The document provides guidance on writing a causal analysis essay. It defines a causal analysis essay as examining why specific events, attitudes, or conditions occur and then analyzing the effects of specific consequences. The key aspects are identifying causes and effects to understand how they produce specific outcomes. The document outlines the purposes of a causal analysis essay, recommends focusing the thesis statement on either causes or effects, and provides sample essay structures and outlines. It emphasizes establishing links between causes and effects through analysis and evidence.

1. CAUSAL ANALYSIS ESSAY

2. Learning Outcomes
1. Identify the purpose and structures of a causal analysis essay
2. Apply various linguistic structures
3. Draft an outline for their essay

3. The Causal Analysis Essay
 Why did it happen?
 What caused it?
 What does it cause?
 What are the effects?
 How is it related to something else?

4. Cause-and-Effect
 Cause-and-effect helps us understand why things
happen or what the results of events will be.
 An effect is what happened.
 A contributing cause is why it happened.

5. Why Use Cause-And-Effect?
Cause/Effect helps us…
 make sense of things.
 envision the future or understand the past.
 plan.
 make decisions.
 implement changes.

6. Why Use Cause-And-Effect?
 In essence, a Causal Analysis academic essay probes the why of specific actions,
events, attitudes, and/or conditions and then examines the effect of specific
consequences.
 In the simplest terms, a Causal Analysis academic essay may be reduced to the
equation:
Cause(s) + Effect(s) = Specific Consequence(s)
The focus is on the connections made between the
cause and effect which produce specific consequences.

7. The three main purposes for an Causal
Analysis academic essay are:
1. To prove a point
2. To argue against a widely accepted belief
3. To speculate on a theory

8. Causal Analysis Structures
EFFECT CAUSE 1 CAUSE 2 CAUSE 3 CONCLUSION
SIMPLE CAUSE COMPLEX CAUSE COMPLEX EFFECT
CAUSE  EFFECT
CAUSE 1
CAUSE 2  EFFECT
CAUSE 3
EFFECT 1
CAUSE  EFFECT 2
EFFECT 3
In discussing cause and effect, we are discussing why things happen. The
relationship between the two may range from simple to complex.

9. Causal Analysis Focusing on Causes
 Your focus will be on CAUSES, but you should create the
context of the situation by briefly describing the effects.
 Distribute the outline template focusing on CAUSES.

10. Causal Analysis Focusing on Effects
 Your focus will be on EFFECTS, but you should
create the context of the situation by briefly
describing the causes.
 Distribute the Outline Template focusing on Effects.

11. Sample Introduction: Analyze how the introduction below is
developed. What is the thesis statement? What is the focus of the
paper?
Genetically-Altered Foods: Why We Should Not Tamper with Mother Nature
Each day through the use of genetic engineering, food are being artificially
modified and introduced to the public for consumption. According to USA
Today magazine, "contrary to popular lore, the public is not particularly concerned
about eating foods tailored through biotechnology. When they were asked how likely
they would be to buy a new better tasting tomato, or other kinds of biotech food
products, most people said that they would accept it and feel comfortable with it"
(Smith 23). Supporters of these genetically-engineered foods claim that the use of
genetic engineering produces a more nutritional, better looking, economical, and
better tasting product. Despite these strong claims in favor of genetically-altered
foods, there is strong opposition against them. Genetically-altered foods can
contribute to health problems among consumers because their effects on the human
body are currently unknown, they can cause fatal and crippling effects due to allergic
reactions, they promote more disease-resistant pests, and they increase the spread of

12. Sample Introduction: Analyze how the introduction below is
developed. What is the thesis statement? What is the focus of the
paper?
Genetically-Altered Foods: Why We Should Not Tamper with Mother Nature
Each day through the use of genetic engineering, food are being artificially
modified and introduced to the public for consumption. According to USA
Today magazine, "contrary to popular lore, the public is not particularly concerned about
eating foods tailored through biotechnology. When they were asked how likely they
would be to buy a new better tasting tomato, or other kinds of biotech food products, most
people said that they would accept it and feel comfortable with it" (Smith 23). Supporters
of these genetically-engineered foods claim that the use of genetic engineering produces a
more nutritional, better looking, economical, and better tasting product. Despite these
strong claims in favor of genetically-altered foods, there is strong opposition against
them. Genetically-altered foods can contribute to health problems among consumers
because their effects on the human body are currently unknown, they can cause fatal and
crippling effects due to allergic reactions, they promote more disease-resistant pests, and
they increase the spread of diseases across species barriers.
Introductory sentence
Brief background with
research support
Contradicting statement
Thesis statement focusing
on effects.

