How to use cause and effect in the TOEFL essay

TOEFL aspirants often encounter the challenge of integrating different concepts and techniques into their essays. One such concept is the use of cause and effect, a rhetorical strategy that examines the reasons (causes) and outcomes (effects) of situations and events. When applied correctly, this technique can significantly enhance the quality of your TOEFL essay and impress the examiners. 

In this article, we’ll delve deeper into how you can effectively apply the cause and effect technique to your TOEFL essay and improve your writing skills. 

Understanding cause and effect 

The first step in effectively using them in your TOEFL essay is to understand what it entails. Simply put, a cause is a reason why something happens, and an effect is what happens as a result. Using cause and effect in your essay allows you to explore deeper levels of an argument, offering a comprehensive and convincing discussion. 

Incorporating cause and effect in TOEFL essays 

• Identify the cause and effect: Identify the causes that lead to a particular outcome in your essay. For instance, consider a topic like “The impact of digital technology on education.” The cause could be “the advent of digital technology,” and the effects could include “improved accessibility to education,” “increased efficiency in learning,” etc. 
• Use appropriate transitional words and phrases: Words and phrases such as “because,” “as a result,” “therefore,” “due to,” “caused,” “on account of,” and “leads to,” can help articulate the cause and effect relationship in your essay. 
• Organize your essay effectively: There are two main ways to structure a cause and effect essay. You can discuss all the causes first and then move to the effects, or you can discuss a cause and its effect before moving to the next pair. The choice depends on the specific requirements of the essay topic and what makes the most logical sense.

Using cause and effect in the TOEFL essay can greatly enhance the depth and clarity of your arguments, leading to a higher score in the writing section.

Moreover, practicing it in your TOEFL essays can also help you improve your reading comprehension skills. The concept of cause and effect is often used in the passages of the TOEFL reading section. Recognizing this relationship can help you better understand the passage and accurately answer the questions. 

Let’s look at some ways to improve your TOEFL essay and incorporate them into the practice test.

Practicing cause and effect for TOEFL essays 

• Practice with sample topics: Start by practicing with sample TOEFL essay topics. You can find various causes and effects in TOEFL essay topics, practice tests and other TOEFL resources. 
• Analyze examples: Analyze sample essays that use them effectively. Look for the transitional words and phrases used and note how the cause and effect relationship is structured and presented. 
• Use a variety of transitional words: To effectively convey relationships between causes and effects, try a variety of transitional words and phrases. A few models incorporate “in light of the fact that,” “due to,” “thus,” “subsequently,” “in this way,” and “coming about in.” Your essay will have more depth and coherence if you use a variety of transitions. 
• Write and review: Write your essays using the cause and effect technique, and then review them. Check whether the cause and effect relationships are clear and logical. You can also have your essays reviewed by others for an objective assessment. 

Example of cause and effect in a TOEFL essay 

To help you better understand how to implement cause and effect in a TOEFL essay, let’s consider an example. Suppose you’re tasked with the essay prompt: “Discuss the impact of social media on human interaction.” A cause and effect approach might look something like this: 

Introduction: “In recent years, social media has dramatically shaped how we communicate and interact with each other. The effects and causes of this shift in human interaction will be examined in this essay.” 

Body Paragraph 1 (Cause): “The advent of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram has provided new avenues for communication. These platforms have allowed for instant and widespread sharing of information, leading to a transformation in human interaction.” 

Body Paragraph 2 (Effect): “As a result of the rise of social media, communication has become more immediate and global. People can connect with each other across continents in real time, breaking down geographical barriers.” 

Body Paragraph 3 (Effect): “However, the use of social media has also led to a decrease in face-to-face interactions. Studies have shown that many people, especially young adults, prefer online communication, leading to less physical social interaction.” 

Conclusion: “Social media has, without a doubt, transformed the landscape of human interaction. While it has allowed for global connections and information sharing, it has also led to declining personal, face-to-face interactions. As technology continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these trends will further shape our communication.” 

In this example, the causes and effects are clearly defined, and appropriate transitional words are used to indicate these relationships. 

Incorporating cause and effect with other writing strategies 

Using cause and effect as a strategy in your TOEFL essay does not mean you can’t use other writing strategies. In fact, cause and effect can be effectively combined with comparison, contrast, or argumentative styles to provide a comprehensive and multifaceted response. For example, while discussing the effects, you can compare and contrast different outcomes, or while discussing the causes, you can present an argument on the most significant cause. The key is to ensure a smooth transition between different sections of your essay and maintain a logical progression of thoughts. By integrating different strategies, you can enrich your TOEFL essay and demonstrate a range of writing skills, thereby impressing the examiners.

In conclusion, using cause and effect effectively in your TOEFL essay is a powerful way to present logical and in-depth arguments, which can significantly boost your writing score. With consistent practice and careful analysis, you can master this technique and ace the TOEFL writing section. 

 Key takeaways 

• Cause and effect is a rhetorical strategy that explores the reasons and outcomes of situations and events.
• Incorporating cause and effect in your TOEFL essay enhances the depth and clarity of your arguments.
• Identify the cause and effect relationship in your essay by analyzing the topic and its outcomes. 
• Organize your essay effectively by discussing causes and effects in a logical order based on the essay topic. 

We hope this blog helped you understand how to effectively use cause and effect during the TOEFL essay writing test. If you have any doubts or questions regarding TOEFL preparation, feel free to reach out to us or drop your queries in the comment section below. We would be happy to assist you!

Like this blog? Read more : The importance of notes-taking during TOEFL listening section

FAQs 

Q1. Can I use examples to support my cause and effect arguments?

Ans- Absolutely! Including relevant examples can help your essay stand out and demonstrate the relationships between cause and effect better.

Q2. How can I practice using cause and effect for my TOEFL essay? 

Ans- Practice with sample TOEFL essay topics, analyze sample essays that use cause and effect effectively and write and review your own essays using the technique. 

Q3. How can I identify the causes and effects in a given essay prompt? 

Ans- Look for keywords or phrases that indicate causes (such as “reasons,” “factors”) or effects (such as “impacts,” “consequences”) in the essay prompt. Analyze the prompt in detail to determine the primary factors that influence the relationship between cause and effect.