How to write a Cause-and-Effect Essay
You will be required to write many types of essays during your academic journey. These papers may include a cause-and-effect essay, which explores and explains relationships between different situations, events, or actions. The main aim of these types of essays is to examine why certain things happen (causes) and the outcomes of the happenings (effects). This article discusses cause-and-effect essays, how to write them, and the different structures you can use.
What are Cause-and-effect Essays?
A cause-and-effect essay significantly differs from other types of academic writing because it aims to establish a clear connection between two or more issues. In this type of essay, you have to analyze and examine the “why” and “how” of a situation by exploring the reasons behind something happening (causes) and the resulting consequences (effects). You try to find connections between these aspects you are discussing.
The cause and effect essay follows an organized presentation of causes and effects that allows a logical flow to show relationships, as will be discussed later in this article. The main components of a cause-and-effect essay are as follows;
- Causes: These are the factors or events resulting in a particular situation. For example, if you are examining the cause of obesity, you can discuss factors such as unhealthy eating habits.
- Effects: This denotes the outcomes that result from the causes you identified. For example, unhealthy eating habits lead to health issues.
- Connections: The key to every cause-and-effect essay is to define the relationship between causes and effects. For instance, use evidence to demonstrate the connection between unhealthy eating habits and health issues and how it results in obesity.
Guide to Writing a Cause-and-Effect Essay
Writing a cause-and-effect essay follows a similar format to other forms of writings in your academic journey. As with other academic essays, it is crucial to ensure that your formatting style is consistent throughout the paper. Additionally, always ensure you include evidence from scholarly materials to ascertain that your essay is objective and analytical. The following are the steps to follow when writing a cause-and-effect essay;
Step 1: Choose a specific topic and brainstorm it to find any questions you need to answer and connections you intend to make between topics. The subject you select must be relevant to your academic field.
Step 2: Conduct a thorough research on your topic to gather evidence to support your argument. Some of the sources you can use include academic journals, scholarly books, and reputable websites.
Step 3: The third step involves formulation of a thesis statement that articulates the main argument of your paper.
Step 4: Create an outline that will act as a guideline for you as you complete the essay.
Step 5: After completing the outline, you will write the introduction of your essay. Ensure that the introduction catches the reader’s attention while providing background information about your topic. You should include your thesis statement in this section towards the end of the section. Check our guide on how to write a compelling introduction and how to write a good thesis statement.
Step 6: After the introduction, you will start working on the body paragraphs that discuss the cause and effects of the subject you are exploring. Additionally, ascertain that every paragraph discusses one specific cause or effect and supports your ideas with scholarly evidence from reputable academic sources.
Step 7: The final stage is to write a conclusion that restates your thesis and summarize the key arguments made in your discussion.
Structure of a Cause-and-Effect Essay
The cause and effect essay structure is similar that that of other types of essays. Therefore, your essay must have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, unlike other essays, there are different ways to structure your essay’s body paragraphs when writing a cause-and-effect essay. Every point in your body paragraphs must support and refer back to your thesis statement using credible sources. There are three types of structure for this type of essay: block structure, chain structure, and causal chain structure.
Characteristics and examples of cause and effect essay formats
| Type | Characteristics | Example |
| Block Structure | · Discusses causes and effects in separate sections, allowing you to dive deep into every category thoroughly
· Appropriate when you want to focus heavily on either the causes or the effects
|
· Introduction: Background information and thesis statement
· Body Paragraph 1: Discuss the causes with evidence · Body Paragraph 2: Present the effects with evidence · Conclusion: Summarize key points |
| Chain Structure | · The structure focuses on how one cause results in a specific effect.
· A single cause leads to a single effect. For example, a poor diet could lead to poor health. · However, the effects of one cause can trigger another cause. For instance, a poor diet could lead to poor health, which further result in mental health problems. |
· Introduction: Background information and thesis statement
· Body Paragraphs: Cause and effect 1 Cause (may include effects of cause 1) and effect 2 Cause (may consist of effects of Cause 1 and 2) and effect 3 · Conclusion: Summarize the main arguments
|
| Causal Chain Structure | · This structure emphasizes the successive nature of the relationships between causes and effects.
