The document provides guidance on writing a cause and effect essay, including how to organize it. It discusses focusing the essay on either causes or effects, and provides examples of thesis statements for each. It also covers outlining the essay and choosing between a block or chain organization structure when discussing both causes and effects. The key points covered are cause/effect essay structure, thesis statements, and outlining.

1. UNIT 5
Topic: Longevity
Writing genre: A Cause/Effect Essay

2. OBJECTIVES
• In the lesson today, we will….
+ Learn how to organize a cause and effect essay.
+ Learn how to start a thesis statement for focus-
on-cause essay and focus-on-effect essay.
+ Learn how to use connectors to show cause
and effect relation
+ Make an outline for an essay to explains
CAUSES/EFFECTS

3. Discussion
• Who is the oldest person that you have ever
known? Why do you think that person can live
so long?
• If you can live as long as you wish, until which
age do you want to live? Why do you want to
live that long?

4. Vocabulary related to the topic
Live longer
Have a longer life
Increased life expectancy
Longer lifespan
Prolonged lifespan
Longevity
The elderly
Aged people
Retired people
Pensioners
ageing population

5. BRAINSTORM
Prolonged
lifespan
causes effects
Positive effects
negative effects

6. A cause - effect essay
• In a cause - effect essay, you discuss the causes
(reasons) why something happens, the effects
(results), or both causes and effects.
• A cause-effect essay can do one of two things:
It can analyze the ways in which one or more
effects result from a particular cause. (Focus-on-
Effects Method)
It can analyze the ways in which one or more
causes lead to a particular effect. (Focus-on-
Causes Method)

7. Typical writing task questions
• Focus-on-causes
What do you think the causes are?
What are some factors leading to this …?
Why does this … happen?
What are some reasons behind this …?
What causes this …?
• Focus-on-effects
What problems does this… cause?
What are the consequences/results of this …?
What are some effects of … on …?
How does this affect …?

8. • For example:
Discuss the effects of family divorce on
children
What are some effects of recycling?
Explain the causes of global warming
Discuss the causes and effects of fast food
popularity

9. FOCUS-ON-CAUSES ESSAY ORGANIZATION
I. Introduction
+ Hook: generally introduce the topic to attract the readers
+ Background information: give more information about the topic
+ Thesis statement: state that the focus of the essay is to examine the CAUSES of
the topic
II. Body
A. Topic sentence for cause 1
1. Support detail 1
2. Support detail 2
B. Topic sentence for cause 2
1. Support detail 1
2. Support detail 2
C. Topic sentence for cause 3
1. Support detail 1
2. Support detail 2
III. Conclusion
- Summarize the main ideas
- State your opinion/make a prediction/recommendation

11. The fact that the world’s cities are getting more and more crowded is well-
known. Cities such as Tokyo, Sao Paolo, Bombay and Shanghai are now considered
‘mega-cities’, because of their enormous size and huge populations. There are two
main reasons why these and other cities are becoming so crowded; one economic, the
other socio-cultural.
First, the primary cause of cities becoming so crowded is economic. As a country
develops, its cities become the engines of development, thus jobs are available in
these areas. Frankfurt, Istanbul, Bombay and Sao Paolo are all the economic centres of
their countries. For example, Tokyo was the motor for Japan’s rapid economic
development in the 1960’s and 70’s; as a result, its population increased rapidly.
People moved to Tokyo because they could find employment and establish economic
security for themselves and their families there.
Second, another factor in the huge increase in urban populations is the socio-
cultural factor. Thousands of people migrate to the cities not only for jobs but also for
educational and personal reasons. The better universities are always located in big
cities and this attracts thousands of students every year, and these students stay on
and work in the city after they graduate. Moreover, young people will move to the city
as the villages and rural areas are more custom and tradition oriented. Therefore,
young people believe this is an obstacle to their personal freedom.
In conclusion, economic and cultural factors are the major causes of huge urban
population. People will always move to the areas which provide opportunity and to the

