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• The Back Porch Guide to the Research Paper

Causal Analysis:
One Cause With Multiple Effects

Using four effects for the one cause is arbitrary. You may have more or fewer effects in a real situation.
Cause		How? → Why?		Effect #1
		How? → Why?		Effect #2
		How? → Why?		Effect #3
		How? → Why?		Effect #4

To help illustrate how one cause can have multiple effects, let's assume that you are writing your paper about what could happen to an older adult who returned to college to finsh his/her degree.

Cause:

• Return to college.

Effects:

• Less time with family
• Change career
• Earn more money
• Less money in short term

Graphic Illustration:

Graphic Illustration For Paper on Returning to College
Cause: Return to college.		→ Because I will need to attend class and study, I will have less time to spend with my family.		Effect #1: Less time with family
		→ Once I earn my degree, I will be able to change careers.		Effect #2: Change career
		→ When I change careers, I will earn more money.		Effect #3: Earn more money
		→ While I am in school, I will have to pay for classes and buy text books. Therefore, I will have less money.		Effect #4: Less money in short term

Potential Thesis Sentence:

• Although there are some drawbacks, returning to school to complete a degree is a good idea for older adults.

Body Paragraphs:

In this example, there would be four body paragraphs for your paper"”one for each effect. Notice that the text that is in the second column could from the basis for your body paragraphs.