Cause / Effect Essay Structure

While writing a cause / effect essay, the order of the main points given in the thesis statement is followed in body paragraphs.

The following example is an outline for a cause essay about the reasons for cities becoming overcrowded.

Thesis statement: There are two main reasons why these and other cities are becoming so

crowded; one economic, the other socio-cultural.

1st body: economic reasons

1. cities are engines of development.

2nd body: socio-cultural reasons

1. education

2. urbanization

The following example is an outline for an effect essay about the effects of the computer on life.

Thesis statement: The two main areas in which computers have brought about a profound



change in our lives are in the economic field and in the field of

communications.

1st body: economic effects

1. computers in business

2. computers and national economies

2nd body: effects on communication

1. e-mail

2. globalization