Cause and Effect Notes

 Cause and Effect isn't a new notion in our writings.  You've already handled areas in your essays where you've shown an event or situation and what resulted from that specific time or action.

Now you're taking that element a step further in examination.  With a focus on causal analysis, you will dig deeper into the why and/or what  arena and work toward establishing connections and relationships between a cause(s) and the resulting effect(s).

Remember that nothing is ever as simple as it seems--don't discount an idea because at first glance it appears to lack an abundance of connection.  Instead: 

ExamineàCONSIDERàConnect

Each step requires critical thinking--and critical in the terms of separating facts and using inferences to expand your thoughts.  Discover what lies beneath the obvious!

I.  Determine immediate as well as possible remote (or ultimate) causes for your subject.

As you think about your topic, examine what elements initiate the action or situation--what started things?  Immediate causes will be those things that are closest in either time or connection to your topic.  Most often, these aspects are the obvious ones that jump out at you as you think about your information. Remote or ultimate causes are ones that are more removed in time or connection--they're just not in center-front attention and may actually be hidden.  

II. Identify specific effects that result from both sets of causes, and consider the impact.

In developing ideas on the effects that result, try to define these as well into immediate and remote categories.  As we looked at Bletter's essay, we see she examines several things that lead up to her riveting awareness of the fear that encircles daily life in Israel. Some other elements come about in subtle ways and are  removed from the initial event as she looks back on the influences in her life.  Consider this aspect in your focus--what things happened as a direct result and what other aspects can you identify as later impacts?

III.  Show the connection between these two areas as you continue brainstorming connections, freewriting ideas, and developing your first draft.  Identify the relationships that result--outline those connections--write your causal analysis!

These steps seems pretty straightforward--and they are!  But you must commit time and critical thinking to fleshing out a thorough Cause and Effect essay.

You may have to mush through more than one focus to develop a workable concept of C&E for this assignment.  Take the time to discover the why and what areas and you'll not be disappointed with the result.