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Causal Analysis Essay Guide & 50 Topic Ideas

Updated 14 Jun 2024

how to write a causal essay

A causal analysis essay is often defined as "cause-and-effect" writing because paper aims to examine diverse causes and consequences related to actions, behavioral patterns, and events as for reasons why they happen and the effects that take place afterwards. In practice, students have to include causal claims that contain strong argumentation. One has to prove and tell that there is an obvious relationship between two particular events where one is an effect of another. For example, if a chosen topic is harm of alcohol, then an argument is "Alcohol consumption (A) causes XYZ failure (B)" where A is a cause and B is an effect.  

A purpose of such essay type is to define and evaluate all sides related to cause-and-effect dilemma. Choosing a topic idea, it’s insufficient to simply state that global warming, as an example, is caused by chemical plants. One has to include an outcome with personal consideration and causal analysis. The trick here is in correct structure where student tries to persuade his or her audience like in a letter of intent . As college professors check their papers, they seek on what is causal analysis, always looking out for structure parts.

Writing a causal analysis essay may seem challenging to novice students, yet what makes it easier is choosing the right topic, knowing structure rules, and making causal relations obvious for an audience. One of the reasons why college students in the United States fail this essay type is lack of knowledge about causal essay structure and logical interaction between cause and effect.

In our causal analysis essay guide provided by a professional essay writing service , we will review everything from structure and thesis to helpful topic ideas that will help keep your brain engaged and ready for work. Providing essay writers for hire , our writer’s team at EduBirdie walks an extra mile to share their knowledge and help you to become a writing essay expert, too!

How to Write a Causal Analysis Essay: Structure

A good argumentative topic has to be chosen that can be analyzed and put through lens of cause-and-effect thinking. Preferred topic has to be inspiring and relevant for target audience, therefore, we will proceed with a list of topics soon. Having good topic available (in case you already have one!), always proceed with a thesis statement.

  • Thesis Statement

We have intentionally placed thesis statement first because it’s vital to come up with one before starting with an essay outline! In causal analysis essay, thesis statement should be one or two sentences that sum up main points of your paper. Thesis should not simply include certain statements, but show causal analysis and outline all upcoming points that follow. In this case, include exact cause and effect in question with a brief explanation as to why they are examined. One should also consider if focus is on causes or on effects as there can be two methods.

Causal analysis example thesis options:   Many college students in the United States become victims of unhealthy eating for three reasons. Obesity increase during college time happens  due to food commercials, irregular timetable, and cheap fast food availability. Studying effects of television and video games in children's daily lives, one can conclude that interpersonal skills and school interactions become damaged and one-dimensional.
  • Introduction

In an introduction paragraph, one has to create a setting for situation discussed. It has to be a sentence or two that introduce topic importance or relevance for society. Make readers interested and connect introduction to chosen thesis statement's vision. If listing 3 to 5 reasons in a thesis statement, remember that it has to follow in body paragraphs exactly in a same order as in thesis outline.

  • Body Paragraphs (Listing reasons for causal analysis)

This is where students basically have to prove ideas taken from thesis statement. If focusing only on causes, it will make essay incomplete, unless specified by college instructor. When causal analysis is involved, it has to examine each part (both cause and effect essay elements) separately. It is done so because details and examples of causes have to be given first to let audience understand and analyze. Typically, it is paper’s first body paragraph. Next, explore effects of these causes, speak of an impact. Final body paragraph has to include overall causal analysis that helps reader to understand why particular position has been taken. If necessary, include statistics and backup information that is not widely known by reliable sources.

Conclusion has to rule out any confusion and once again connect cause and effects elements. Thesis has to be mentioned in different words and briefly explained. As a rule, end causal analysis essay with a call to action or a sentence that will make readers think and want to analyze topic at greater depth.

Read also: How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay : Tips & Tricks

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Essay Writing Tips

  • When writing causal analysis essays, make sure that it’s not only listing causes and effects, but aims to prove a point or provide analytical counterargument to a popular belief.
  • If theory or an assumption is taken for a topic (like global warming), include speculating on topic in analysis paragraph.
  • In Thesis Statement part, make it clear whether one focuses on causes, effects, or on both points. Generally speaking, if it’s not specified in assignment's instructions, any choice can be made.
  • When discussing causes in your essay, remember to be as descriptive as possible. Provide examples, backed up by sources, use classification, statistics.
  • Writing of effects, it’s recommended to use comparison and contrast style of writing where an outcome is made clear.
  • To avoid confusion and cluttering of ideas, see if there is a single cause with multiple effects or several causes with a single effect.
  • If any specific terminology is used, make sure to provide definitions in clear textual and accessible format.
  • Do not introduce any ideas in Conclusion, but always summarize main body points, linking them briefly to a Thesis Statement.
  • Introduction should start with a strong hook, connecting information, followed by strong thesis.
  • Thesis can include two sentences where one of which is defining the type of writing and other one telling about ideas itself.
  • Restating one's thesis, it’s recommended to make suggestions and predictions on topic.

