-effect essay.

Use transition phrases and words

Since you’re working on a cause-and-effect essay, there are some words that you need to know how to use and when to use them in your essay. Transition words are very important in academic essays like these as it provides the best and the easiest link for you to bridge two paragraphs for an easier flow.

Transition words give your professors an easier time to move from one point, discussion, or argument to another. They provide balance and bind all the important points together to form one complete quality paper.

Some transition words that are generally used in cause-and-effect essays are:

Addition ( to describe adding something more to the statement you just wrote )

• furthermore, too, also;
• moreover, in addition,;
• besides, lastly, secondly, finally.

Time ( to help understand the timestamp of the argument or point, for adding relevancy )

• next, never, immediately;
• during, meanwhile, sometimes;
• subsequently, whenever, always.

Compare and Contrast ( if you are planning to compare and contrast some facts in your essay to make it easier to bring proper effect )

• likewise, otherwise, in contrast;
• nevertheless, notwithstanding, though;
• in the same way, similarly, after all.

Write the first essay draft

With the essay topic, structure, thesis statement, and vital information gathered in place, it is time to start working on your cause-and-effect essay draft.

Keeping your stance on the topic in mind, use the structuring technique that would make it easier to expand on your subject.

Give enough time to edit between your first and second drafts, and take a day or two to write the final draft. You will most likely notice mistakes and errors that went unnoticed while you were writing your first two drafts.

Review, revise, edit and proofread

The last and most important step is to review, revise, edit and proofread your cause-and-effect essay thoroughly as well as multiple times before submitting it to your professor.

Through this, you can eliminate common errors that are most likely to happen in cause-and-effect essays, such as:

• unclear thesis statement;
• irrelevant or confusing examples, anecdotes, and evidence;
• spelling mistakes;
• wrong punctuations;
• grammatical errors;
• incorrect format or structuring;
• vague arguments.

8 Tips to Write High-Scoring Cause and Effect Essays for College

Now that you know the process of writing a cause-and-effect essay, here are some valuable tips to help you along the way.

1. Before starting your essay, make it a point to choose your topic and write three causes and effects of it. You can then pick the one that is the most interesting and write your paper on that stance.

2. Mind mapping is an essential brainstorming activity that will help in spilling out creative ideas and getting your thoughts organized before you start collecting your information.

3. Choose a topic that you are passionate about or are very interested in because if you choose a random topic that you don't know much about, your professor can clearly notice the lack of interest in your paper. This will eventually influence your grades.

4. Define the purpose of your essay and keep that in mind throughout while drafting your paper. You should not lose track of the main idea behind why you are writing this cause-and-effect essay, as this will, in turn, make you choose the wrong arguments and illogical examples for your topic. Your goal is to either inform or persuade your professor through your essay.

5. The main focus of your essay should be the immediate causes and their effects. Be sure to only include direct and clear causes and effects that add value to your paper.

6. Make sure to use grammar and plagiarism-checking tools on your essay, as this conveniently points out grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and wordy sentences that you may have missed out on while revising. Plagiarism checkers can help you identify plagiarised sentences, which you can edit to ensure authenticity and originality.

7. Avoid adding irrelevant information, and carefully check for any formatting irregularities or any other compliance issues with the essay guidelines.

8. Ask your friends or family members to proofread your paper. They might come up with a different perspective and give ideas that you didn't think of and identify places where you can improve, use better arguments, and give impartial feedback on the general quality of your essay.

10 Cause and Effect Essay Topic Ideas to Inspire Your Essay

1. Increased technological advances have increased online shopping but does it motivate people into increased online shopping?

2. Deliberate on the causes of the no homework policy for kindergarten kids and its impact on education effective next.

3. What causes some women to be repeatedly entangled in destructive relationships?

4. The cause and effect link between nutrition and health.

5. Social media and cyberbullying: What is the connection between the two?

6. Social media influences psychological health: Discuss.

7. In what ways does gender inequality influence the wage rate?

8. Covid-19 prevention measure - quarantine has a severe effect on the economic welfare of a country when it comes to games and teenagers. What causes addiction?

9. The repeated consumption of junk food increases the chance of developing obesity.

10. The fast food business has a severe impact on individuals' health.

When writing a cause-and-effect essay for the first time, it is a good practice to research and know more about how you can excel in the qualitative and quantitative aspects of your essay writing.

And now that you’ve learned how do you write a cause-and-effect essay for college - take notes of the entire process, keep simple yet effective tips in mind, adhere to the appropriate structuring, and work toward delivering a stellar essay based on the basic notion of how you can portray your cause and effect diligently on paper.

Still, stuck? Well, Writers Per Hour is here to help. Our professional writers are well-versed in the rules of cause-and-effect essays and can help you write a high-scoring paper. These papers are 100% original and written from scratch.

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Cause & Effect Essay

Cause and effect is a rhetorical style that discusses which events lead to specific results. You may find that you are assigned to write a cause and effect essay for a writing class, but you might also encounter cause and effect assignments in other disciplines. For example, you may be asked to write about the causes for the decline of a particular company in your business class, or you may be asked to write about the causes of the rise in obesity rates in the United States for your nursing class.

A cause and effect essay is structured around the goal of discovering and discussing events that lead to certain results. When writing a cause and effect essay, you should be sure that you have researched the specific causes and are confident that you’re demonstrating why they lead to particular results. You may either concentrate on all causes, effects or a combination of both.

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How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay: Full Guide

Ever wondered how things are connected in our world? Think of the butterfly effect—where a butterfly's wings in Brazil can set off a tornado in Texas. It's a quirky idea, but it shows how events are intertwined. Writing a cause and effect essay is like unraveling these connections, connecting the dots to reveal how things influence each other and shape our experiences.

In this guide, experts from our paper writing service will explore the concept of causality and share practical tips for creating great cause and effect essays. These essays won't just provide information—they'll leave a lasting impression on your readers.

What Is a Cause and Effect Essay

A cause and effect essay is a form of writing that aims to explore and explain the relationships between different events, actions, or circumstances. The central idea is to investigate why certain things happen (causes) and what results from those occurrences (effects). It's like peeling back the layers to reveal the interconnectedness of events, understanding the domino effect in the narrative of life.

Here's a breakdown of the key components:

• Causes: These are the factors or events that initiate a particular situation. They are the reasons behind why something occurs. For instance, if you're exploring the cause of obesity, factors like unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity could be identified as causes.
• Effects: The effects are the outcomes or consequences that result from the identified causes. Following the obesity example, effects could include health issues, reduced quality of life, or increased healthcare costs.
• Connection: The heart of a cause and effect essay lies in demonstrating the link between causes and effects. It's not just about listing events but explaining how one event leads to another in a logical and coherent manner.

When crafting such an essay, you're essentially acting as a storyteller and investigator rolled into one. Your goal is to guide the reader through the web of interconnected events, providing insights into the 'why' and 'what happens next.'

How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay with Easy Steps

Understanding how to write a cause and effect essay is like putting together a puzzle. Here are ten simple steps to help you write an engaging essay that looks into how things are connected.

1. Select a Specific Topic

• Choose a cause and effect relationship that sparks your interest.
• Ensure your topic is focused and manageable for a thorough exploration.

2. Explore Causal Links

• Conduct thorough research to uncover hidden connections and supporting evidence.
• Look beyond the obvious to identify intricate relationships between causes and effects.

3. Craft a Clear Thesis Statement

• Develop a precise thesis that clearly articulates the main cause and the resulting effects.
• Your thesis serves as the roadmap for your essay, guiding readers through your analysis.

4. Organize Chronologically or by Significance

• Structure your essay in a logical order, either chronologically or by the significance of events.
• This organization enhances clarity and helps readers follow the cause-and-effect progression.

5. Utilize Transitional Phrases

• Employ transition words and phrases to ensure seamless flow between causes and effects.
• Clear transitions enhance readability and strengthen the coherence of your essay.

