Cause and Effect

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Cause and Effect
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• causes must always precede effects
• causality
• involves more than sequence
• explains why something happened
• can predict what probably will happen

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• true causality involves two criteria
• necessary cause- and event that usually makes the
  same effect happen and without which the event
  cannot happen
• Ex. If you turn the key in your ignition, your
  car will usually start if you dont turn the
  key, the car wont start
• sufficient cause- an event that is enough in
  itself to make the effect happen
• Ex. Turning the ignition key is necessary to
  start the car, but it is not sufficient by
  itself, you must also press down on the
  accelerator.

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Causes Effect
money problems religious differences different attitudes about raising children - divorce
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Cause Effects
- hurricane - property damage - injuries - deaths
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• You may have identified several causes of an
  effect, and often all are necessary. However,
  one may be more important than the others. It is
  called the main cause. The others are
  contributory causes.

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• Causes can also be immediate or remote. An
  immediate cause closely precedes an event and is
  easy to identify. A remote cause is less obvious
  because it takes place further in the past, and
  perhaps farther away as well. Overlooking a
  remote cause means you are producing an
  oversimplified and illogical analysis.

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Effect Civil disturbances
Main Cause Racism
Contributory Cause Martin Luther King Jr.s death
Immediate Cause Kings death
Possible Remote Causes Tensions of inner-city life, including unemployment, crime, poor health care and poverty
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• Before you start to write, you have to decide
  whether you will be finding causes or predicting
  effects. Sometimes, you will do both in one
  essay. Think about your topic and choose the
  option that will be easier for you. Look at your
  chart that analyzed your topic. Ask yourself
  whether it was easier to fill in the effect box
  or the cause boxes. After you have decided
  which approach to take, then you can formulate
  your thesis statement.

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• Your thesis statement should tell your readers
  three things
• - the points you will consider,
• - the position you will take,
• - whether you will be predicting causes or
  finding effects.

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• Sample thesis statement
• Although societys increasing acceptance of
  the mentally ill, the high cost of in-patient
  care, and the rise in the number of health
  professionals have all been influential in
  reducing the population of state mental
  hospitals, the most important cause of this
  reduction is the development and use of
  psychotropic drugs.
• The plan for this paper would be
• Pgh 1 thesis
• Pgh 2 increased acceptance of mentally ill
• Pgh 3 high cost of in-patient care
• Pgh 4 rise in number of health professionals
• Pgh 5 development/use of psy. drugs
• Pgh 6 conclusion

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• Sample Thesis Statement
• Moving children from a highly structured
  classroom to a relatively open one is likely to
  encourage more independent play, more flexibility
  in forming friendship groups, and ultimately more
  creativity.
• The plan for this paper would be
• Pgh 1 thesis
• Pgh 2 more independent play
• Pgh 3 more flexibility in friendships
• Pgh 4 more creativity
• Pgh 5 conclusion