Cause & Effect

Objectives

• To understand the purpose of the cause & effect text structure

• To identify the signal words used for the cause & effect text structure

• To identify the graphic organizer used for the cause & effect text structure

• To differentiate between the causes and effects in a text​

Everyday there is cause and effect

Cause

Is WHY something happens

This is USUALLY the first thing that happens.

Examples of Cause

• it started to rain

• I'm hungry

• didn't finish homework

• I tripped on a rock

• did not pay attention

Effect

is WHAT happens

This requires the cause to happen first.

Examples of Effect

• so I was wet

• so I ate

• I didn't get to play

• I hurt my knee

• did not learn anything

But...be careful!

the cause can be WRITTEN either first or second.

​

​

HOWEVER, the cause ALWAYS HAPPENS first!​

For example

I ate because I was hungry.

OR

I was hungry so I ate.

​

Can you tell which one is the cause and which one is the effect?

Multiple Choice

What does cause mean?

• is why something happens

• is what happened

• is a reason

Multiple Choice

What does effect mean?

• is why something happens

• is what happened

• is a reason

Multiple Choice

What always has to happen FIRST? *This doesn't mean it will always be explained first in a sentence!

• Cause

• Effect

Multiple Choice

Name the UNDERLINED part of the sentence.

There was a car accident on the highway, so we arrived late to school.

• Cause

• Effect

Multiple Choice

Name the UNDERLINED part of the sentence.

Mom cooked dinner because we were all hungry.

• Cause

• Effect

Common signal words for cause and effect:

• Because

• So

• As a result

• Therefore

• If...then

• Due to

• Consequently

• Since ​

• ​Cause

• In order to

• The reason for​

• Effect​

Multiple Choice

What signal word is found in this sentence:

I did not clean my room, so I couldn't play my favorite video game after dinner.

• After

• so

• Couldn't

Multiple Choice

What signal word is found in this sentence:

The boy was laughing because he saw someone's homework fly away.

• was

• because

• saw

Cause and Effect

Graphic Organizer​

There can be more than one effect for any single cause.

Multiple Choice

Which part of the sentence is the cause?

The boy was laughing because he saw someone's homework fly away.

• The boy was laughing

• because he saw someone's homework fly away.

Multiple Choice

Which part of the sentence is the cause?

I didn't finish my homework so I could not play.

• I didn't finish my homework

• so I could not play.

Multiple Choice

Which part of the sentence is the effect?

The ice cream melted because it was left outside.

• The ice cream melted

• because it was left outside.

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