6. Support Arguments with Credible Evidence

• Back up your claims with relevant data, examples, and statistics.
• Strong evidence adds credibility to your analysis and reinforces the cause-and-effect relationships you present.

7. Illustrate Chain Reactions

• Show how a single cause can trigger a chain of effects, and vice versa.
• Illustrate the ripple effects to emphasize the complexity of the relationships.

8. Analyze Root Causes

• Move beyond surface-level explanations and explore the underlying factors contributing to the cause-and-effect scenario.
• Deep analysis adds depth and nuance to your essay.

9. Consider Alternative Causes

• Address potential counterarguments to showcase a comprehensive understanding.
• Acknowledging alternative causes strengthens your essay's overall credibility.

10. Conclude with Impact

• Summarize key points and emphasize the broader significance of your analysis.
• Leave your readers with a thought-provoking conclusion that ties together the cause-and-effect relationships explored in your essay.

Cause and Effect Essay Structure Types

When setting up your essay, you can choose from different structures to make it organized. Let's look at two common types of cause and effect essay structures:

• Block Structure:

The block structure is a clear and organized way to present causes and effects in your essay. Here, you dedicate one section to discussing all the causes, covering multiple causes within each category. After that, you have another section to explore all the effects. This separation makes your ideas easy to understand.

Using the block structure allows you to dive deep into each category, thoroughly looking at causes and effects separately. It's handy when you want to give a detailed analysis and show the importance of each part of the causal relationship. This way, readers can fully grasp each element before moving on.

• Chain Structure:

On the other hand, the chain structure focuses on how events are connected and create ripple effects. It highlights how one cause leads to a specific effect, and that effect becomes the cause of more effects in an ongoing chain. This method is potent for illustrating the complexity of causal relationships.

The chain structure works well when you want to emphasize the sequence of events or deal with intricate cause-and-effect scenarios. It allows you to show how actions trigger a series of reactions, displaying the domino effect that leads to a specific outcome.

Regardless of the structural style you choose, if you require assistance with your academic paper, reach out to us with your ' write my paper for me ' request. Our experienced team is ready to tailor your paper to your specific requirements and ensure its excellence.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Creating an effective cause and effect essay begins with a well-structured outline. This roadmap helps you organize your thoughts, maintain a logical flow, and ensure that your essay effectively conveys the causal relationships between events. Below, we'll outline the key components of the essay along with examples:

I. Introduction

• Hook: Start with an engaging statement or fact. Example: 'Did you know that stress can significantly impact your overall health?'
• Background Information: Provide context for your topic. Example: 'In today's fast-paced world, stress has become an increasingly prevalent issue.'
• Thesis Statement: Clearly state the main cause and its corresponding effects. Example: 'This essay will explore the causes of stress and their profound negative effects on physical and mental health.'

II. Body Paragraphs

• Topic Sentence: Introduce the first cause you'll discuss. Example: 'One major cause of stress is heavy workload.'
• Supporting Details: Provide evidence and examples to support the cause. Example: 'For instance, individuals juggling multiple job responsibilities and tight deadlines often experience heightened stress levels.'
• Transition: Link to the next cause or move on to the effects.
• Topic Sentence: Introduce the first effect. Example: 'The effects of chronic stress on physical health can be devastating.'
• Supporting Details: Present data or examples illustrating the impact. Example: 'Studies have shown that prolonged stress can lead to cardiovascular problems, including hypertension and heart disease.'
• Transition: Connect to the next effect or cause.

C. Causes (Continued)

• Topic Sentence: Introduce the next cause in a new cause and effect paragraph. Example: 'Another significant cause of stress is financial strain.'
• Supporting Details: Explain how this cause manifests and its implications. Example: 'Financial instability often results in anxiety, as individuals worry about bills, debts, and their financial future.'
• Transition: Prepare to discuss the corresponding effects.

D. Effects (Continued)

• Topic Sentence: Discuss the effects related to financial strain. Example: 'The psychological effects of financial stress can be profound.'
• Supporting Details: Offer real-life examples or psychological insights. Example: 'Depression and anxiety are common consequences of constant financial worries, affecting both mental well-being and daily life.'

III. Conclusion

• Restate Thesis: Summarize the main cause and effects. Example: 'In summary, the heavy workload and financial strain can lead to stress, impacting both physical and mental health.'
• Closing Thoughts: Reflect on the broader significance of your analysis. Example: 'Understanding these causal relationships emphasizes the importance of stress management and financial planning in maintaining a balanced and healthy life.'

Cause and Effect Essay Examples

To help you grasp cause and effect essay writing with clarity, we have prepared two distinct essay examples that will guide you through the intricacies of both block and chain structures. Additionally, should you ever find yourself requiring assistance with academic writing or descriptive essays examples , simply send us your ' write my research paper ' request. Our expert writers are here to provide the support you need!

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Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Choosing a good topic starts with recognizing cause and effect key words. Here are 10 interesting topics that let you dig into fascinating connections and their important consequences:

• The Relationship Between Lack of Exercise and Mental Health in Older Adults
• Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Workplace Productivity
• The Impact of Cyberbullying on Adolescents' Emotional Well-being
• Influence of Social Media Advertising on Consumer Purchasing Decisions
• Consequences of Oil Spills on Coastal Ecosystems
• How Noise Pollution Affects Concentration and Academic Performance in Schools
• The Connection Between Fast-Food Marketing and Childhood Obesity
• Effects of Urbanization on Water Quality in Local Rivers
• The Relationship Between Indoor Plants and Air Quality in Homes
• Impact of Plastic Pollution on Wildlife in Urban Environments
• The Effect of Meditation on Stress Reduction in College Students
• How Increased Screen Time Affects Teenagers' Attention Span
• The Impact of Single-Use Plastics on Marine Microorganisms
• The Relationship Between Smartphone Use and Sleep Quality in Adults
• Effects of High-Fructose Corn Syrup on Metabolic Health
• The Consequences of Deforestation on Local Biodiversity
• Influence of Social Media Comparison on Body Dissatisfaction in Adolescents
• The Connection Between Air Pollution and Respiratory Health in Urban Areas
• Effects of Excessive Gaming on Academic Performance in High School Students
• The Impact of Fast Food Consumption on Childhood Obesity Rates

Final Words

Knowing what a cause and effect essay is and how to write it helps you uncover connections in different topics. With this guide, you can share your ideas in a clear and impactful way.

Meanwhile, if you're in need of a reaction paper example , rest assured we have you covered as well. So, seize this opportunity, put your thoughts on paper logically, and witness your essays leaving a lasting and influential mark.

Let's Turn Those 'What Ifs' into 'A+ Ifs'!

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10.8 Cause and Effect

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.

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.

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 10.4 “Phrases of Causation” for examples of such terms.

Table 10.4 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.

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 Chapter 15 “Readings: Examples of Essays” to read a sample cause-and-effect essay.

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.

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

• 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.

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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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A cause and effect essay is concerned with the relationship or sequence between two or more things, events or ideas. This essay explores why something happens (the cause) and what consequences result (the effect).

Cause: The reason for an occurrence, action or event.

Effect: A result, outcome or consequence of a cause.

Example: I was bit by a mosquito and my arm really itches!

Cause: A mosquito bit me.

Effect: My arm itches.

An essay can have multiple causes and effects. Additionally, causes and effects can be sequential in nature, where one leads to another. A good example of this is dominos, where a person knocks over the first, causing all the following dominos to fall over.

It is important to be wary of speculation. Just because an event proceeds another, does not necessitate that it was the cause. Coincidences happen.

Example: Early childhood vaccinations occur during the first 18 months of a child’s life. The first signs of autism appear by 12 to 18 months of age. Most children, when first diagnosed with autism, will have recently received a vaccine. This has led many people to conclude that vaccines cause autism, though there is very little scientific evidence to support that conclusion.

