Writing Guide

Cause & Effect Essay

OUTLINE

What is a cause and effect essay?

A cause and effect essay examines the reasons (causes) an event, situation, or action
occurs, or the results (effects) of an event, situation, or action.

Examples
Book 3, Unit 7, Writing model C, p. 164
Book 4, Unit 4, Writing model D, p. 131 (discussing effects)
Book 4, Unit 4, Writing model A, p. 128 (discussing causes)

Outline
Paragraph 1 – Introductory
• hook
• background information (describe the situation/cause/effect)
• thesis statement (briefly list the effects)

Paragraph 2 – Causes/effects and supporting points

• topic sentence (cause or effect 1)
• example/supporting point
• example/supporting point

Paragraph 3 Causes/Effects and supporting points

• topic sentence (cause or effect 2)
• example/supporting point
• example/supporting point

Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
• summarize reasons or restate thesis statement
• offer additional thoughts or make predictions
Writing Guide
Cause & Effect Essay

MODEL ESSAY

Planning notes
Thesis statement: Gluten-free foods have witnessed enormous growth and popularity
since they first came on the market, and their growth has been brought about by
several factors.
Cause 1: Gluten-free foods started out as a way to help people with certain health
disorders.
Supporting details:
1. Celiac disease
2. people sensitive to gluten
Cause 2: Gluten-free foods are considered trendy.
Supporting details:
1. attention on the news and social media
2. support from celebrities
Cause 3: More people are eating gluten-free food because they are told that it will help
them lose weight.
Supporting details:
1. found in health food sections at supermarkets
2. led to believe gluten is bad in advertisements
Content
Today, information travels so quickly, and new diets seem to appear on the market
all the time. Some are short-lived, but others have a very long shelf life. Gluten-free
foods, which are made without wheat, rye, barley, and a handful of other grains, have
now been around for a number of years, and could be here for many more to
come. Gluten-free foods have witnessed enormous growth and popularity since they
first came on the market, and their growth has been brought about by several factors.
Gluten-free foods started out as a way to help people with certain health disorders.
For example, Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which gluten causes damage
to the small intestine. People with Celiac disease can experience fatigue,
stomachaches, and other painful symptoms if they ingest gluten. In the past, they did
not have many food choices, so they had to avoid most processed foods, but now they
can enjoy gluten-free bread and pastas. Today, a lot of information about the effects of
gluten is being shared on the news and online media. As a result, many people are
realizing that they are sensitive to gluten products, which has resulted in an increasing
number of gluten-free products at supermarkets.
Even though the first gluten-free products were made due to health concerns, they
are now popular for another reason. Gluten-free foods are considered trendy. They are
getting so much attention on the news and social media that some people assume they
should be eating them whether they need to or not. Even famous athletes and
Writing Guide
Cause & Effect Essay
celebrities have contributed to the trend. When Oprah Winfrey decided to go without
gluten for twenty-one days, millions of fans were encouraged to join her. A number of
celebrities also use Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to support the benefits of gluten-
free foods. Even though these celebrities are not experts, millions of people take their
advice just because they admire them.
Finally, more people are eating gluten-free food because they are told that it will
help them lose weight. In many supermarkets, gluten-free foods are found in the
“health food” section along with vitamins, organic foods, and weight-loss products.
Therefore, consumers who are trying to diet often buy them. Also,
advertisers lead people to believe that gluten is bad for them. It is true that many
gluten-free foods are healthy, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. However, despite
what the advertisements say, cookies, crackers, and pizza are never good for us, even if
they are gluten-free. In this case, people are misguided, and dieters spend billions of
dollars on gluten-free foods that are not actually diet foods.
Due to science, the media, and effective marketing, gluten-free foods are becoming
more and more common around the world. For consumers, the challenge is to know
whether a gluten-free diet is the right choice for them. Even though we have access to a
lot of food and health information online, experts believe that talking to our doctor
should still be our first step. After all, they have degrees in science. Celebrities and
advertisers do not.

HELPFUL PHRASES
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Cause & Effect Essay

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