12. The fact that the world’s cities are getting more and more crowded is well-
known. Cities such as Tokyo, Sao Paolo, Bombay and Shanghai are now considered
‘mega-cities’, because of their enormous size and huge populations. There are two
main reasons why these and other cities are becoming so crowded; one economic, the
other socio-cultural.
First, the primary cause of cities becoming so crowded is economic. As a country
develops, its cities become the engines of development, thus jobs are available in
these areas. Frankfurt, Istanbul, Bombay and Sao Paolo are all the economic centres of
their countries. For example, Tokyo was the motor for Japan’s rapid economic
development in the 1960’s and 70’s; as a result, its population increased rapidly.
People moved to Tokyo because they could find employment and establish economic
security for themselves and their families there.
Second, another factor in the huge increase in urban populations is the socio-
cultural factor. Thousands of people migrate to the cities not only for jobs but also for
educational and personal reasons. The better universities are always located in big
cities and this attracts thousands of students every year, and these students stay on
and work in the city after they graduate. Moreover, young people will move to the city
as the villages and rural areas are more custom and tradition oriented. Therefore,
young people believe this is an obstacle to their personal freedom.
In conclusion, economic and cultural factors are the major causes of huge urban
population. People will always move to the areas which provide opportunity and to the

13. FOCUS-ON-EFFECTS ESSAY ORGANIZATION
I. Introduction
+ Hook: generally introduce the topic to attract the readers
+ Background information: give more information about the topic
+ Thesis statement: state that the focus of the essay is to examine the EFFECTS of
the topic
II. Body
A. Topic sentence for effect 1
1. Support detail 1
2. Support detail 2
B. Topic sentence for effect 2
1. Support detail 1
2. Support detail 2
C. Topic sentence for effect 3
1. Support detail 1
2. Support detail 2
III. Conclusion
- Summarize the main ideas
- State your opinion/make a prediction/recommendation

15. What effects has the computer had on our lives? The twenty-first century is already turning
out to be the century of the computer. The computer revolution that started after the Second
World War is now developing exponentially and computers are beginning to influence and take
over nearly every aspect of our lives. Computers are clearly changing and affecting society in
many ways. The two main areas in which computers have brought about a profound change in
our lives are in the economic field and in the field of communications.
The computer has led to immense changes in economic and business life. First, businesses
now have to be computerized or they risk failure. Every big corporation bases its operations on
computing, regardless of which sector they are in. For example, Coca-Cola, the BBC and Levi’s
market and sell different products and services, yet they all share one basic property – without
computers their operations would collapse. Second, computing is an economic dynamo. Japan,
China, India and many other countries have large IT sectors which drive their economies
upwards. Furthermore, the developed world is moving from an industrial-based economy to a
computer and IT-based one.
It is not just in business that computers have affected us so profoundly; communication
has been revolutionized totally. Firstly, whereas before, people wrote letters, which would often
take weeks to reach their destinations, or speak on the phone, which was terribly expensive,
now they e-mail. For instance, instead of waiting weeks for a letter now, we can read it instantly,
seconds after it’s been written. Secondly, many people use computers to communicate with
people all around the world using chat rooms and chat programs, this was impossible before the
computer became widespread. As a result, now people who live thousands of kilometers away
from each other can communicate as much as they want and whenever they want using e-mail
and/or chat rooms.
In conclusion, computers have had a profound effect on our lives in many ways and it is in
business and communication that they have had the greatest influence. In the future, if the
computer continues evolving at such speed, our business practices and methods of
communication will undergo even more radical changes.