· The effects of one cause trigger the next cause, resulting in a sequence of relationships between variables. For example, lack of sleep results in fatigue, and fatigue leads to poor life quality. · In this structure, you should present cause and effects through a step-by-step approach to show the interconnectedness of events and their consequences. |
· Introduction: Present background information and thesis statement
· Body paragraphs: Cause and effect 1: Discuss the first cause and its effects Cause 2 (caused by Cause 1 effects) and its consequent effects. Cause 3 (resulting from the Cause 2 effects) and its subsequent effects · Conclusion: Summarize the main arguments |
Conclusion
To sum up, understanding how to write a quality paper is a crucial skill that helps you analyze complex issues by identifying their causes and effects. This article has discussed a cause-and-effect essay, the steps to writing it, and the different types of structures you can utilize when writing. The guidance in this article will help you write clear and insightful cause-and-effect essays. However, if you still feel overwhelmed with the task, our professional writers at Skilled Tutorials will be happy to assist at a reasonable cost.
Example of A Cause and Effect Essay
In the example below, we look at a cause and effect essay focusing on how social media(cause) draws an impact on youth self-esteem (effect)
Effects of Social Media on Youth Self-esteem
Introduction
Over the past decade, there has been a proliferation of web-based platforms and applications for content creation, sharing, and virtual social interaction. The use of technological gadgets and the availability of the internet make it easy for users, especially the youth, to access these platforms (Steinsbekk, 2021, p.1). However, there have been concerns that continued social media usage influences how the youth value and perceive themselves. This literature review focuses on evaluating the relationship between social media use and youth self-esteem. The review specifically explores various scholarly sources focusing on the negative and positive impacts of the relationship, while underlining existing limitations to inform further research.
Relationship between Social media use and Youth Self-esteem
Researchers have put forward different theories in an attempt to provide a framework for understanding the connection between social media use and self-esteem. According to Valkenburg et al. (2021, p.17-18), the social comparison theory is one useful theory in this regard. The theory argues that individuals self-evaluate themselves based on how they view others. In this view, constant exposure to curated versions of others on social media may result in upward comparisons. This may lead to a situation where the youth perceive themselves as inferior to their peers, hence undermining their self-esteem. Further, the self-presentation theory, which states that people display themselves strategically to leave a certain impression on others, is also essential to assessment of social media and youth esteem (Farooq & Farrukh, 2023, p.174). From perspectives by Daniels (2020, p.14), it is argued that teenagers actively expose themselves on social media, and the opinions they receive from other people in the form of feedback have a strong effect on their self-esteem.
(As we have discussed in our guide on how to write a cause and effect essay, it is evident that as with other types of essays, this sort of essay must have an introduction, body, and conclusion. In the introduction above, the essay sets a background for evaluation of the connection between social media, and youth esteem.)
Negative Impacts of Social Media On Youth Esteem
According to Tyson et al. (2021.p.75), 81% of American teenagers actively engage in social media platforms. A research study by Farooq and Farrukh (2023) backed these findings where the scholars sought to assess the effect of social media on esteem. 500 individuals of age 13-17 were engaged. The findings showed that 65% of the participants use social media daily. The research further evidenced a significant inverse relationship between this heavy usage, and the self-esteem of the youth. Specifically, it was revealed that greater usage came with lower the self-esteem (Farooq & Farrukh, 2023, p.180). During the long hours spent on these platforms, frequent exposure to idealized images and various lifestyles can trigger feelings of discontentment with one’s life leading to low self-esteem (Steinsbekk et al., 2021, p.5; Gallagher, 2017, p.4). Additionally, the pursuit of likes and comments as indicators of social approval can become a source of validation for many youths, thereby affecting their self-esteem where such validation is not provided (Gallagher, 2017, p.13). However, the studies by Steinsbekk et al. (2021) and by Farooq and Farrukh (2023) focused on the use of self-report measures and correlational designs. Use of questionnaires and surveys as tools makes the information collected for the research susceptible to bias. Similarly, the use of cross-sectional and correlational designs limits evaluation of the causal inferences to establish the connection between the use of social media platforms and self-esteem.
