{"id":21651,"date":"2016-02-16T20:02:58","date_gmt":"2016-02-16T20:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/?page_id=21651"},"modified":"2026-03-28T10:54:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T15:54:51","slug":"cause-and-effect-for-middle-school-students","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/cause-and-effect-for-middle-school-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Cause and Effect"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_k3eG7pZbvgk\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_k3eG7pZbvgk\" data-source-videoID=\"k3eG7pZbvgk\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"Cause and Effect Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"Cause and Effect\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_k3eG7pZbvgk:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_k3eG7pZbvgk {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/118-cause-and-effect-1-652d8496b95c1.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_k3eG7pZbvgk\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_k3eG7pZbvgk\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"Cause and Effect\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_k3eG7pZbvgk\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_k3eG7pZbvgk\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_k3eG7pZbvgk\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction vA5_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"vA5\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"vA5_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"vA5\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Cause_and_Effect_Identification\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Cause and Effect Identification<\/a>\n<ul><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Example_1\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Example #1<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h3\"><a href=\"#Example_2\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Example #2<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Key_Words\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Key Words<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Fact_Sheet\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Fact Sheet<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label><input id=\"factsheet\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"factsheet\">Fact Sheet<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>You need help studying, so you come to Mometrix Academy. As a result, you learn more and succeed in your studies! <\/p>\n<p>Hello, and welcome to this lesson on cause and effect.<\/p>\n<p>Cause and effect relationships are everywhere throughout stories. <strong>Cause<\/strong> is why something happened, and <strong>effect<\/strong> is what actually happened. <\/p>\n<p>There are usually subtle words or phrases that indicate whether something is the <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/rhetorical-strategy-of-cause-and-effect-analysis\/\">cause or effect<\/a> in a sentence. The best way to learn this topic is to practice practice practice some examples! And while we\u2019re practicing, I\u2019ll highlight some of those key words.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Cause_and_Effect_Identification\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Cause and Effect Identification<\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_1\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #1<\/h3>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Tim fell asleep because he was tired.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0em;\">Cause: <em>because he was tired<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0em;\">Effect: <em>Tim fell asleep<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0em;\">Key word(s): <em>because <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThe word because is used to introduce a cause in a story. This sentence is probably written inverted from how you might usually see the word because used in a cause and effect example.<\/p>\n<p>You might also see the sentence written in this order:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Because he was tired, Tim fell asleep.<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Example_2\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Example #2<\/h3>\n<p>\nLet\u2019s check out a different example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transcriptcallout\">Since I was thirsty, I drank a bottle of water. As a result, the bottle is empty.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0em;\">Cause: <em>Since I was thirsty <\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0em;\">Effect: <em>I drank a bottle of water <\/em><\/p>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0em;\">Cause 2: <em>I drank a bottle of water<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0em;\">Effect 2: <em>As a result, the bottle is empty<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0em;\">Key words: <em>Since, As a result<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nIn this example there are two causes and two effects; there are also two key words. The word since is used to indicate a cause, just like the word because in the previous example. This first sentence follows the same sentence structure as our previous example once we inverted it. It begins with the key word, and the cause follows after. <\/p>\n<p>The phrase as a result is used to indicate an effect in a sentence. This sentence also follows similar sentence structure, however, instead of introducing a cause in the sentence, it is introducing an effect. <\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Key_Words\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Key Words<\/h2>\n<p>\nHere\u2019s a list of other key words to be aware of when identifying causes and effects in stories:<\/p>\n<div class=\"pcolumns-container\">\n<div class=\"pcolumns\">\n<strong>Cause<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin-top: -1.5em; margin-left: 2em;\">\n<li>If<\/li>\n<li>May be due to<\/li>\n<li>Because<\/li>\n<li>Since<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pcolumns\">\n<strong>Effect<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin-top: -1.5em; margin-left: 2em;\">\n<li>Then<\/li>\n<li>Consequently <\/li>\n<li>As a result <\/li>\n<li>For this reason<\/li>\n<li>So<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nWhen identifying cause and effect in the stories you\u2019re reading, just remember to slow down, examine the sentence, and look for key words. That\u2019s not to say that there will always be <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/when-theres-no-keyword\/\">key words<\/a> to give it away, however, you can still find the cause and effect by asking what happened, and why it happened. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"factsheet-spoiler\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align:center\">Fact Sheet<\/h2>\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1361\" height=\"1768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/image_2022-01-11_084407.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"An infographic explaining the concept of &quot;Cause and Effect&quot; in the English language, including a definition, a table of keywords indicating cause-effect relationships, and examples.\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/image_2022-01-11_084407.png 1361w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/image_2022-01-11_084407-231x300.png 231w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/image_2022-01-11_084407-788x1024.png 788w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/image_2022-01-11_084407-768x998.png 768w, https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/image_2022-01-11_084407-1182x1536.png 1182w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1361px) 100vw, 1361px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"sub_categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Cause-and-Effect-Fact-Sheet.pdf\"><span id=\"Download_Cause_and_Effect_PDF\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Download Cause and Effect PDF<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/writing\/\">Return to Writing Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Writing Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":91144,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-21651","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","7":"page_category-writing-videos","8":"page_type-video","9":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21651"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21651\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":280646,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21651\/revisions\/280646"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}