Cause and

Effect Essay
Ms Saadiah
 Purpose
• Cause and effect essays are concerned with
why things happen (causes) and what
happens as a result (effects).
 Building Blocks of an Essay
• Hook
1 • Background
Intro • Thesis statement
ducti
on

• Topic sentence
3 • Supporting details
Body
para
• Example(s)
grap • Restatement of Topic Sentence
hs

• Restatement of Thesis statement

1 • Concluding sentence
concl
usion
 Format (1):

• Eg: Causes of flood • Eg: Effects of flood

• C1: cause 1 • C1: Effect 1
• C2: cause 2 • C2: Effect 2
• C3: cause 3 • C3: Effect 3
Format (2): Block organization
• Causes & Effects • Causes & Effects
of flood of flood
– C1: cause 1 – C1: cause 1
– C2: cause 2 – C2: Effect 1
– C3: effect 1 – C3: effect 2
 Introduction
• Begin with a hook
– sentence that would grab
readers’ attention

Definition Question Quote

Events Statistics
 Examples- Flood
• Definition:
– According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, flood is defined
as a rising and overflowing of a body of water especially
onto normally dry land.
• Question:
– Have you ever wondered what it felt like having to wake in
the middle of the night, pack hastily and leave your home
to save yourself from the rising flood?
• Quote:
– “Luck is a very thin wire between survival and disaster,
and not many people can keep their balance on it.”

Hunter S. Thompson
 Examples- Flood
• Events:
– In November 2017, Bernama reported that
evacuees in Kelantan were being put up at relief
centres in the districts of Kota Baru, Pasir Mas,
Tanah Merah, Pasir Puteh, Kuala Krai, Machang
and Bachok.
• Statistics
– The 2014-25 floods affected Malaysia from 15
December 2-14 to 3 January 2015. More than
200, 000 people were affected while 21 were
killed.
• Background:
– Information pertaining to the topic at
hand
• Thesis statement:
– A sentence denoting the main idea of
the whole essay.
– Written at the end of the introduction
paragraph
– How to write:
• Topic+ TpS 1+ TpS 2 + TpS 3
Types of Thesis statement

Main Idea

General
Eg: There are several causes of
stress
Thesis Statement
Main idea +
Content for each
paragraph
Specific
Causes of stress are systemic
discrimination, overwhelming
work and insufficient rest.
 Example:
• Topic: Flood can be both natural and human
induced. What are the causes of flood?
• TpS 1: Heavy rains
• TpS 2: lack of vegetation
• TpS 3: storm surges and Tsunamis

• Thesis statement:
• Flood is caused by heavy rains, lack of vegetation
and storm surges and Tsunamis.
 Exercise:
• Topic: While elections are an occasion for people to have a say in how
they are governed and who will hold political power, voter apathy is a
growing concern, especially among young people. In politics, voter
apathy is perceived apathy (lack of caring) among voters in an
election. What Causes Voter Apathy in Elections?
• TpS 1: They don’t have the incentive to vote
• TpS 2: They don’t have the time
• TpS 3: They doubt their ability to make a difference

• Thesis statement:
• Voter Apathy in Elections can happen due to voters not having the
incentive and the time to vote, while some doubt their ability to
make a difference.
 Exercise:
• Topic: More and more women are now going out to work and
some women are now the major salary earner in the family. What
is the cause of this, and what effects does this have on families and
society?
• TpS 1: Cause: Women's liberation and feminism
• TpS 2: Effect 1: improved quality of life.
• TpS 3: Effect 2: greater gender equality.

• Thesis statement:
• The increasing number of women in workforce is due to women's
liberation and feminism, which brings significant consequences like
improved quality of life and greater gender equality.
 Intro- Sample: Flood
Flood is usually an overflow of an expanse of Hook: Definition
water that submerges land and the inflow of
tide onto land. They are the most frequent
and costly natural hazards, causing almost 90 Background
percent of all the damage related to natural
disasters. However, not all floods are acts of
God, sometimes they are human induced.
Some of the causes of flood are heavy rains,
Thesis Statement
lack of vegetation and storm surges and
Tsunamis.
 Body
• 1 Topic sentence
– Controlling idea of the whole
paragraph
• +/- 3 Supporting Details
– Elaborations of the topic
sentence
– Provide information to clarify,
prove, or explain the main idea.
– Eg: Facts and evidence.
Definitions
Reasons and Descriptions
and
explanations and details
vocabulary

Anecdotes Testimonials
and examples. and quotes
 Body- Sample: Flood
Topic Sentence
One of the causes of flood is heavy rainfall. This happens
when natural watercourses do not have the capacity to carry excess
water. Unusually heavy downpour at the source of a river can lead
to vast amounts of water draining into the water table. The water Supporting
Details
table of a river is the area from which it gathers water, so if an
unnaturally high level of water is draining into this area, this will lead
to similarly high levels of water in the river. As more and more of the
river’s tributary streams join the river, this effect is amplified until
the amount of water reaches a critical level; the banks – or the
natural flood plain – cannot hold such a volume and it spills over.
This often occurs at lower reaches of a river in areas of habitation,
causing extensive damage. For instance, in Malaysia where flood
happens regularly due to torrential rain during monsoon season, in
Example
2014-15 alone, the country suffered from an estimation of 56 million
USD in property damage. Thus, continuous torrential rain is one of
the most prominent causes of flood.
Restatement
of TpS
 Some of the causes of flood are
• Explains heavy rains, lack of vegetation
Thesis the whole and storm surges and Tsunamis.
Statement essay

• Explains
One of the causes of flood is
Topic the Thesis heavy rainfall.
Sentence Statement

. This often occurs at lower reaches

• Explains
Major the Topic
of a river in areas of habitation,
Details Sentence causing extensive damage.