50 Trendy Causal Analysis Essay Topics Examples

Undoubtedly, it’s best to learn by example, therefore, we provide 50 trendy causal analysis essay topic ideas in different categories, so students majoring in particular disciplines can quickly choose topics that fit them best! From social media essay ideas to environmental protection challenges, here are various causal argument topics:

Technology and IT

  • How social networks impact personal safety.
  • E-learning is a threat to standard education.
  • Online shopping leads to additional financial risks.
  • Internet influence on young children.
  • Youtube’s impact on freedom of speech in the United States.
  • Influence of social media on perception of information.
  • IT job market’s influence on immigration.
  • Technology makes daily lives more complicated.
  • The reasons of cyber-bullying.
  • Cause-and-effect of social media addiction.

Environment and Nature

  • Global warming impact and link to social agendas.
  • Amazon rainforests are negatively affected by globalization.
  • Effects of construction on Earthquakes.
  • How Facebook gives voice to environmental initiatives.
  • Causal analysis of chemical plants in China and recent environmental changes.
  • Comparison of environmental laws in effect of XYZ changes in the U.S.
  • An impact of animals chipping on their breeding patterns.
  • Healthcare effect of natural parks.
  • Migration of polar bears: the reasons.
  • Causal analysis of modern soil dehydration practices.

Political Science

  • Influence of social media presence in politics.
  • What forces successful political leaders to resign?
  • What has lead to stricter gun possession laws in the United States.
  • Main causes of political conflicts in 1950’s.
  • Chosen language style on political success influence.
  • Outcome of foreign U.S. politics in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  • Political bias leads to wrong perception of social minorities.
  • Female politicians have to work twice harder because of gender bias.
  • Impact of Civil Rights Movement in the United States.
  • How globalization affects American labor market.

Education and Youth

  • 10 causes of bullying based on case sample.
  • An impact of growing up in a single-parent family.
  • Challenges and influence of distance-learning.
  • Effects of living in multilingual society.
  • Impact of stress on college students.
  • Working and studying at the same time has negative effects on students’ health.
  • Low grades report cases among college students.
  • Dropping out of college: causes and effects analysis.
  • Video games have negative effects on mental health.
  • Anger and confusion among school teachers.

Social Issues

  • Racism causation & modern society.
  • What forces women to become involved in abusive relationships?
  • An impact of domestic violence on children.
  • Growing up in poverty - socio-cultural analysis.
  • Cause and effect of staying honest.
  • An influence of Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and how it has impacted my college life.
  • Online dating outcomes & changes in relationship patterns.
  • How travelling the world and seeing new places affects personality in a positive way.
  • Sports impact in the lives of young people.
  • PTSD reasons among U.S. veterans and effects of offered therapies.

In case a particular causal analysis essay topic is needed, feel free to contact us for more ideas. From career goals essay prompts to writing templates and ideas in any subject, our writing experts can help you get any tasks done right!

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Written by David Kidwell

David is one of those experienced content creators from the United Kingdom who has a high interest in social issues, culture, and entrepreneurship. He always says that reading, blogging, and staying aware of what happens in the world is what makes a person responsible. He likes to learn and share what he knows by making things inspiring and creative enough even for those students who dislike reading.

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How to write a causal Analysis Essay that scores an A

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It is human nature to want to understand things and what causes them. When we see, hear, or experience something we do not understand, we often try to find out the cause or the explanation either from family and friends or from the internet.

Causal analysis essay

In college, you will be required occasionally to find out the causes, effects, or reasons for various phenomena via causal analysis essay assignments.

This article details everything important about causal analysis essay assignments, including the structure and the steps for writing one.

What Is a Causal Analysis Essay?

Strictly put, a causal analysis essay assignment or an academic writing task requires you to explain the cause of a specific phenomenon analytically.

Causal analysis essays are sometimes referred to as cause-and-effect essays. Because they also reveal how one thing (cause) leads to another (effect). In this respect, when writing a causal analysis essay, you first begin by stating your claim and then backing it up using arguments and supporting facts. You need to show how a specific issue correlates to an underlying problem.

