: Identifying the cause of a disease is the first step toward a cure.
: A necessary cause must be present for an effect to occur (you need oxygen for fire), while a sufficient cause is enough on its own to produce the effect (a lightning strike is enough to start a forest fire).
: As a result , consequently , therefore , thus , so . Cause and Effect Using Informational Text
Every action is the result of a complex web of preceding events. Scientists and philosophers often look at causes through different lenses to understand this complexity:
: To understand a revolution or an economic shift, we must look at the underlying social and political causes.
: Because of , since , on account of , due to , the reason for .
: In complex systems like weather or economics, a tiny initial cause (the metaphorical flap of a butterfly's wings) can lead to vastly different outcomes over time. Why We Seek "The Why"
: Reflecting on the causes of our own behaviors helps us make better choices in the future. Common "Signal Words" for Cause and Effect