13. Sample Introduction: Analyze how the introduction below is
developed. What is the thesis statement? What is the focus of
the paper?
Child abuse has been a rampant issue occurring not only in developed nations but as
well as in less developed countries. Child abuse is defined as "the physical or mental
injury. . . of a child under the age of 18 by a person who is responsible for the child's
welfare" (Kashani & Allen, 2011) and other various forms of violent behavior inflicted
onto children or in their presence is an overwhelming cause of the occurrence of similar
events in the child's future, when the former victim has reached an age when he or she
can be classified as the administrator of such actions. There were nearly 700,000
children are abused in the U.S annually (National Statistics, 2015). Although many
organizations have already set up programs helping abused children such as Children’s
Advocacy Centers that served and protects more than 3 million children (National
Statisctics, 2015), and laws are enforced to penalize abusive adults, the number of
abused children is still on the rise. A number of contributing factors have caused the
significant growth of this issue, such as living conditions, financial standing, personal
relationships, and school- and gang-related violence can have a considerable effect on

14. Sample Introduction: Analyze how the introduction below is
developed. What is the thesis statement? What is the focus of
the paper?
Child abuse has been a rampant issue occurring not only in developed
nations but as well as in less developed countries. Child abuse is defined
as "the physical or mental injury. . . of a child under the age of 18 by a
person who is responsible for the child's welfare" (Kashani & Allen, 2011)
and other various forms of violent behavior inflicted onto children or in
their presence is an overwhelming cause of the occurrence of similar
events in the child's future, when the former victim has reached an age
when he or she can be classified as the administrator of such actions.
There were nearly 700,000 children are abused in the U.S annually
(National Statistics, 2015). Although many organizations have already set
up programs helping abused children such as Children’s Advocacy
Centers that served and protects more than 3 million children (National
Statisctics, 2015), and laws are enforced to penalize abusive adults, the
number of abused children is still on the rise. A number of contributing
factors have caused the significant growth of this issue, such as living
conditions, financial standing, personal relationships, and school- and
Introductory sentence
Brief background with
research support
Contradicting statement
Refutation leading to the
thesis statement
Thesis statement focusing
on causes.

15. Sample Background Paragraph (Focuses on effects/consequences
of child abuse. Analyze the content. What should you write in the
background paragraph?
While there are many complex reasons why people act violently and criminally
toward others, such as prefrontal brain dysfunctions, lower glucose metabolism,
and a vast array of other physiological and neurological reasons, the general
consensus among experts is that an adult's behavior, in any context, is largely a
result of the quality of the atmosphere in which the child was raised (Smith, 2010).
Of course, many people will argue that any adult has control over his or her free will
and how they conduct themselves. Naturally, not every victim of child abuse and/or
violent crime will emerge into a monster in his or her adult years, and occasionally
someone who experiences a near-perfect childhood will turn the tables and develop
into the exact opposite upon reaching maturity. However, enough conclusive links
exist between sufferers of childhood violence and those who carry out the same
type of abuse to deduce that there is a significant connection.

16. Sample Background Paragraph (Focuses on effects/consequences
of child abuse. Analyze the content. What should you write in the
background paragraph?
While there are many complex reasons why people act violently and
criminally toward others, such as prefrontal brain dysfunctions, lower
glucose metabolism, and a vast array of other physiological and
neurological reasons, the general consensus among experts is that
an adult's behavior, in any context, is largely a result of the quality of
the atmosphere in which the child was raised (Smith, 2010). Of
course, many people will argue that any adult has control over his or
her free will and how they conduct themselves. Naturally, not every
victim of child abuse and/or violent crime will emerge into a monster
in his or her adult years, and occasionally someone who experiences
a near-perfect childhood will turn the tables and develop into the
exact opposite upon reaching maturity. However, enough conclusive
links exist between sufferers of childhood violence and those who
carry out the same type of abuse to deduce that there is a significant
Some disorders
unintentionally
causing child abuse
Effects/Consequen
ces
Connection between
cause and effect
supports the refutation.
Refutation

17. Focusing on CAUSES
I. Introduction
II. Background Information
III. Cause 1 + Counter Argument + Refutation
IV. Cause 2 + Counter Argument + Refutation
V. Cause 3 + Counter Argument + Refutation
VI. Conclusion + Recommendations/Solutions

18. Focusing on EFFECTS
I. Introduction
II. Background Information
III. Effect 1 + Counter Argument + Refutation
IV.Effect 2 + Counter Argument + Refutation
V. Effect 3 + Counter Argument + Refutation
VI.Conclusion + Recommendations/Solutions

19. Causal Argument: Body & Conclusion
I. Effect A
1. Relevant research and analysis / argument
2. Relevant research and analysis / argument
3. Counterargument + refutation with relevant research.
4. Commentary Close
II. Effect B
1. Relevant research and analysis / argument
2. Relevant research and analysis / argument
3. Counterargument + refutation with relevant research.
4. Commentary Close
III. Effect C
1. Relevant research and analysis / argument
2. Relevant research and analysis / argument
3. Counterargument + refutation with relevant
research.
4. Commentary Close
V. Conclusion / (Transition for proposal)
 Summarize thesis and major points of essay
 Briefly propose for solutions—where we should
go from here to correct problems set out in
causal argument.

20. Samples Thesis Statements for
Cause/Effect Essay:
1. Because of society’s gaudy cravings for magical myths, it has
developed a cult like obsession over Elvis. (1cause & 1effect)
2. Americans have wholeheartedly bought into the label game because
of their desire to express upscale social and financial status—it is their
way of making a statement to the world through their elegant and
glamorous apparel.(1effect & 2 causes)

21. Guidelines/Check List for an Effective
Causal Analysis Essay
1. Fulfill one of the three purposes
for causal analysis:
 To prove a point
 b. To argue against a widely
accepted belief
 c. To speculate on a theory
2. Write a thesis sentence that tells
whether the essay focuses on cause
or effect.
3. Decide on a logical organizational
pattern.
 a. Single cause - multiple effects
 b. Multiple causes - single effect
 c. Causal chain
4. Coherently link ideas with effective
transitions between major ideas and
issues of cause/effect.