For example, you can be tasked with writing about how the global COVID-19 pandemic led to the rise of e-learning. You need to explore e-learning adoption before and post the pandemic to unravel the real issues that amount as cause and the effects of these issues on e-learning adoption.

Structure of a Causal Analysis Essay

The structure of a causal analysis essay is the typical short essay structure. It is a five-paragraph structure essay with an introduction paragraph, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. If you follow this structure to write your essay, as your professor expects, you will end up with an academic paper with a strong logical flow.

Find out what to include in each paragraph of your causal analysis essay in the subsection below. 

1. Introduction Paragraph

In the introduction paragraph of an essay , you introduce the topic you want to discuss in your essay. You should aim to make your introduction paragraph as interesting as possible. Failure to do so may make your paper uninteresting or boring for the reader. And you do not want this if you are aiming for an excellent grade.

In addition, make sure your introduction paragraph provides background information to make the reader understand what will be discussed. You should restrict the background information to 50 words to avoid overloading the reader with unnecessary information in your intro.

After providing background information, you should include your thesis statement or central argument. Your thesis statement is your most important statement. This is because it sets the tone or the theme for the essay. So, you should be very keen when writing it to ensure it is on point. Remember, a good thesis statement is detailed enough to leave room for argumentation.

2. Body Paragraphs

In your first body paragraph, your first sentence should be your strongest argument supporting your thesis statement. Since this is a causal analysis essay, the strongest argument will naturally be the most significant cause or effect of the phenomena described in your introduction paragraph. The first sentence should be followed by evidence or explanation, plus examples where possible. The evidence should be followed by a closing sentence that wraps everything up nicely. Ensure that you follow the basic rules of paragraphing in essay writing .

The second body paragraph should focus on the second strongest argument favoring your thesis statement. As with the first paragraph, the argument should be followed by the evidence/explanation and a closing sentence. The first sentence in the third body paragraph should state the third strongest argument in favor of your thesis statement. The rest of the paragraph should follow the structure of the other body paragraphs.

3. Conclusion

After writing a good introduction with your thesis statement and three body paragraphs, each focusing on a single cause or critical point, you must wrap up the essay with an excellent conclusion . Your conclusion should restate the thesis and the key causes in your causal analysis essay. It should also include a nice closing sentence that wraps the entire essay up.

Causal Analysis Essay Outline

Now that you know the causal analysis essay structure, it is time to discover the outline and how to create one. Knowing how to create one will help you create one and ensure your paper is well-structured and organized.

How to create a causal analysis essay outline

I. Introduction

  • Hook statement (Write an interesting fact or statement about the topic)
  • Background information (Highlight the background information about the topic that you will include)
  • Thesis statement (State the central argument you will be discussing in your essay)

II. Body paragraph 1

  • Topic sentence (State the strongest argument (the first cause) in support of your thesis)
  • Evidence (Highlight the critical evidence you will use to support the argument above)
  • Concluding sentence (Write the sentence you will use to close out this paragraph)

III. Body paragraph 2

  • Topic sentence (State the second strongest argument (the second cause) in support of your thesis)

IV. Body paragraph 3

  • Topic sentence (State the third strongest argument (the third cause) in support of your thesis)

V. Conclusion

  • Restate your thesis
  • Summarize your key arguments
  • Closing statement (Write the sentence you will use to conclude your essay)

As you can see above, a causal analysis essay outline is similar to the standard outline for short academic papers. To create your own causal analysis essay, follow the instructions above. Just make sure your outline is as comprehensive as possible to make writing the actual easy a walk in the park.

Steps For Writing a Causal Analysis Essay

In this section, you will discover how to write an actual causal analysis essay. Let’s begin.

1. Read the essay prompt carefully

 The fact that you are reading this article means you already know you need to write a causal analysis essay. You probably got this information from the essay prompt. If you did, it means you are already on the right track. You now need to read the prompt carefully again.

Read it carefully to understand the essay question or prompt entirely. Also, read it carefully to understand the essay requirements. Failure to follow the requirements in your essay assignment could be costly for you; it could result in an inferior grade.

So, the first step to writing a causal analysis essay is to read the prompt carefully to understand the question and the requirements.

2. Research the essay topic and create a thesis

After reading and understanding the essay topic, the next thing you need to do is to research the essay topic. Research is important as it will help you understand the topic better and decide how you will answer it.