A correlation, or a connection or relationship between two things, can indicate a causational relationship between two things. However, that is not always the case, like in the picture below.

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Cause And Effect Essay Writing

Cause and Effect Essay - Complete Guide With Examples

14 min read

Published on: Mar 13, 2020

Last updated on: Jan 30, 2024

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Do you find it difficult to identify and explain the connections between events and their outcomes in your writing? 

Many students struggle with identifying strong cause and effect relationships or organizing their ideas in a clear and logical way. This can lead to frustration, poor grades, and a lack of confidence in their writing abilities.

However, with the right guidance and approach, students can master the art of cause and effect essay writing. 

By breaking down the process into manageable steps and learning how to analyze and communicate connections effectively. 

In this blog, we'll provide you with tips and tricks to master the art of cause and effect essay writing and achieve academic success.

So let’s get started!

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What is a Cause and Effect Essay? 

According to the Cause and Effect Essay Definition:

“A cause and effect essay is a piece of writing style as rhetorical that studies and discusses the events or concepts and their results.” 

This essay is structured around the goal of exploring events that lead to specific outcomes. 

When writing a cause-and-effect essay for academics, it is essential to deeply research specific causes and why those causes lead to certain results. Because of this, cause and effect is also known as a reason and result essay.

Purpose of Writing a Cause and Effect Essay

The cause-and-effect essay that you draft can do one of the following two things:

• It can study the ways in which one or multiple effects are observed from a specific cause
• It can study the ways in which one or more causes lead to a certain effect

Depending on the topic and the writer’s preference, either of the methods can be used to draft a cause-and-effect essay.

Like all types of essay , this also requires the writer to understand the topic and its structure. Your content will be effective if you have enough knowledge about the subject matter and the essay structure.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline 

If you want to write a good cause-and-effect essay, it is easy to do if you create an outline first. 

An outline is like a plan for your essay. It will help make your essay effective because the basic structure of an essay is its outline. 

Here is a format of cause and effect essay outline for your ease.

Want to learn how to create a proper outline for your next cause and effect essay? Read out this blog on cause and effect essay outline !

Cause and Effect Essay Structure

Without the proper structure, your essay will be a collection of raw data, which will be useless to the readers. 

There are two types of structures for cause-and-effect essays:

• Focus-on-effects
• Focus-on-causes method

Focus-on-Effects Structure 

Structure for a focus-on-effects method for your cause-and-effect essay:

Focus-on-Causes Structure 

Structure for a focus-on-causes method for your cause-and-effect essay:

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How to Start a Cause and Effect Essay?

To write professionally, you can not jump to the writing process of your essay instantly. A good cause-and-effect essay requires substantial planning and execution to be properly drafted. 

Here’s how to start your cause-and-effect essay:

• Choose a topic
• Select a technique
• Develop a thesis statement
• Conduct research
• Organize the data

To take each prewriting step effectively, it is vital to understand them thoroughly. 

The first and foremost step to take when drafting an essay is to come up with a good topic. The importance of a topic in your cause and effect essay can not be underestimated. Choose a good topic that you think is interesting enough to write an essay on.

The best way to pick a topic for your cause and effect essay is to analyze your interests and the audience. Write something you are passionate about and make sure that the audience is interested to know about it as well.

Once you have a topic in hand, select a technique through which you will address it and will structure your essay. Some of the topics will be drafted using focus-on-effects or focus-on-causes technique while others can use block or chain methods.

A block or chain method studies the effects and causes simultaneously. According to the block structure, all the causes are discussed first while the effects are given afterward. For a chain structure, every cause if followed by its effect.

Both of these techniques help in drafting a professional cause and effect essay. Although, a block structure is used for essays that are shorter in length while a chain method works the best for longer ones.

When you have a topic in hand you will know what stance to take over it. Your stance will be the major thesis statement on which the whole essay will be drafted. Forming a strong  thesis statement  is essential for creating an effective essay.

All body paragraphs will be drafted to support this significant argument, so it should be meaningful and strong. 

Once you have decided on your thesis statement, start collecting information to back it up. Conduct extensive research to gather facts and supporting evidence in order to prove the thesis statement.

It is important to keep in mind that the information gathered should be from credible sources . Consult sources like journals, books, and research papers for authentic and credible information.

The collected raw information needs to be arranged in a proper structure in order to be understandable.

How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay Step by Step ?

After planning the essay and taking all the required pre-writing steps, move on to the writing process. Follow the writing procedure provided below to draft a compelling cause-and-effect essay.

Cause and Effect Essay Introduction

The first section to draft is the essay’s introduction. This part will be the first thing that the reader will be reading so it should be interesting. The introduction should be well-drafted if you want your audience to read the entire document. 

An essay introduction contains the following information:

• Hook statement
• Precise and relevant information
• Thesis Statement

An introductory paragraph starts using a hook statement to grab the reader’s attention. This statement can be a fact, anecdote, funny information, or statistics, depending on the nature of the topic.

After providing a catchy  hook statement , give some relevant background information about the topic. Make sure to not reveal important facts and only give away the introductory information.

At the end of the introduction section, the thesis statement is provided. This is to let the audience know why the specific essay is drafted and what to expect from the writing.

Keep in mind that the purpose of the first section is to introduce the topic. Keep it simple yet informative to motivate the readers to read the whole essay.

Cause and Effect Essay Body Paragraphs

After drafting the essay introduction, write the body paragraphs. The body of your cause-and-effect essay will contain all the gathered information that will support your main thesis statement.

Structure your body paragraphs according to the chosen method or technique. All the paragraphs in the body section should contain the following things:

• Topic sentence
• Explanation
• Transition words

Each paragraph in the body section is started with a topic sentence . It is an opening sentence of the paragraph in which the main point is stated that is to be discussed in that specific paragraph.

Next, explain the point made in the topic sentence. If you have stated a cause, elaborate on it and discuss providing facts. Alter your course of action according to the structure. Support the point made in a topic sentence with strong evidence and logical examples.

One element that makes cause and effect essays different from other types is the frequent use of transition words. The transition words tie the whole discussion together and maintain a smooth flow of the content.

Cause and Effect Essay Conclusion

The conclusion section of a cause and effect essay is drafted like that in other types of essays. It includes a summary of the strongest points in the content and a restated thesis statement.

The purpose of restating the thesis statement is to remind the audience of the writer’s main stance and how it is proved. Close your discussion by providing suggestions, opinions, and CTAs.

Proofread and Edit the Essay

Once you have written your essay, proofread it at least twice to make sure that the content is flawless. Recheck every small detail such as spelling mistakes, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, structure, and tone to make sure that you have drafted a perfect piece.

Make edits if required before submitting your cause and effect essay to the instructor.

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 Template (PDF)

Cause and Effect Essay Sample

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Cause and Effect Essay for 6th Grade

Cause and Effect Essay Examples - Elementary School

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Good Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Choosing a good topic for an essay is mandatory. A good topic allows the writer to draft a successful essay. When students have several assignments due, they can not spend time thinking and coming up with a great topic.

A list of ideas is provided below to help students decide on a good theme for their essays.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics About Education 

• What is the role of social media in education? 
• How to improve the educational system of charter schools?
• How does a college education offer better life?
• The effect of poverty on the educational development of children.
• What effect do fine arts have on students?
• The main causes of bullying in educational establishments. 
• Effect of online schooling on students 
• The positive effect of professional education
• Good education and its effects
• Homeschooling has negative effects on kids  

Cause and Effect Essay Topics On Social Media

• The impact of social media and other social networks on a child’s academic performance. 
• The impact of addiction to social media on kids
• Why are teenagers most affected by social media?
• How excessive use of cell phones affects teenagers?
• Influence of social media on youngsters.
• What are the benefits of social media?
• How can social media make us feel great about ourselves? 
• Spending too much time on social media
• Good use of social media
• What are the effects of being on social media?

