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Cause Effect Outline Template

Name: ____________________________________________________

I. Introduction – Thesis Statement

II. Background of Event/Situation – Important info your audience should know about

the event or situation you have been researching. Often this will be a explanation of

what happened (Who, what, where, when, etc). This should develop the context of

your research topic. (Note: If you are doing only Causes, each following section will introduce a new cause. If you are doing only

Effects, each following section will introduce each new effect. If you are examining both Causes and Effects,

each Cause should be presented first, then each Effect.

III. First Cause / Effect

A. Explanation of the cause/effect

1. Specific Research Support (Say)

2. Your analysis of your research information (Mean, Matter)

B. Additional Supporting Idea with explanation

1. Specific Research Support (Say)

2. Your analysis of your research information (Mean, Matter)

IV. Second Cause / Effect

C. Explanation of the cause/effect

3. Specific Research Support (Say)

4. Your analysis of your research information (Mean, Matter)

D. Additional Supporting Idea with explanation

3. Specific Research Support (Say)

4. Your analysis of your research information (Mean, Matter)

V. Third Cause / Effect

E. Explanation of the cause/effect

5. Specific Research Support (Say)

6. Your analysis of your research information (Mean, Matter)

F. Additional Supporting Idea with explanation

5. Specific Research Support (Say)

6. Your analysis of your research information (Mean, Matter)

ETC. Continue this process if you have more Causes or Effects

VI. Conclusion – Restate Thesis, Summarize Key Causes/Effects, Final comment

VII. Works Cited

VIII. Appendix

A. Survey Questions, Tabulation, Charts