CAUSE AND EFFECT

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.

To put it another way: when an author gives reasons why something happened, he or she is explaining what caused an effect (reasons are causes and the thing that happens is the effect). Also, when a writer explains the results of an action, he or she is explaining the effects of a cause (results are effects and the thing that occurs is the cause). The cause and effect text structure is used so commonly that you have probably written a paragraph using it and not noticed.

Identifying a text written using the cause and effect pattern of organization can be tricky. In most stories, events in the plot occur for various reasons, This can be mistaken for the cause and effect text structure; however, stories are organized chronologically, and the information in each passage is more likely to be organized by the time in which each event occurred. Contrarily, cause and effect passages usually focus on explaining the reason why something occurs or occurred, and time will usually not pass in these paragraphs.

cause and effect: because, as a result, resulted, caused, affected, since, due to, effect.

Signal word/phrase + Cause + Effect

atau

Effect + Signal word/phrase + Cause

Contoh:

1. Due to Bella’s nervousness, she did not pass the driving test.

Karena kegugupan Bella, dia tidak lulus ujian menyetir.

Signal phrase: due to

Cause: Bella’s nervousness

Effect: She did not pass the driving test

2. He’s always late because of his gaming habits

Dia selalu telat karena kebiasaan bermain game-nya.

Signal phrase: Because of

Cause: His gaming habits

Effect : He’s always late

Clue word :

-Cause (The Why)

1)Because

2)Because of

3)Since

4)As a result of

5)As a consequence of

6)Now that     

-Effect (The What)

1)So

2)Therefore

3)This resulted in

4)Consequently

5)Hence

6)Accordingly