History Cause and Effect Essay Topics 

• What were the causes and effects of colonialism?
• The causes and effects of World War II
• The role of ancient Rome and Greece in history
• Women’s employment during the Great Depression.
• Discuss the effects of the civil rights movement.
• How did Abraham Lincoln affect American history?
• History of taxes. 
• What are the reasons for globalization? 
• The culture of colonization and subcultures. 
• American and Uk history

Politics Cause and Effect Essay Topics 

• What is the cause and effect of political correctness?
• Describe the politics of Putin against the neighboring states.
• The political decisions lead to high hostilities
• Personal religious beliefs and political opinions
• Causes and consequences of the U.S. government’s efforts
• Putin's politics against the neighboring countries
• What is the cause of increased militancy?
• The political drawbacks of declaring war on Iraq
• What affects countries’ decisions on immigration?
• The political decisions lead to the high hostilities

Social Occurences Cause and Effect Essay Topics 

• Impact of playing violent video games on a child’s psychology
• Causes and effects of depression in the United States 
• How does human behavior influence the climate?
• Causes and effects of advertisement on the brand image
• How reality-based TV shows impact the behaviors of teenagers. 
• How physical activities influence mental health
• Causes and effects of deforestation 
• The impact of having an emotional support animal on mental health
• How does negative publicity influence a person’s image?
• What are the main causes of police brutality?

You are in writer’s block and cannot think creatively? Check out this cause and effect essay topics blog!

Tips to Write a Cause and Effect Essay

Learning the correct writing process for your essay is not enough. There are some additional elements that professionals use to create a perfect document.

To help you draft yours correctly, expert essay writers of CollegeEssay.org have provided some tips and tricks to follow.

• Choose a topic that is significant and important to you and for your reader.
• Mind mapping is essential, so brainstorm creative ideas before collecting information.
• Identify the purpose of your assignment and keep it in mind the whole time while drafting the essay.
• Use strong supporting evidence collected from credible sources.
• Make sure to work according to the outline and avoid adding irrelevant information.
• Proofread your essay thoroughly to make your essay flawless.
• Use plagiarism checkers to ensure the originality and authenticity of your content.

You can also check out this video for a complete guide on cause and effect essay:

To conclude , learning the basic writing and outlining process is essential if you wish to score well. If your outlining is accurate, the writing process of your cause and effect essay will become way easier.

Many students face difficulties while drafting essays as they have plenty of assignments to deal with. They may find themselves struggling to keep up tasks other than cause and effect essays like narrative essays , and expository essays .  

As a result, the quality of work produced takes a huge hit, but don't worry, we can lend you a helping hand. 

CollegeEssay.org provides a top cause and effect essay writing service for those students who are having a hard time meeting deadlines. We'll help you with your cause and effects essays for the best grades. 

In order to get help from our experienced and qualified writers, place your order today. Avail of amazing discounts and get our custom essay writing help in no time.  As a plus, you can use our AI writing tool if you need a quick fix to beat the deadline stress!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it important to know cause and effect.

Knowing what cause and effect scenarios are is helpful to students. They should understand that there's always an event responsible for the consequence it brings about, one of which can be known as a "cause." Creating analytical thinkers with this ability will help them solve complex problems in their lives or work. 

What is the main purpose of a cause and effect essay?

The purpose of the cause and effect essay is to determine how various phenomena or events affect one another. 

How do you end a cause and effect essay?

In order to summarize your essay, you must include cause-effect points. These should be reminders of how each idea ties into the whole and helps make sense of what was written before.

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137 Intriguing Cause and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 would be the impact if abortion were banned 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and Effect Essay Topics

• What 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 A.I. 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 Guide

Cause And Effect Essay Outline

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

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

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

230+ Cause and Effect Essay Topics to Boost Your Academic Writing

In academic paper writing, students often tackle diverse essay types, including cause and effect essays. 

Cause and effect essays act as a gauge for how well students can use logical reasoning to understand the outcomes of different actions.

However, the most crucial element while writing this type of essay is to create an outline. 

Many students skip outlining, thinking it's time-consuming. While creating a cause and effect paper outline does take time, it actually saves more time during writing. Following a detailed plan makes the writing process easier, ensuring you don't miss key details and can draft a logical, organized essay. 

Follow the steps given in this blog for a perfect outline.

• 1. What is a Cause and Effect Essay Outline?
• 2. Cause and Effect Essay Outline Format
• 3. How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay Outline?
• 4. Cause and Effect Essay Outline Examples

What is a Cause and Effect Essay Outline?

A cause and effect essay outline is a detailed plan of action that students follow throughout the writing process. It is the key factor in writing a successful essay as it provides help in the following ways:

• It is used to organize thoughts logically.
• It makes the writing process easier and saves enough time to proofread.
• It helps the writer concentrate on the main points that need to be described in the essay.

It is not required to write full sentences at this step. Instead, state the ideas and structure them in the right order.

Furthermore, it is important to choose a unique topic before developing an outline. Check out our compiled list of good  cause and effect essay topics  to grab the reader’s interest.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline Format

Cause and effect essay outline generally follows a five-paragraph format. However, the number of body paragraphs may vary according to the topic and scope of the essay. Typically, the cause and effect essay layout contains an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Here is the complete outline format structure of a cause and effect writing:

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How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay Outline?

Follow the steps below to write an effective cause and effect essay outline.

• Introduction
• Body paragraphs
• Antithesis paragraph

The following is a detailed description of the steps to writing an outline.

Step 1: Cause and Effect Essay Introduction

The introduction is the first section written to give an idea of what your essay is about. It provides background information about the topic under discussion. Similarly, it also discusses the issues and focus of the essay’s main argument, along with its purpose.

Thus, try to give a general idea to the reader with the help of a  thesis statement . It is crucial to emphasize how and why the chosen event is relevant to modern life.

For example, if you are writing about the Cold War, state how it is still apparent in global politics.

Furthermore, the  essay introduction  paragraph includes the following elements.

Start With an Attention Grabber

Start your essay with a relevant, attention-grabbing hook statement. It can be in the form of a sentence, quote, anecdote, rhetorical question, or fact. The primary purpose of such a hook is to attract the audience at the beginning of the paper.

Basic Background Information

Mention some background information on the topic to get a clear picture. It will help readers understand the event and connect with the major argument. Similarly, this element is also used to understand the cause and effect before you start writing.

Thesis Statement

It is the central element while writing an introduction. Its absence will indicate that the essay lacks a focus. It is a statement of 1-2 sentences that briefly describes the major argument of the essay.

Moreover, a writer needs to discuss this idea through all the body paragraphs. Thus, make sure to craft a strong thesis statement that correlates with the outline.

Step 2: Cause and Effect Essay Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs provide enough details and facts about the causes that led to the effects.

• Begin with  topic sentences  that indicate the first cause or effect of your topic. Also, brainstorm to describe their importance.
• Each paragraph should discuss a single cause and a single effect. Furthermore, the information must be organized in chronological or reverse order.
• Moreover, it is better to start the body paragraphs by describing causes and presenting the effects later. Analyze both the elements by explaining how and why an effect influenced the events or actions. Make sure that the content relates to the thesis statement and the overall topic.
• Use  transitional words  to connect the ideas and give relevant examples. Most writers made a common mistake of adding weak and unconvincing causes to reach the word count. As a result, it affects the essay’s credibility.
• Discuss the below elements while writing the body of your cause and effect essay.

Description of the Cause

This part requires the writer to explain the current situation clearly. It will help the reader to understand the primary argument. Thus, it is important to describe the situation in a way that prepares the reader for effect.

For example, if you are writing about the loss of privacy, that will lead to individual freedom. The focus should be on the technologies that affect freedom.

Description of the Effect

It explains to the reader the logical steps that move from cause to effect. It focuses on explaining what the multiple effects are and how we move from cause to effect.

