COMMON THEMES FOR CAUSE-EFFECT ESSAYS

In Progress Tests and IELTS exams, certain themes, such as education, the environment, and family, health, and technology/the media, among others, are
common. You should learn key words and points associated with them so that, in an exam situation, you always have something to write!
EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT FAMILY HEALTH TECHNOLOGY/MEDIA
High school dropouts Global warming Divorce Obesity Overuse of internet
Causes (why?) Causes (why?) Causes (why?) Causes (why?) Causes (why?)
• need to make money • overpopulation (more • communication • change in life style • addiction
(get a job) cars and use of problems (sedentary, lack of • a lot of free time
• find subjects too resources) • family problems (e.g. exercise) • entertainment (eg chat
difficult or boring • more industries with father or mother- • poor diet (e.g. fast lines are appealing)
• can’t afford school (factories) in-law) food or eating too • informative (many
fees • burning of fossil fuels • lack of money much) subjects available)
• want to get married • deforestation • having no children • feeling you must eat • internet use may be
• family problems • modern/changing • spousal abuse everything on your required for school
lifestyle • one partner is cheating plate or at a certain courses
• hole in the ozone layer • partners get bored time even if you are • easy communication
with each other not hungry method (way to
• hereditary factors connect with friends)
(parents also obese) or • lack of a daily routine
certain illnesses or schedule
• easily available
Effects (what?) Effects (what?) Effects (what?) Effects (what?) Effects (what?)
• uneducated society • loss of biodiversity • broken hearts and • poor health (high • waste time
• negative impact on the (variety in animal life) broken homes blood pressure, heart • become more careless
economy • climate change • nobody is responsible disease, diabetes and inattentive, lose
• can’t cope with new • sea levels rise for the children • lower self-esteem ability to be
technology • air and water pollution • children may become • difficult to find clothes independent
• classifies people in the • less oxygen in air violent or depressed that fit • health problems
community into • acid rain • economic – man may • limited employment (obesity, eye
different social levels pay alimony to his ex- (hard to get a job) problems, back pain,
• low self-esteem for wife • economic (hospitals RSI)
dropouts • it may be difficult for need more money and • become antisocial
• creates more family someone to remarry overweight person • learn bad things from
problems (vicious pays a lot for special certain websites or
circle – cause becomes diets) chatting with bad
effect and becomes a • difficult to get married people
cause again) • computer (viruses)