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Cause
& Effect
Cause
and effect is the relationship between two things when one thing
makes something else happen. For example, if we eat too much food
and do not exercise, we gain weight. Eating food without exercising
is the "cause;" weight gain is the "effect."
There may be multiple causes and multiple effects.
Looking for the reason why things happen (cause/effect) is a basic
human drive. So, understanding the cause/effect text structure is
essential in learning the basic ways the world works. Writers use
this text structure to show order, inform, speculate, and change
behavior. This text structure uses the process of identifying potential
causes of a problem or issue in an orderly way. It is often used
to teach social studies and science concepts.
Teaching
Strategies that have been found effective in teaching the cause/effect
text structure include:
- Teaching
signal words that show cause/effect relationships, e.g., because,
so, so that, if… then, consequently, thus, since, for, for
this reason, as a result of, therefore, due to, this is how, nevertheless,
and accordingly.
- Teaching
how to look for the different kinds of cause/effect relationships:
- Stated
cause/effect relationships: the relationship is stated clearly
- Unstated
cause/effect relationships: students must be taught how to
"read between the lines"
- Reciprocal
cause/effect relationships: effects may be part of a chain.
In this kind of structure, one effect goes on to cause a second
effect, which may then cause a third effect, etc.
Sites
That Matter
Check
out the sites below for more information on helping students use
cause and effect as a text structure in reading and writing.
General
Information on Cause and Effect
Cause-and-Effect
Writing Challenges Students
This article is an excellent place to begin your web study of cause
and effect. It presents an overview of three classroom teachers'
experiences. Included are their various teaching approaches, which
can be used with students of all ages, and links to other cause/effect
resources, examples of cause/effect writing, and samples of signal
words.
www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr376.shtml
Identifying
Cause and Effect
Prentice Hall offers a simple introduction and reading tips to identify
causes and effects. Sample science texts are included to use for
exercises.
www.phschool.com/science/biosurf/
superread/unit9/9strategy1.html
Using
Adverb Clauses with Expressions of Cause and Effect
This site describes how to use cause/effect signal words for writing.
esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_adverbclauses_cause.htm
Helping
Adolescents Understand Cause/Effect Text Structure in Social Studies
This article explains a system for reading social studies texts
called the Q networking strategy mapping.
www.maine207.k12.il.us/departments/351/helping.pdf
Lesson
Plans on Cause and Effect
Cause-and-Effect
Writing Challenges Students
This article presents three teachers' views on teaching the cause/effect
text structure and contains links to five lessons on the Web.
www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr376.shtml
Reading
a Cause-and-Effect Article
This lesson for middle school students explores in depth how to
infer and analyze cause/effect patterns by reading a news article.
go.hrw.com/elotM/0030526671/student/ch03/lg1403092_103.pdf
What
and Why (Cause and Effect)
The University of Illinois Extension offers a lesson for teachers
to use with science and social studies. It begins by explaining
real-life examples of cause and effect and transitions into science
examples for the middle grades.
www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/ce/strat130.html
Cause
and Effect Reading Lesson Plan
This is an introduction for science teachers to the concept of cause
and effect. It offers a chart, chain of events, problem/solution
diagram, and Venn diagram to analyze the different aspects of cause
and effect.
www.everestquest.com/read2.htm
Cause
and Effect Teacher Tools
Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers
This section of the publisher's web site contains free downloadable graphic organizers within eight different categories, including cause and effect. Each graphic organizer also includes teaching notes with accompanying lessons and tips for using graphic organizers in the classroom.
my.hrw.com/nsmedia/intgos/html/igo.htm
Seeing
Reason: Mindful Mapping of Cause and Effect
Intel provides a free, interactive, online mapping tool that helps
students map relationships and construct models of their understanding.
This page also includes examples and classroom strategies.
www97.intel.com/scripts-seeingreason/index.asp
Cause
and Effect Diagram (Fishbone Diagram)
This site gives a blank fishbone diagram and an example of a filled
out diagram.
www.sytsma.com/tqmtools/cause.html
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