Following the above example, the writer will explain the connection between privacy and freedom.

Explain the Cause and Effect Relationship

Here, a writer must discuss the importance of the findings. It is used to describe the short and long-term results of the effects. Also, suggest the recommendations to tackle the situation along with future prospects.

Step 3: Cause and Effect Essay Antithesis Paragraph

This paragraph will discuss the other side of the issue by identifying the major causes and effects. Also, explain the causes behind choosing a topic and how it will be relevant to modern life. 

This way, you can show the logic behind the occurrence of the two variables and their possible causes and effects.

Step 4: Cause and Effect Essay Conclusion

The conclusion paragraph aims to provide a brief summary of your essay. Thus, it should leave the audience with the feeling of completeness and make a final emphasis on the major ideas.

This section requires the writer to show how their perspective of the issue has changed by the following analysis. Also, it should further describe the positive and negative effects of the situation.

The conclusion includes the elements discussed below:

Restate the Thesis Statement

Write a few sentences that connect the body paragraphs with the thesis statement. It must also indicate how this statement has helped in proving the main argument of the essay.

Remind the Audience about the Main Points

Here you describe your general outline in strong and precise sentences. Avoid adding any new information. In case you are writing about a major event that influenced the world, such as global warming.

You should write a call to action and suggest what necessary steps need to be taken to overcome the issue.

Draft a Concluding Sentence

Like a convincing introduction; the conclusion should be catchy and compelling as well. Thus, pay attention to this section while writing a college or university essay.

Describe the research outcomes, along with the importance of the essay’s arguments.

Lastly, check out the examples available online. Consider the structure and vocabulary used by most authors to write a cause and effect essay conclusion.

Refer to the example below to better understand writing a cause and effect essay.

How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay Outline – Example

Cause and Effect Essay Outline Examples

Below are the cause and effect outline examples and samples for you to understand better.

Cause and Effect Essay Outline Template

5 Paragraph Cause and Effect Essay Outline

MLA Format Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Cause and Effect Essay Outline Sample

Cause and Effect Essay Outline on Divorce

Cause and Effect Essay Outline on Global Warming

Smoking Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Obesity Cause and Effect Essay Outline

Cause and Effect Essay Outline for College Students

Cause and Effect Essay Formal Outline

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To Sum it Up! This ultimate writing guide will help you write a perfect cause and effect paper outline.

Nevertheless, not everyone can develop a cause-and-effect chain relationship between variables. Therefore, instead of risking your grades, it is better to seek professional help.

MyPerfectWords.com stands as a reputable and professional writing service , poised to support you in your academic writing tasks. In addition to our core writing services, our essay writer service offers a range of free services, including plagiarism reports, editing, and revisions. 

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Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay

How to Write an Effective Essay

Writing an essay for college admission gives you a chance to use your authentic voice and show your personality. It's an excellent opportunity to personalize your application beyond your academic credentials, and a well-written essay can have a positive influence come decision time.

Want to know how to draft an essay for your college application ? Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing.

Tips for Essay Writing

A typical college application essay, also known as a personal statement, is 400-600 words. Although that may seem short, writing about yourself can be challenging. It's not something you want to rush or put off at the last moment. Think of it as a critical piece of the application process. Follow these tips to write an impactful essay that can work in your favor.

1. Start Early.

Few people write well under pressure. Try to complete your first draft a few weeks before you have to turn it in. Many advisers recommend starting as early as the summer before your senior year in high school. That way, you have ample time to think about the prompt and craft the best personal statement possible.

You don't have to work on your essay every day, but you'll want to give yourself time to revise and edit. You may discover that you want to change your topic or think of a better way to frame it. Either way, the sooner you start, the better.

2. Understand the Prompt and Instructions.

Before you begin the writing process, take time to understand what the college wants from you. The worst thing you can do is skim through the instructions and submit a piece that doesn't even fit the bare minimum requirements or address the essay topic. Look at the prompt, consider the required word count, and note any unique details each school wants.

3. Create a Strong Opener.

Students seeking help for their application essays often have trouble getting things started. It's a challenging writing process. Finding the right words to start can be the hardest part.

Spending more time working on your opener is always a good idea. The opening sentence sets the stage for the rest of your piece. The introductory paragraph is what piques the interest of the reader, and it can immediately set your essay apart from the others.

4. Stay on Topic.

One of the most important things to remember is to keep to the essay topic. If you're applying to 10 or more colleges, it's easy to veer off course with so many application essays.

A common mistake many students make is trying to fit previously written essays into the mold of another college's requirements. This seems like a time-saving way to avoid writing new pieces entirely, but it often backfires. The result is usually a final piece that's generic, unfocused, or confusing. Always write a new essay for every application, no matter how long it takes.

5. Think About Your Response.

Don't try to guess what the admissions officials want to read. Your essay will be easier to write─and more exciting to read─if you’re genuinely enthusiastic about your subject. Here’s an example: If all your friends are writing application essays about covid-19, it may be a good idea to avoid that topic, unless during the pandemic you had a vivid, life-changing experience you're burning to share. Whatever topic you choose, avoid canned responses. Be creative.

6. Focus on You.

Essay prompts typically give you plenty of latitude, but panel members expect you to focus on a subject that is personal (although not overly intimate) and particular to you. Admissions counselors say the best essays help them learn something about the candidate that they would never know from reading the rest of the application.

7. Stay True to Your Voice.

Use your usual vocabulary. Avoid fancy language you wouldn't use in real life. Imagine yourself reading this essay aloud to a classroom full of people who have never met you. Keep a confident tone. Be wary of words and phrases that undercut that tone.

8. Be Specific and Factual.

Capitalize on real-life experiences. Your essay may give you the time and space to explain why a particular achievement meant so much to you. But resist the urge to exaggerate and embellish. Admissions counselors read thousands of essays each year. They can easily spot a fake.

9. Edit and Proofread.

When you finish the final draft, run it through the spell checker on your computer. Then don’t read your essay for a few days. You'll be more apt to spot typos and awkward grammar when you reread it. After that, ask a teacher, parent, or college student (preferably an English or communications major) to give it a quick read. While you're at it, double-check your word count.

Writing essays for college admission can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. A well-crafted essay could be the deciding factor─in your favor. Keep these tips in mind, and you'll have no problem creating memorable pieces for every application.

What is the format of a college application essay?

Generally, essays for college admission follow a simple format that includes an opening paragraph, a lengthier body section, and a closing paragraph. You don't need to include a title, which will only take up extra space. Keep in mind that the exact format can vary from one college application to the next. Read the instructions and prompt for more guidance.

Most online applications will include a text box for your essay. If you're attaching it as a document, however, be sure to use a standard, 12-point font and use 1.5-spaced or double-spaced lines, unless the application specifies different font and spacing.

How do you start an essay?

The goal here is to use an attention grabber. Think of it as a way to reel the reader in and interest an admissions officer in what you have to say. There's no trick on how to start a college application essay. The best way you can approach this task is to flex your creative muscles and think outside the box.

You can start with openers such as relevant quotes, exciting anecdotes, or questions. Either way, the first sentence should be unique and intrigue the reader.

What should an essay include?

Every application essay you write should include details about yourself and past experiences. It's another opportunity to make yourself look like a fantastic applicant. Leverage your experiences. Tell a riveting story that fulfills the prompt.

What shouldn’t be included in an essay?

When writing a college application essay, it's usually best to avoid overly personal details and controversial topics. Although these topics might make for an intriguing essay, they can be tricky to express well. If you’re unsure if a topic is appropriate for your essay, check with your school counselor. An essay for college admission shouldn't include a list of achievements or academic accolades either. Your essay isn’t meant to be a rehashing of information the admissions panel can find elsewhere in your application.

How can you make your essay personal and interesting?

The best way to make your essay interesting is to write about something genuinely important to you. That could be an experience that changed your life or a valuable lesson that had an enormous impact on you. Whatever the case, speak from the heart, and be honest.