16. What effects has the computer had on our lives? The twenty-first century is already turning
out to be the century of the computer. The computer revolution that started after the Second
World War is now developing exponentially and computers are beginning to influence and take
over nearly every aspect of our lives. Computers are clearly changing and affecting society in
many ways. The two main areas in which computers have brought about a profound change in
our lives are in the economic field and in the field of communications.
The computer has led to immense changes in economic and business life. First, businesses
now have to be computerized or they risk failure. Every big corporation bases its operations on
computing, regardless of which sector they are in. For example, Coca-Cola, the BBC and Levi’s
market and sell different products and services, yet they all share one basic property – without
computers their operations would collapse. Second, computing is an economic dynamo. Japan,
China, India and many other countries have large IT sectors which drive their economies
upwards. Furthermore, the developed world is moving from an industrial-based economy to a
computer and IT-based one.
It is not just in business that computers have affected us so profoundly; communication
has been revolutionized totally. Firstly, whereas before, people wrote letters, which would often
take weeks to reach their destinations, or speak on the phone, which was terribly expensive,
now they e-mail. For instance, instead of waiting weeks for a letter now, we can read it instantly,
seconds after it’s been written. Secondly, many people use computers to communicate with
people all around the world using chat rooms and chat programs, this was impossible before the
computer became widespread. As a result, now people who live thousands of kilometers away
from each other can communicate as much as they want and whenever they want using e-mail
and/or chat rooms.
In conclusion, computers have had a profound effect on our lives in many ways and it is in
business and communication that they have had the greatest influence. In the future, if the
computer continues evolving at such speed, our business practices and methods of
communication will undergo even more radical changes.

17. Write a strong thesis statement for a cause-effect essay

18. How to start the thesis statement
• For focus-on-cause essay
- There are ….. reasons that lead to …..(+N)
- There are ….. reasons why …..(+clause)
- There are ….. main causes of ………(+N/V-ing)
- There are ….factors that contribute to ….. (+N)
- The chief causes of …….. include ….., ……, and …..(+N/V-ing)
- ….. results from ….. causes including….., ….. and …..(+N/V-ing)
- ….., ….., and …..are three main causes of …….
- ….. can be caused by ….., …., and ….(+N/V-ing)
- ...... can derive from …. causes consisting of/including ….., …..,
and……
- …..is caused by the following factors: …., …., and ….
- ….. is a result/consequence of ….., ….., and …..
- …

19. How to start the thesis statement
• For focus-on-effect essay
- …..can positively/negatively/harmfully/beneficially
affect/impact/influence …..in several/two/three ways.
- …..can have several/two/three
positive/negative/harmful/beneficial
effects/impacts/influences on ….. in terms of ….., ….., and
…..
- There are several/two/three important/main/obvious
effects/impacts/influences of ….. on …..
- The main/chief effects of …..on …..include …., …., and…
- … can cause/result in three …. effects on …. in terms of ….,
….., and …..

20. WRITING ENTRY 5
Option 1:
Nowadays, thanks to the great medical advances,
people can live much longer than before.
What are some reasons behind this trend?
Option 2:
Nowadays, thanks to the great medical advances,
people can live much longer than before.
How will prolonged life expectancy affect all aspects
of society?

21. MAKE AN OUTLINE
I. Thesis statement:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
II. Cause/Effect 1: …………………………………………………………………………………
A. …………………………………………………………….………………………….………………
B. ………………………………………………………..…………………………….…………………
III. Cause/Effect 1: …………………………………………………………………………………
A. ………………………………………………………………………..…………….………………
B. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
IV. Conclusion:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

22. Essay organization
• If you have to discuss both causes
and effects in an essay, you can
organize your essay in two main
ways:
+ ‘block’ organization
+ ‘chain’ organization

23. BLOCK ORGANIZATION
• Introduction:
- Generally introduce the topic
- Give background information about the topic
- Thesis statement: (This essay will discuss some causes of …., and analyze some
consequences it may cause)
• Body:
+ Causes : There are several causes which lead to ….
- Cause 1
- Cause 2
+ Effects: …can result in some serious problems
- Effect 1
- Effect 2
• Conclusion:
- Summarize your main ideas
- State your opinion about the topic

24. CHAIN ORGANIZATION
• Introduction:
- Generally introduce the topic
- Give background information about the topic
- Thesis statement: (This essay will discuss some causes of …., and analyze some
consequences it may cause)
• Body:
- Cause 1
- Effect 1
- Cause 2
- Effect 2
• Conclusion:
- Summarize your main ideas
- State your opinion about the topic