Recognizing Cause and Effect

Recognizing Cause and Effect

Use clue words to help you understand what happens in a reading passage and why.

Cause and Effect: What's the Difference?

What happens and why is called cause and effect.   Cause and Effect reading skill tells why or how one event causes another event to occur. 

 

To find a cause, look for why something happened. To find an effect, look for a result, or what happened

CAUSE AND EFFECT clue words include:

As a result of                       Due to the fact                      So

Because                               On account of                       Thanks to

Because of                          Owing to                                The reason for

By virtue of                         Resulting in                           Therefore

Consequently,                    Seeing that                            Whereas

Due to                                  Since                                      Which Means

When there are no clue words, look for cause and effect by thinking about what happens and why or how it happens.

Cause and Effect Text Structure

Cause and effect is a common way to organize information in a text. Paragraphs structured as cause and effect explain reasons why something happened or the effects of something. These paragraphs can be ordered as causes and effects or as effects and then causes. The cause and effect text structure is generally used in expository and persuasive writing modes.

Boy Bands

Though musical trends come and go, “boy bands” have been well-liked by many for decades. Boy bands almost always perform songs that have been written by professional behind-the-scenes songwriters. This type of songwriting causes boy band songs to appeal to large audiences. Band members themselves are also usually talented singers. Finally, boy band popularity has often been due to band members’ carefully-groomed appearances. Because of these features, the popularity of boy bands is almost certainly here to stay. 

Multiple Choice

Though musical trends come and go, “boy bands” have been well-liked by many for decades.

• Cause

• Effect

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

Boy bands almost always perform songs that have been written by professional behind-the-scenes songwriters.

• Cause

• Effect

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

This type of songwriting causes boy band songs to appeal to large audiences.

• Cause

• Effect

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

Band members themselves are also usually talented singers.

• Cause

• Effect

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

Finally, boy band popularity has often been due to band members’ carefully-groomed appearances.

• Cause

• Effect

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

Because of these features, the popularity of boy bands is almost certainly here to stay.

• Cause

• Effect

• Neutral

Domino Effect

A domino effect or chain reaction is the cumulative effect produced when one event sets off a chain of similar events.

A situation in which one event causes a series of related events, one following another

The Fire

 A local grocery store was damaged by a large fire on Friday evening. As a result, nearly all the products and shelving units in the store were ruined. A restaurant next door to the store also suffered significant smoke damage. Though it was lucky that no one was injured in the fire, many employees will have to find new jobs while the store struggles to rebuild. 

Multiple Choice

A local grocery store was damaged by a large fire on Friday evening.

• Cause

• Effect

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

As a result, nearly all the products and shelving units in the store were ruined.

• Cause

• Effect

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

A restaurant next door to the store also suffered significant smoke damage.

• Cause

• Effect

• Neutral

Multiple Choice

Though it was lucky that no one was injured in the fire, many employees will have to find new jobs while the store struggles to rebuild.

• Cause

• Effect

• Neutral

Ultimate Cause and Effect - The End