When conducting research, you should note the key points related to the essay topic. The typical causal analysis essay assignment will require you to discuss the causes of a specific phenomenon. Therefore, focus on noting the key causes of the phenomenon you have been asked to write an essay on in the prompt.

Once you have researched to the extent that you fully understand the topic, you should create a thesis statement. The statement should explain what your entire essay will be focusing on. A typical thesis statement for a causal analysis essay sounds like this, “The main causes of global poverty are conflict, climate change, and inequality.”

3. Create an outline

You should create an outline after researching your paper and creating a thesis statement. Simply follow the instructions we have provided in the section above this one to create your causal analysis essay outline. You should find it easy to create an outline for your essay since you have already created a thesis statement and you know the leading causes you will be discussing in your essay.

Make sure your outline is as comprehensive as it can be. When you create a comprehensive outline, you make your work easy. In other words, you make writing the actual essay very easy. When creating an outline, the most important things you should not forget to outline include the opening sentence, the thesis statement, the main supporting arguments, and the closing sentence.

4. Write the essay

When you are done creating an outline for your essay, you should take a short break and then embark on writing the essay following the outline as a guide. With a comprehensive outline, you shouldn’t find writing your causal analysis essay challenging. You should refer to the outline for guidance when you get stuck in any part of your essay.

The best way to write the essay is sequential. Begin with the introduction, then the body paragraphs, and lastly, the conclusion. Write your essay in a simple and easy-to-understand language. And keep in mind that your goal is to make it as smooth flowing as possible.

5. Add in-text citations

Once you are done writing your causal analysis essay, you need to add the in-text citations. Don’t just add them randomly. Add citations to the ideas or points that are not yours. Add in-text citations throughout your essay. This will make your work look credible. You will also get points for proper referencing if you follow the required format or style.

Of course, the only way you can have in-text citations to add to your essay in this step is if you note the source of each note you made during your research. So, indicate the source next to each note you make during research.

6. Take a break

You should take a break after writing your essay, adding in-text citations and a references page. This is very important at this juncture. Because it allows your brain to rest and forget about the essay, at least momentarily, ensure the break lasts for at least six hours. If you take such a break, you will have a fresh pair of eyes when you look at your essay in the next step.

7. Edit your essay

After taking a break, you should edit your essay. Since you took a break in the previous step, you will have a fresh pair of eyes that should make it easy to catch mistakes. Read your essay aloud to make sure you catch all the issues, errors, and mistakes. Read it slowly to make sure you do not miss anything.

After editing your essay , give it to someone to read it and identify any mistakes you might have missed. Then check the identified mistakes if they are actual mistakes and edit them out of your essay. When you complete this step, your causal analysis essay will be ready for submission.

Tips For Writing an Excellent Causal Analysis Essay

If you want to write a good causal analysis essay, follow the above steps. If you want to write an excellent causal analysis essay, incorporate the tips below when following the steps above.

  • Ensure your essay is straightforward to read and understand to give your professor an easy time grading it. This will increase your chances of getting an excellent grade.
  • Ensure you include a strong thesis statement at the end of your introduction paragraph. Without a strong thesis statement, your essay will be challenging to follow.
  • Ensure there is no vague phrase or statement in your essay. This will make your essay stronger and more credible. It will also ensure you don’t lose marks for clarity.
  • Use examples generously in your essay. This will make it easier to understand. It will also make it more authentic and useful.
  • Do not belabor points in your essay. Simply explain your key points clearly and concisely. Do not go round and round in circles saying the same thing in different words.
  • Support any specific idea or point you include with evidence. You are just a high school or undergraduate student; nobody will take your word for all the key claims and arguments you make. So back everything important you say with evidence from credible sources.
  • Do not forget to proofread your essay thoroughly. Doing this is the only way you will convert your ordinary causal analysis essay into something extraordinary.

Example Of a Causal Analysis Essay

A typical causal analysis essay will describe the causes of a problem or a phenomenon. It is a cause-and-effect essay. This section will provide an example of a causal analysis essay. We hope this short causal analysis essay example will make it easy for you to write your own causal analysis essay.