Is it OK to discuss mental health in an essay?

Mental health struggles can create challenges you must overcome during your education and could be an opportunity for you to show how you’ve handled challenges and overcome obstacles. If you’re considering writing your essay for college admission on this topic, consider talking to your school counselor or with an English teacher on how to frame the essay.

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Cause and Effect Essay Examples

• DESCRIPTION cause & effect essay dos and dont's
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When you eat a really good pizza, you say, “yum” and likely reach for another slice. That’s basic cause and effect. The pizza was good, so you responded and ate more. You’ve probably partaken in so many examples of cause and effect without even knowing it, so you already have the basic recipe to create an amazing piece of writing. But how do you turn all that into a zesty cause and effect essay?

What Is A Cause and Effect Essay?

Sometimes called reason and result essays , cause and effect essays are a type of essay that explores how an event or situation came into being (the cause) and what happens or transpires because of that event or situation (the effect). The purpose of these types of essays is to explore the “why” or “how” of a situation.

What Is the Basic Structure of a Cause and Effect Essay?

You might see some slight variations in the structure of a cause and effect essay, but for the most part, you’re looking at a pretty rigid outline .

A basic cause and effect essay structure would look like:

• Describe the event or situation your essay will explore.
• Include a thesis statement that illustrates your thoughts on the main cause or effect of the event or situation.
• Start with what you feel is the main cause of the event, providing evidence to back up your argument. 
• Follow that up with descriptions of secondary causes.
• Discuss the main effect that came out of the causes that you illustrated in the previous paragraphs.
• Provide evidence to back up your argument.
• Subsequent paragraphs can then discuss other effects worth noting.
• Reiterate your thesis statement.
• Consider further questions that could be explored within your cause and effect analysis, including other effects or other potential causes

Structure of a Short Cause and Effect Essay

Shorter cause and effect essays (especially in timed essay situations ) tend more toward discussing just the cause or just the effect.

For example, a prompt might ask you to explain why cheeseburgers cost so much. In that case, you’d mostly be writing about the cause of that increased price, as the high cost is already the implied effect.

Alternatively, the prompt might ask you to discuss how high cheeseburger prices have affected society, which would have you writing mostly about the effect of high burger prices.

Cause and Effect Essay Examples

You have a really solid idea of what should go into a cause and effect essay, but it never hurts to see an example in action. Maybe it’ll help you generate new ideas for your own cause and effect essay.

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Sample Cause and Effect Essay Introduction

As with other essays, the intro paragraph acts as the space for you to introduce your subject. With a cause and effect essay in particular, the intro is important for setting the stage. You can’t just launch into a discussion of cause and effect and expect the reader to get it.

The homeless epidemic is a serious problem in nearly every major city across the country. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there are over 500,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night. It’s a difficult challenge to tackle precisely because it is so multi-faceted, both in terms of its causes and its far-reaching effects. Homelessness affects not only the people who must struggle to survive on the street but also the business owners or residents in the neighborhoods. While many factors have contributed to the rise in homeless rates, one of the most profound is the lack of adequate social support services.

Sample Body Paragraphs for a Cause and Effect Essay

This is the real meat and potatoes of the article. Despite the structure mentioned above, you can go about the body paragraphs in a few different ways. Similar to compare and contrast essays , you can use a block structure (grouping all the causal information together before getting into the effects) or a point-by-point structure (considering one cause and effect at a time).

A lack of free or affordable housing could be considered an obvious cause of homelessness. On a purely practical level, if a city can provide enough homeless shelters and other forms of affordable housing, the people who would otherwise sleep on the streets can sleep far more safely with a consistent roof over their heads. Social support services, whether they are funded publicly or privately, would be able to tackle many of the immediate and long-term challenges that face people experiencing homelessness.  The effects of homelessness are equally complex and can be mirror images of the root causes. Because the person is experiencing homelessness, this may put profound strain on personal relationships. Drug abuse can become an issue, as the person seeks some way of coping with the pain and hardship of living on the streets. This leads to a downward spiral that drives the person deeper and deeper into the depths of crippling poverty and isolation.

Sample Cause and Effect Essay Conclusion

Some people think conclusions can feel tacked on, so avoid doing that. Make your conclusion matter, whether that’s asking new questions or looking toward the future of your topic. What are ideas that you could see sprouting from your essay?

Every city, every neighborhood faces unique challenges when it comes to homelessness. While the specific root causes can vary between individuals, the lack of adequate social services is a leading contributor. The right social services can address, reduce, or even remove some of these other underlying causes. With powerful effects for both the individual and society at large, homelessness is a pressing issue and one that must be approached with tact and compassion.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Coming up with a topic (for really any essay) is the hardest part. There is such a massive breadth of subject matter to choose from. As always, find something that you find some interest or personal investment in. If the subject matters to you, it will show in your writing.

If you need to grease those gears and get your mind working, here’s some food for thought to get you started.

• School bullying: What are some of the contributing factors that lead someone to become a bully in the first place? What impact can bullying have on its victims?
• Social media addiction: Do personal or cultural factors play a bigger role in whether someone becomes addicted to social media in the first place? What are the effects that such an addiction can have on a student’s life?
• Rush hour traffic: Focusing on a specific area or roadway, why can traffic get really bad during a certain time of day? If these factors were addressed, would traffic flow more smoothly?
• Childhood obesity: Obesity rates are at an all-time high. Why is this the case? What has changed in the last few decades? What are some of the most pressing health issues for children who are obese?
• Climate change: Are individual choices, like drinking from a reusable bottle, making as much of an impact in slowing or preventing climate change as larger factors, like industry practices? Who are the biggest polluters?
• Music streaming: It used to be the case that most people would buy their music in some form, like on cassette or as an MP3 download, but music streaming services have become the norm. Why did this happen? What does it mean for artists and the music industry as a whole?
• Vaping among teens: Many health professionals are getting increasingly concerned about the vaping trend among teenagers. How did this trend come about? Are the supposed health risks as bad as they sound?

Some topics that you may have considered for other types of essays can be adapted to cause and effect essays, too. Look through our list of argumentative essay topics for more ideas. Just remember that you may want to avoid certain essay topics if you really want to stand out!

Tips for Writing a Cause and Effect Essay

Your head might be spinning with all that information, and it’s okay. It’s a lot to take in. Even with all of that, cause and effect essays can be hard to really get a handle on. Hopefully, some handy tips will keep you on track or help you get on that track in the first place.

Keep Asking Yourself “Why” and “What Happened”

Okay, that sounds a little more existential than intended, but it’s a good way to get yourself in the mindset of cause and effect, which can help you generate a topic and develop your essay.

Why typically gets you to the cause of something. Why is the pizza on the floor? The cause: The cat knocked over the plate.

By comparison, what happened can get you closer to the effect. What happened when the pizza got on the floor? The cat had a nice pepperoni snack.

That might admittedly sound a little simplistic, but it’s a great place to get started, especially if you find yourself unsure how to navigate between cause and effect. Why did that thing happen? What happened because of that thing?

Consider the Many Causes and/or Many Effects of Any Topic

Because of how everything tends to be interlinked, you’ll rarely have an event or situation that has just one cause or one effect. If anything, one effect can become a cause that branches into another effect, and so on. The pizza got on the floor, the cat ate some of it, and now the cat is taking an early nap from being so full.

Similarly, multiple causes can contribute to an effect. The pizza fell on the floor partly because of the cat, partly because your friend left it sitting precariously on the kitchen table.

That level of complication and the potential domino effect of things are what make cause and effect essays so interesting. Considering all those facets is part of what will add nuance to your writing.

But Don’t Worry About Covering Them All

Despite the above, don’t worry about covering every single cause contributing to every single effect. That can lead to some strange tangents and an endless essay. Before you know it, your essay about the effects of World War II will somehow turn into an essay about pasta sauce.