Moreover, an article by the Pew Research Center (2018) reveals that the negative impacts of social media on self-esteem may also emerge as a result of factors such as online bullying on social media platforms. Research by Lee et al. (2023, p.3) similarly established a correlation between cyberbullying, and the time spent on social media by teenagers. The study suggested that the more the time utilized on these platforms the more the cyberbullying activities. Lee et al. (2023, p.4) specifically evidenced a 24.4% incidence of cyber victimization, and a 13.0% prevalence of cyberbullying every six months. As a result, Giumetti and Kowalski (2022) agree that online harassment, exclusion, and criticism can lower the confidence and self-esteem of a teenager, and as a result, cause feelings of social rejection. Cyberbullying is as a result of the pervasive nature of social media. This in itself makes it challenging for the youth to escape despite the negative interactions they encounter, thereby further affecting their self-esteem and mental health. While the findings by both Giumetti and Kowalski (2022) and Lee et al. (2023) reaffirm that cyberbullying plays a crucial role, they measured the variables only at one point in time, and without a second measurement as a control variable.
Researchers have also highlighted body image as a moderating factor that affects the direction and strength of the relationship between youth self-esteem and social media. By using questionnaires and analytical tools such as descriptive statistics, Farooq and Farrukh (2023, p.178) found that Instagram was the most used platform by the youth, followed by Snapchat at 50%, Facebook (45%), and TikTok (40%). All these platforms mostly engage users with images and videos. Exposure to idealized beauty standards shared on social media through these images and videos can distort perceptions of body image (Gallagher, 2017, p.4-5). This can contribute to a negative perception of how people view themselves thereby influencing self-esteem (Gallagher, 2017). Giumetti and Kowalski (2022) further support these findings by stating that frequent engagement with appearance-focused content on social media is associated with poor body image and lower self-esteem among the youth. However, in this cases, the researchers oversimplified the use of social media as a unitary construct. They failed to provide findings that will help differentiate the impact on self-esteem resulting from image and video-based platforms, and those from text-based platforms.
(In the above 3 body paragraphs, this cause and effect essay example looks into the negative effects of social media on the youth self-esteem. As you write your own essay, it is important that you research widely, as this can then help you come up with more solid arguments for your essay. It is also important that you cite all sources you have used to gather the information. In this example, the essay mainly draws from journal articles, which are cited throughout the content.)
Positive Impact of Social Media on Youth Esteem
According to Daniels (2020, p.20), online communication has mostly replaced face-to-face interaction among young people. The constant and interpersonal positive feedback from the content they post provides the youths with opportunities to explore their identities and self-expression (Valkenburg et al., 2021, p.2). Valkenburg et al. (2021, p.3-4) further argue that the ability to connect with like-minded individuals who share the same interests creates a sense of belonging and validation that contributes to positive self-image and esteem. Steinsbekk (2021, p.3) adds that there is a positive correlation between 94% of the youth who use social media platforms and positive experiences that contribute to a sense of self-worth. These experiences are a result of positive feedback they receive from friends and family.
Valkenburg et al. (2021, p.2) claim that self-esteem may change not only over time, but also on a daily or even hourly basis due to variables like positive interactions and the availability of information that boosts self-esteem. In this view, in an article by Robinson and Smith (2024), on social media and mental health, the authors stress that active use of social media by the youths provides chances for them to learn about mental health, find role models, and access resources that aid in coping with different challenges. This access to information can empower young people to take control of their mental health and build confidence.
(In the above 2 paragraphs, our cause and effect essay shifts attention to the positive impacts of social media on youth esteem. Remember, regardless of the topic you are looking at, effects can be positive or negative,. Therefore, even as you write your own essay, it is important that you factor in both the positive effects, and the negative effects to come up with a well-rounded argument)
You can also read How To Write A Creative Essay. This is one of the guidelines you need to read because you will come across it in your coursework.
Conclusion
This essay evidences that there exists a link between active social media usage by the youth, and the level of self-esteem they portray. While social media may negatively impact an individual’s self-esteem due to activities like cyberbullying, there are also notable benefits. By integrating theoretical frameworks and evidences from other researchers, this essay contributes to comprehension of the effects of social media on youth self-esteem.
(As we have stated in our guide on how to write a cause and effect essay, you must include a conclusion in your writing. As you write a conclusion, you need to summarize the key arguments made in your discussion without introducing any new content).