A cause-and-effect essay focuses on what?

• A. The order of events
• B. Causes of an event and its effects
• C. The origin of a term
• D. The steps to complete a task

Answer: (B)

A cause-and-effect essay focuses on why something happens and what happens as a result. It examines causes (the reasons something occurs) and effects (the outcomes that follow), often exploring how one or more causes lead to specific consequences and why those consequences matter. Writers might present causes first and then their effects, or discuss effects and trace back to their causes, sometimes analyzing multiple causes and several effects to show a clear relationship between actions and outcomes. This makes the piece different from simply listing events in order, explaining the origin of a term, or outlining the steps to complete a task.