Allow room for all those different wrinkles, but if you find yourself getting carried away, refocus on your thesis. If what you’re exploring is way outside the bounds of your thesis, it might be worth cutting it (save that pasta sauce writing for another day).

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Get top 100 cause and effect essay topics now.

When you need the best cause and effect essay topics on the Internet, all you have to do is read this blog post. We have a list of the best 100 cause and effect topics and these topics are updated periodically. You can get some ideas from our list right now, as it has just been updated for June, 2020. On top of the free topics, you also get to see why choosing a great topic is entirely in your best interest. Read on!

The Importance of Interesting Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Most students underestimate the importance of interesting cause and effect essay topic ideas. We don’t know why, but many students still prefer to get topics from the first three pages that pop up in Google’s SERPs. They probably don’t realize that at least a couple of their classmates will pick the exact same topics. You may thing that you have a good cause and effect topic and later realize that 5 other students have chosen that same topic for their essays. Here is why you need to come up with a 100% original cause and effect essay topic idea:

• Your professor is bored of reading essays on the same plain old topics. When he sees a new topic, it’s like a breath of fresh air. Don’t underestimate how important this can be for your grade.
• Interesting cause and effect paper topics have been shown by many studies to get higher grades. Why? It’s probably because professors tend to award bonus points for originality and uniqueness.
• Consistently finding good cause and effect topics shows your professors that you really take the essay seriously. After all, you’re willing to dedicate a lot of time and effort to finding the most interesting things to talk about.

Where Can You Get Some Topics for Cause and Effect Essay?

Now that you know how important some original, fun cause and effect essay topics can be, it’s time to find the best of them. Of course, nobody expects you to spend hours every day thinking about topics. You are free to use the Internet. It’s an invaluable source of information, to be honest. There are several ways to get some really good topics:

• You can go to the school library and read journals, articles and other writings to try to find topics for cause and effect essay. You’ll be able to find many ideas there, but it takes time to go through all the materials.
• You can read newspapers and scientific articles online. New, intriguing research is being done every day, so you are almost guaranteed to find something interesting to write about sooner or later.
• You can try to ask people to make some suggestions on blogs and forums. You can get some ideas from genuine experts, but it will take time.
• You can read our list and pick a cause and effect topic for free. You are free to reword it just the way you like. And remember, we update the list periodically so we can help as many students as possible with original topics. Don’t hesitate to take a closer look at feminist essay topics .

Our Free List of Cause and Effect Essay Ideas

Without further ado, here is our list of 100% original cause and effect essay topics, updated for 2020. Pick a topic for cause and effect essay and start writing right now!

Social Media/Internet Cause and Effect Topics

Need some excellent social media/internet cause and effect topics? Look no further than our free list of topics:

• The effect of cell phones on US youth.
• The cause and effect of cyber bullying.
• Why is Google the largest search engine?
• The effects of identity theft.
• Are social media sites losing popularity? Why?
• Cause or playing video games and its effects.
• Social media and its effects on teens.

Fun Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Of course, we have some very interesting and fun cause and effect essay topics for you. Pick any of these and start writing right now:

• The causes why men are afraid to commit.
• Does a happy marriage have an effect on mental health?
• The causes why video games are so popular.
• The effects of eating your veggies.
• The cause and effect of a low grade on your essay.
• The use of screens to write instead of pen and paper.
• The effects of wearing a school uniform.

Culture Cause and Effect Topics

Looking for culture cause and effect topics? We have some of them in our list, of course. Just pick the best one:

• Does mass media cause a bias effect?
• Skinny models are causing a spike in anorexia cases.
• Discuss China’s one-child-per-family policy.
• Does college affect a student’s skills?
• The effects of going to the theatre regularly.
• Do some people learn foreign languages faster?
• Reality shows have a negative impact on youths.

Very Good Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Looking for very good cause and effect essay topics? Want the best topics? Here are some ideas for you:

• Hormonal changes are causing mood swings.
• Is your career influenced by bad eating habits?
• Personal relations are improved by humor.
• Stress can be reduced by regular exercise.
• Children are unhealthy because of junk food.
• Doing lots of homework doesn’t get you better grades.

Health Cause and Effect Ideas

When it comes to health cause and effect ideas, you won’t find better topics than ours. Check them out below:

• Causes and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Energy levels drop when eating junk food.
• The causes of Parkinson’s disease.
• Joint problems are caused by obesity.
• The cause of stress and its effects on health.
• Obesity is impacting the healthcare system in the US.
• The main causes of cardiovascular disease.

Easy Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Don’t want to spend an entire day writing the essay? Just pick one of our easy cause and effect essay topics:

• The effects of pollution in Europe.
• How dangerous are earthquakes?
• The main causes of racism.
• The effect of telling a lie.
• The cause of the tsunami.
• Has your favorite book influenced you?
• The effect your pet has on you.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics for College Students

Here are some cause and effect essay topics for college students that you will really appreciate:

• Why did you choose your major?
• The causes and effects of World War II.
• Water vapors can cause a greenhouse effect.
• The causes and effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Multitasking causes an increase in stress.
• Strict immigration policies are causing severe tensions in the US.

Relationships Cause and Effect Ideas

Discussing relationships can be an excellent choice for an essay. Pick one of our relationships cause and effect ideas:

• Many breakups are caused by financial problems.
• How a parent’s behavior influences his or her kids.
• Affordable housing causes an increase of happy couples.
• Can a friendship end because of poor communication?
• Facebook can ruin your relationship.
• The effect of a Lottery win on relationships.
• The effect of smartphones of relationships.

Cause and Effect Paragraph Topics

Looking to write just a cause and effect paragraph? No problem! Here are some cause and effect paragraph topics:

• The effect of the Internet on high school students.
• What causes you to get low grades?
• Families are affected by vacations.
• Illegal deforestation is causing global warming.
• Should we conserve water?
• The dangers of being bullied.

Cause and Effect Speech Topics

Need to write a speech? We have plenty of cause and effect speech topics. Check them out below:

• Is your personal information private?
• The effects of illegal immigration on the US.
• The effects of the Coronavirus on the UK.
• Which is more loyal, a dog or a human?
• The main causes of global warming.
• The effects of a positive mindset.
• Good food really makes you happy.

Environment Cause and Effect Topics

Discussing the environment can be very interesting, so we have an entire section with environment cause and effect topics:

• What causes forest fires in the US?
• The effects of water conservation.
• What causes natural disasters?
• Do forecasts help prevent natural disasters?
• Why do some fish go extinct?
• The extinction of the dinosaurs.
• The effects of city pollution on humans.

Smoking Cause and Effect Topics

Is smoking really that bad? What about the menthol in cigarettes? Pick one of our smoking cause and effect topics and start writing:

• The effects of heavy smoking.
• Is pancreatic cancer deadly?
• The causes of not having medical insurance.
• Does nicotine affect your brain?
• The effects of quitting smoking.
• The causes why people start smoking.

Cause and Effect Topic Ideas for High School

Perhaps you want something easier, more appropriate for high school students. Check out our cause and effect topic ideas for high school students:

• The causes of acne.
• Do children suffer from social anxiety?
• The effects of cheating on your tests.
• What causes rivalry between siblings?
• The causes of teenage rebellion.
• Why do people want to travel so much?

Education Cause and Effect Ideas

Want to make a change? Pick one of these education cause and effect ideas and present your opinion to your professor:

• Does college education give you a better life?
• The causes of cheating at exams.
• The effect of standardized tests on students.
• Why do students consider school boring?
• Are single-sex classrooms necessary?
• The effect of homeschooling on a child.
• Do professors burn out?

Social Problems Cause and Effect Topic Ideas

There will always be social issues to be discussed. Choose one of the social problems cause and effect topic ideas and make a change:

• Why are men earning more than women in the US?
• The effect of food insecurity on people.
• What causes extreme poverty in the UK?
• What causes widespread racism views?
• The causes of poor sanitation.
• Why are disabled people unable to get good jobs?
• Should children watch news reports?

