Chapter 13 - Cause and Effect Essays
Teaching the language of causation: from doubled markers to clear causal chains
The gap this chapter addresses
These students understand causation intuitively from gaming and science content. The challenge is almost entirely linguistic - vocabulary beyond 'because' and 'so,' and avoiding doubled markers carried over from L1.
At B1, target one clear cause with two clear effects (or the reverse) before introducing chain causation, reserved for B2 and above.
Additional activities for Chapter 13
Activity A15-20 min
Causal Chain Mapping. Students build a visual chain (A causes B causes C) for a familiar real-world process, then convert the chain into prose using at least three different causal markers from a provided bank.
Activity B15-20 min
Doubled-Marker Hunt. Students scan a short passage for doubled causal markers (e.g., 'because... so') and correct each, explaining why only one marker is needed in English.
Further resources
GenAlphaWrite Companion Website
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writealpha.com
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© Dr. Saad Torki
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Last update: 10 July 2026