Chapter 6 I Cause!£ffect Essa!

ls 101

Cause/Effect Signal Words and Phrases

Just as certain transition signals show time order and logical division, certain words and
phrases signal cause/effect relationships. You probably know many of them already.

Cause Signal Words

for Bison were indispensable to the Native American tribes, for this one animal provided them
with nearly everything they needed for survival: meat, clothing, shelter, tools, and weapons.
Note: When used in this way, for has the same meaning as because. However, you MUST
use a comma in front of for, and you MUST NOT use a comma in front of because.

because Bison were indispensable to the Native American tribes because/since/as this one animal
since provided them with nearly everything they needed for survival: meat, clothing,-shelter, tools,
as and weapons.

to result from The bison's near extinction resulted from/was the result of loss of habitat and
to be the result of overhunting.

due to Bison nearly became extinct due to/because of loss of habitat and overhunting.
because of

the effect of One effect of/consequence of westward expansion was the destruction of habitat
the consequence of for the bison.

as a result of The areas in which bison could roam freely shrank as a result of/as a consequence of
as a consequence of the westward expansion of the 1800s.

Step 1 Underline the paIi of the E\entence that states a cause.

~

PRJ\.CT1CE 3
Step 2 Circle the word or words that introduce the cause.
Recognizing
Cause Signal
Step 3 Be able to discuss the use of each word or phrase you have circled.
Words What kind of grammatical structure follows each one? Notice
especially the difference between the use of because and because of
The first one has been done for you as an example.

1. The computer is a learning toolSit helps children to master math and

language skills. (After since, we must use a clause with a subject and a verb.)
2. Due to the ability of computers to keep records of sales and inventory,
many big department stores rely on them.
3. A medical computer system is an aid to physicians because of its ability to
interpret data from a patient's history and provide a diagnosis. (How would
you rewrite this sentence using because instead of because of?)
4. War, famine, and ethnic violence have caused a flood of refugees in the past
50 years.
 102 Part n I Writing an "Essay
"--------------------
5. Hollywood movies are known for their special effects because U.S.
audiences seem to demand them.
6. Since European audiences seem to prefer movies that explore psychologi-
cal or philosophical issues, European movies are generally quieter and
more thought-provoking.
7. Smog results from chemical air pollutants being trapped under a layer
of warm air.
8. John's promotion is the result of his brilliant management skills and
company loyalty.
9. Little is known about life on the ocean floor, for scientists have only
recently developed the technology to explore it.
10. Holes are created in the protective ozone layer of the stratosphere as
a result of the burning of fossil fuels.

Effect Signal Words

,
i <u •••• vvu, ...'" . ., <•..
i, <
as a result Workers building the new transcontinental railroad needed meat; as a result/as a
as a consequence consequence/therefore/thus/consequently/hence, hunters killed bison by the
therefore thousands.
thus Note: Notice the difference between as a result and as a result of. As a result
consequently is followed by a full sentence (independent clause) and introduces an effect.
hence As a result of is followed by a noun phrase and introduces a clause.

I.··
Coordinator§ .........
so Native Americans began trading bison skins to the settlers for steel knives and guns,
so they began killing bison in larger numbers.

Other§
••••••

to result in Loss of habitat and overhunting resulted in/caused the near extinction of bison.
to cause

to have an effect on The reduced numbers of bison had a terrible effect on/affected the lives of the
to affect Native Americans who had depended on them for survival.

the cause of The rescue of the bison from near extinction is a cause of/a reason for celebration.
the reason for

thereby The 85 bison that survived were given refuge in Yellowstone National Park in 1892, thereby
saving this species from total extinction.
Note: Thereby is most frequently used in front of -ing phrases.

Step 1 Underline the part of the sentence that states an effect.

Step 2 Circle the word or words that introduce the effect.
Recognizing
Effed Sigl10l Step 3 Be able to discuss the use of each word or phrase that you have
Words circled. What kind of grammatical structure follows each one? How is
the sentence punctuated?
 Chapter 6 I Cause/Effect Essal's 103

1. The performance of electric cars is inferior to the performance of cars

with conventional internal combustion engines; consequently, some
improvements must be made in them if they are to become popular.
2. However, electric cars are reliable, economical, and nonpolluting; therefore,
the government is spending millions of dollars to improve their technology.
3. Electric cars use relatively inexpensive electricity for power; thus, they
cost less to operate than cars that use gasoline.
4. The cost of gasoline is rising; as a result, some automobile manufacturers
have begun to produce electric models.
5. His patient diplomacy resulted in the successful negotiation of a peace treaty.
6. It has been documented that lack of sleep affects a person's ability to
think clearly.
7. Cold water is denser than warm water and will therefore sink.
8. Freshwater is less dense than salt water, so it tends to float on the surface
of a body of salt water.
9. Air pollution creates holes in the protective ozone layer of the stratosphere,
thereby allowing harmful ultraviolet radiation to reach Earth's surface.
10. The cause of the patient's rapid recovery was the excellent care he
received from his doctor.

RRA.CT1CE 5 Step 1 Decide which sentence in each item is a cause and which is an effect.
Write C for cause or E for effect next to each sentence.
Using Cause/
Step 2 Combine the sentences in each item into a new sentence that shows
Effect Signal
Words a cause/effect relationship. Use the cause or effect signal word or
phrase given to form your new sentence, and circle the word. You will
have to add, delete, or change words in most sentences.
The first one has been done for you as an example.

1. _E_ There are fewer hours of daylight.

_c_ In winter, the sun is lower in the sky.
(thus) In winter, the sun is lower in the sKy; et6i2there are fewer hours of
daylight.

2. _ _ Some breeds of dogs have a stronger desire to perform a service

than other breeds.
_ _ They are more suitable as search-and-rescue animals.
(since) Some...since they are... _

3. _ _ Seals and other aquatic mammals can see when they are hunting for
food in the dark ocean depths at night.
_ _ They have very large eyes.
(due to) Seals and... due to their very large eyes. _
104 Part ill I Writing an Essay

4. _ _ Metals have many free-moving electrons.

_ _ Metals are good conductors of heat.
(consequently) Metals have many...; consequently, metals are... _

5. _ _ My company began offeling employees flexible working hours.

_ _ Productivity has increased.
_ _ Absenteeism has declined.
(as a result) _
My company...; as a result, Product ... and absenteeism...

6. _ _ Radiation could escape into the atmosphere.

_ _ The Chernobyl nuclear power plant had no confinement shell.
(hence) The...; hence, radiation.... _

7. _ _ Operators had disregarded safety rules.

_ _ The nuclear reactor at Chernobyl underwent a meltdown.
(because of) The nuclear... becuz of....operators _

8. _ _ Duling a weather phenomenon known as EI Nino, a mass of warm

water flows eastward across the Pacific Ocean toward South
Amelica.
_ _ The temperature of the water off the coast of Peru lises as much
as 10°F.
(thereby) Note: You must change the verb rise to raise. _
During..., thereby raising the temperature...
9. _ _ Weather around the world changes.
_ _ DUling an EI Nino, the jet stream blows in a different pattern.
(therefore) During....; therefore, .... _

10. _ _ In some areas of the world, heavy rains fall.

_ _ Devastating floods and mudslides happen.
(cause-verb) _----'-
In some...cause.... _

11. _ _ In other parts of the world thousands of people suffer starvation.

_ _ Drought happens.
(as a result of) In other...as a result of drought. _