Cause and Effect in Reading

Grade 3 · English · Study Guide

Learn how to identify cause and effect relationships to better understand what you read.

Cause and effect is a relationship between two events. The cause is what makes something happen. The effect is what happens as a result. Good readers look for these relationships to understand why events happen in a story or nonfiction text.

A cause always comes before an effect. To find the cause, ask yourself: 'Why did this happen?' To find the effect, ask: 'What happened because of this?'

Signal words help you identify cause and effect. Words and phrases that signal a cause include 'because,' 'since,' and 'due to.' Words that signal an effect include 'so,' 'therefore,' 'as a result,' and 'then.' For example: 'Because it rained (cause), the game was canceled (effect).'

Sometimes one cause leads to multiple effects. For example, a broken water pipe can cause a wet floor, a power outage, and a school cancellation. Other times, multiple causes lead to one effect. A character might be late to school because they overslept AND missed the bus.

In stories, understanding cause and effect helps you follow the plot and understand why characters do what they do. In nonfiction, it helps you understand how events in history, science, or nature are connected.

When you read, pause and ask yourself: what happened, and why? This habit makes you a stronger and more active reader.

Key terms

cause: The reason why something happens; the event that makes another event occur
effect: The result of a cause; what happens because of the cause
signal words: Words like 'because,' 'so,' and 'therefore' that indicate a cause-and-effect relationship
relationship: A connection between two things; cause and effect is one type of relationship in reading
multiple effects: When one cause leads to more than one result
multiple causes: When more than one event or reason leads to a single effect

Flashcards

Cause: The reason something happens; what makes an event occur
Effect: What happens as a result of the cause
Because: A signal word that introduces a cause — 'It happened BECAUSE of this'
Therefore / So: Signal words that introduce an effect — 'This happened, THEREFORE that followed'
As a result: A signal phrase indicating an effect
Multiple effects: When a single cause produces more than one outcome
Multiple causes: When more than one event contributes to a single effect
Signal words: Words or phrases that hint at a cause-and-effect relationship in a text

Questions

Read this sentence: 'Because the electricity went out, the students had to use candles.' What is the CAUSE?
1. The students used candles
2. The students were scared
3. The electricity went out
4. It was nighttime
Show answer
Answer: The electricity went out
The word 'because' introduces the cause. 'The electricity went out' is what made the students use candles.
The effect is what makes something happen, and the cause is the result.
Show answer
Answer: False
The definitions are reversed. The CAUSE is what makes something happen; the EFFECT is the result.
The word '________' is a signal word that often introduces the cause in a sentence.
Show answer
Answer: because
'Because' is the most common signal word for a cause. It tells the reader why something happened.
Which of the following is a signal word for an EFFECT?
1. because
2. since
3. due to
4. therefore
Show answer
Answer: therefore
'Therefore' signals an effect — it introduces what happened as a result. 'Because,' 'since,' and 'due to' introduce causes.
One cause can lead to more than one effect.
Show answer
Answer: True
One cause can trigger multiple effects. For example, a storm (cause) could knock out power, cancel school, and flood streets (three effects).

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