• Explains a In Malaysia where flood

Minor major happens regularly due to
Details detail torrential rain during
monsoon season, in 2014-
15 alone, the country
suffered from an
estimation of 56 million
USD in property damage.
Exercise: Find the TpS, Major & Minor Details
Success in college depends on many things, but one of the most
important is having a positive attitude. There are many ways to develop a
positive outlook. You can try using encouraging self-talk to motivate
yourself. For example, if you tell yourself that you are smart and can be
successful, you are more likely to do well in your classes. Helping others
to be successful is also a way of maintaining a positive attitude. When you
see that college is not a competition, you will see success come to you
and those who work closely with you. Finally, you can develop a positive
attitude by viewing difficult situations as opportunities to grow. For
example, if you are struggling in a class because the material is
challenging, don't let yourself feel down about it. Instead, take action!
Visit with your professor or form a study group. Getting help will enable
you to learn the material and therefore do better in your class. By using
encouraging self-talk, helping others, and utilizing difficult moments as an
opportunity to grow, you will have the optimistic outlook that will enable
you to succeed in college—and in life!
Topic Sentence Body- Sample: exercise Major Details

Success in college depends on many things, but one of the most

important is having a positive attitude. There are many ways to develop a
positive outlook. You can try using encouraging self-talk to motivate
yourself. For example, if you tell yourself that you are smart and can be
successful, you are more likely to do well in your classes. Helping others
to be successful is also a way of maintaining a positive attitude. When you
see that college is not a competition, you will see success come to you
and those who work closely with you. Finally, you can develop a positive
attitude by viewing difficult situations as opportunities to grow. For
example, if you are struggling in a class because the material is
challenging, don't let yourself feel down about it. Instead, take action!
Visit with your professor or form a study group. Getting help will enable
you to learn the material and therefore do better in your class. By using
encouraging self-talk, helping others, and utilizing difficult moments as an
opportunity to grow, you will have the optimistic outlook that will enable
you to succeed in college—andMinorin life!
Details
 Answer:
• TpS: one of the most important is having a
positive attitude

• Major 1: using encouraging self-talk to

motivate yourself
• Minor 1: if you tell yourself that you are smart
and can be successful, you are more likely to
do well in your classes.
 Answer:
• Major 2: Helping others to be successful
• Minor 2: When you see that college is not a competition, you
will see success come to you and those who work closely
with you.

• Major 3: viewing difficult situations as opportunities to grow.

• Minor: if you are struggling in a class because the material is
challenging, don't let yourself feel down about it.
– Instead, take action!
• Visit with your professor or form a study group.
– Getting help will enable you to learn the material and therefore do better in your
class.
 Conclusion
• Restatement of thesis
statement
– Paraphrase the TS in
introduction
• Concluding sentence
Quote Suggestions Warning

Hope for the

Call of
future
action
 Conclusion- Sample: Flood

Thus, flood occurs due to torrential Restatement

downpour, deforestation and hurricane and of TS

Tsunamis. In the future, it is hoped that an

implementation of more comprehensive
measures to reduce flood, like investing in a Suggestions +
hope for the
better drainage system and giving future

homeowners grants to elevate their houses

are undertaken to reduce some of the
damages people face.
KAHOOT TIME!
 Task
• 4/ 5 people per group
• 1 person for introduction & conclusion
• 1 person for each body paragraph

• Write a 5 paragraphs essay (3 contents)

• Length of essay should be
approximately 1 ½- 2 pages .
• Post the link of your Google Doc in
group WhatsApp
 Task
• Mind map- 3 topic sentences
• Assign who is going to be in charge
of which paragraph
• Create a Google Doc
• Copy and paste the link beside your
name in the group whatsapp
– Set permission to editor
 Task: Body Image
Body image is the perception that a
person has of their physical self and
the thoughts and feelings that result
from that perception. These feelings
can be positive, negative or both. In
the UK, among teenagers, 37% felt
upset, and 31% felt ashamed about
their body image and resort to dieting
to achieve their ideal body shape.
Discuss on the causes that influence
one’s body image and its effects.
Task: Literacy
Literacy improves creative and critical
thinking skills, informed decision
making, personal empowerment, as
well as civil and social participation.
However, despite the steady rise in
literacy rates over the past 50 years,
there are still 773 million illiterate
adults around the world, most of
whom are women. Discuss on the
cause and effects of illiteracy.
Task: Domestic violence
Domestic violence is violence or other
abuse by one person against another
in a domestic setting. In the US, one in
four women will experience domestic
violence at the hands of their partner
during their lifetime. In 2022 alone,
6,540 cases were reported in Malaysia.
What are the causes and effects of
domestic violence?