Need More Cause and Effect Ideas?

Didn’t manage to find the perfect topic in our list of cause and effect topic ideas? Don’t worry about it! You can still get some help and avoid spending another day looking for a topic elsewhere. Our seasoned academic writers can send you an entire list of topics and you can pick the best one. We move very fast, so you can expect to get the list in no time. And remember, our writers are genuine experts and hold degrees in various fields. Get the help you need right now!

Study Tracks Shifts in Student Mental Health During College

Dartmouth study followed 200 students all four years, including through the pandemic.

Phone App Uses AI to Detect Depression From Facial Cues

A four-year study by Dartmouth researchers captures the most in-depth data yet on how college students’ self-esteem and mental health fluctuates during their four years in academia, identifying key populations and stressors that the researchers say administrators could target to improve student well-being. 

The study also provides among the first real-time accounts of how the coronavirus pandemic affected students’ behavior and mental health. The stress and uncertainty of COVID-19 resulted in long-lasting behavioral changes that persisted as a “new normal” even as the pandemic diminished, including students feeling more stressed, less socially engaged, and sleeping more.

The researchers tracked more than 200 Dartmouth undergraduates in the classes of 2021 and 2022 for all four years of college. Students volunteered to let a specially developed app called StudentLife tap into the sensors that are built into smartphones. The app cataloged their daily physical and social activity, how long they slept, their location and travel, the time they spent on their phone, and how often they listened to music or watched videos. Students also filled out weekly behavioral surveys, and selected students gave post-study interviews. 

The study—which is the longest mobile-sensing study ever conducted—is published in the Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies .

The researchers will present it at the Association of Computing Machinery’s UbiComp/ISWC 2024 conference in Melbourne, Australia, in October. 

These sorts of tools will have a tremendous impact on projecting forward and developing much more data-driven ways to intervene and respond exactly when students need it most.

The team made their anonymized data set publicly available —including self-reports, surveys, and phone-sensing and brain-imaging data—to help advance research into the mental health of students during their college years. 

Andrew Campbell , the paper’s senior author and Dartmouth’s Albert Bradley 1915 Third Century Professor of Computer Science, says that the study’s extensive data reinforces the importance of college and university administrators across the country being more attuned to how and when students’ mental well-being changes during the school year.

“For the first time, we’ve produced granular data about the ebb and flow of student mental health. It’s incredibly dynamic—there’s nothing that’s steady state through the term, let alone through the year,” he says. “These sorts of tools will have a tremendous impact on projecting forward and developing much more data-driven ways to intervene and respond exactly when students need it most.”

First-year and female students are especially at risk for high anxiety and low self-esteem, the study finds. Among first-year students, self-esteem dropped to its lowest point in the first weeks of their transition from high school to college but rose steadily every semester until it was about 10% higher by graduation.

“We can see that students came out of high school with a certain level of self-esteem that dropped off to the lowest point of the four years. Some said they started to experience ‘imposter syndrome’ from being around other high-performing students,” Campbell says. “As the years progress, though, we can draw a straight line from low to high as their self-esteem improves. I think we would see a similar trend class over class. To me, that’s a very positive thing.”

Female students—who made up 60% of study participants—experienced on average 5% greater stress levels and 10% lower self-esteem than male students. More significantly, the data show that female students tended to be less active, with male students walking 37% more often.

Sophomores were 40% more socially active compared to their first year, the researchers report. But these students also reported feeling 13% more stressed during their second year than during their first year as their workload increased, they felt pressure to socialize, or as first-year social groups dispersed.

One student in a sorority recalled that having pre-arranged activities “kind of adds stress as I feel like I should be having fun because everyone tells me that it is fun.” Another student noted that after the first year, “students have more access to the whole campus and that is when you start feeling excluded from things.” 

In a novel finding, the researchers identify an “anticipatory stress spike” of 17% experienced in the last two weeks of summer break. While still lower than mid-academic year stress, the spike was consistent across different summers.

In post-study interviews, some students pointed to returning to campus early for team sports as a source of stress. Others specified reconnecting with family and high school friends during their first summer home, saying they felt “a sense of leaving behind the comfort and familiarity of these long-standing friendships” as the break ended, the researchers report. 

“This is a foundational study,” says Subigya Nepal , first author of the study and a PhD candidate in Campbell’s research group. “It has more real-time granular data than anything we or anyone else has provided before. We don’t know yet how it will translate to campuses nationwide, but it can be a template for getting the conversation going.”

The depth and accuracy of the study data suggest that mobile-sensing software could eventually give universities the ability to create proactive mental-health policies specific to certain student populations and times of year, Campbell says.

For example, a paper Campbell’s research group published in 2022 based on StudentLife data showed that first-generation students experienced lower self-esteem and higher levels of depression than other students throughout their four years of college.

“We will be able to look at campus in much more nuanced ways than waiting for the results of an annual mental health study and then developing policy,” Campbell says. “We know that Dartmouth is a small and very tight-knit campus community. But if we applied these same methods to a college with similar attributes, I believe we would find very similar trends.”

Weathering the pandemic

When students returned home at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the researchers found that self-esteem actually increased during the pandemic by 5% overall and by another 6% afterward when life returned closer to what it was before. One student suggested in their interview that getting older came with more confidence. Others indicated that being home led to them spending more time with friends talking on the phone, on social media, or streaming movies together. 

The data show that phone usage—measured by the duration a phone was unlocked—indeed increased by nearly 33 minutes, or 19%, during the pandemic, while time spent in physical activity dropped by 52 minutes, or 27%. By 2022, phone usage fell from its pandemic peak to just above pre-pandemic levels, while engagement in physical activity had recovered to exceed the pre-pandemic period by three minutes. 

Despite reporting higher self-esteem, students’ feelings of stress increased by more than 10% during the pandemic. By the end of the study in June 2022, stress had fallen by less than 2% of its pandemic peak, indicating that the experience had a lasting impact on student well-being, the researchers report. 

In early 2021, as students returned to campus, their reunion with friends and community was tempered by an overwhelming concern about the still-rampant coronavirus. “There was the first outbreak in winter 2021 and that was terrifying,” one student recalls. Another student adds: “You could be put into isolation for a long time even if you did not have COVID. Everyone was afraid to contact-trace anyone else in case they got mad at each other.”

Female students were especially concerned about the coronavirus, on average 13% more than male students. “Even though the girls might have been hanging out with each other more, they are more aware of the impact,” one female student reported. “I actually had COVID and exposed some friends of mine. All the girls that I told tested as they were worried. They were continually checking up to make sure that they did not have it and take it home to their family.”

Students still learning remotely had social levels 16% higher than students on campus, who engaged in activity an average of 10% less often than when they were learning from home. However, on-campus students used their phones 47% more often. When interviewed after the study, these students reported spending extended periods of time video-calling or streaming movies with friends and family.

Social activity and engagement had not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the study in June 2022, recovering by a little less than 3% after a nearly 10% drop during the pandemic. Similarly, the pandemic correlates with students sticking closer to home, with their distance traveled nearly cut in half during the pandemic and holding at that level since then.

Campbell and several of his fellow researchers are now developing a smartphone app known as MoodCapture that uses artificial intelligence paired with facial-image processing software to reliably detect the onset of depression before the user even knows something is wrong.

Morgan Kelly can be reached at [email protected] .

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• Class of 2022
• Department of Computer Science
• Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies
• Mental Health

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12.2: The Structure of a Cause-and-Effect Essay

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• Amber Kinonen, Jennifer McCann, Todd McCann, & Erica Mead
• Bay College Library

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 discuss the effects.
• Start with the effect and then discuss 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 causes or you could start the same essay by talking about the cause of childhood obesity and then move to the effects.