Why do teenagers use drugs, and the negative effects of using drugs? Drug use is prevalent nowadays among teenagers, especially in urban areas across the country. Most teenagers who use drugs use it because of peer pressure or as a reaction to bullying and other sorts of trauma. Drugs use among young people often results in various negative effects, including poor well-being, negative self-image, and addiction. Teenager drug use often leads to poor well-being. Various studies have shown that teenagers who use drugs often suffer from poor health and well-being. This is because the drugs they use without a prescription are dangerous and often produce unpleasant symptoms. The only way drug-using teenagers can reverse this trend is if they say no to drugs. Teenagers who use drugs often end up having a negative self-image. The negative self-image is often brought out by the secrecy surrounding drug use and the negativity associated with drug use. The negative self-image can sometimes lead to depression or even attempted suicide. The best thing about this effect of drug use is that it can be reversed through therapy or an intervention. Teenagers who use drugs usually end up getting addicted. Drug addiction is a terrible condition that forces those with it to repeatedly seek the “high” the drugs offer. This can lead to dependence and a terrible addiction. It can also lead to the addict stealing to get money for the drugs. Despite the negative effects of addiction, it can also be eliminated. In conclusion, Drugs use among youth can lead to negative effects such as addiction, poor self-image, and poor well-being. These negative effects show that drug use can be hazardous for young people and that efforts should be made to put an end to it. Without robust efforts to put an end to drug use among youth, likely, a section of the youth will forever be lost to drugs.

Causal Analysis Topics

Choosing a good causal analysis essay topic will help ensure your essay is exciting and fun to read. Check out our causal analysis topics below to get inspiration to create your fun causal analysis essay topic.

  • What are the effects of too much internet on the personalities of children?
  • Why is cyberbullying such a big issue in the current world?
  • What has been the positive impact of technology in the healthcare industry?
  • What is the impact of technology on teaching methods?
  • What are the negative effects of misinformation on the internet?
  • What causes the increasing number of mass shooting incidents in the country?
  • What caused the emergence of the feminist movement?
  • Why is there gender bias in American politics?
  • What has led to the calls for stricter gun laws in the United States?
  • What led to the most recent US government shutdown?
  • Why did the coronavirus pandemic have a huge negative impact on the world economy?
  • What are the causes of the age-old Palestinian conflict?
  • What led to the separation of the KOREA peninsula?
  • Why are cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin rapidly gaining popularity?
  • What has led to the recent increase in cases of cyberbullying?
  • What is the cause of global warming and its impact on the world?
  • What are the negative effects of water pollution?
  • The biggest causes of environmental pollution
  • What caused the Iranian Revolution?
  • What caused the French Revolution?
  • What were the biggest causes of the First World War?
  • Why was Mussolini very successful in spreading fascism in Italy?
  • Explain why homeschooling is gaining popularity across the world.
  • What made China halt its one-child policy?
  • Why do so many people still oppose the Obamacare Act?

Parting Shot!

The information presented in this article is sufficient for any college student to write an excellent causal analysis essay. So, if you have time, all you need to do is to follow the structure, the steps, and the tips presented in this article to develop the perfect causal analysis essay.

Related Reading:

  • How to write a good case study
  • Tips and steps for writing an excellent analytical essay
  • How to know that an article is peer-reviewed.

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Causal Analysis Essay

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Start Writing a Causal Analysis Essay

A causal analysis essay is a research paper that examines the causes and effects of a particular phenomenon, event, or trend. It aims to uncover the relationships between various factors and their outcomes, providing insight into complex issues. It typically involves critical thinking, analysis, and logical reasoning to explore causality. A causal analysis essay example includes examining the causes of obesity, the effects of climate change, or the reasons behind economic fluctuations.

Writing a causal analysis paper is crucial for clear communication, honing analytical skills, and fostering academic and professional development. Our article offers a comprehensive step-by-step guide to writing a causal analysis essay , providing practical tips and strategies. The guide emphasizes practicality, offering actionable advice that writers can apply to enhance their writing skills. The guide aims to empower writers to tackle causal analysis essays with confidence, equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge to write proficiently.

Definition of Causal Analysis Essay

Causal analysis essays are academic writings that examine the causal relationships between factors or events, aiming to explain why certain outcomes occur. They analyze complex phenomena, identify underlying causes and effects, explain the connections between elements and their impact on outcomes, and illuminate patterns by examining causality. They prioritize analytical thinking and critical evaluation of causation, providing an objective analysis without advocating for a specific viewpoint. 

Understanding causality allows for targeted interventions, better planning and decision-making, and the development of critical thinking skills. They also foster intellectual growth, empowering individuals to engage more deeply with complex issues in various disciplines. After answering your question, “ What is a causal analysis essay?” let’s understand how to write it properly.

Pre-Writing Stage

The pre-writing stage involves selecting relevant topics for causal analysis essays , conducting thorough research, and organizing and analyzing data. This involves choosing a topic that aligns with your interests, is significant in your field, and is narrowed down to a specific aspect. Thorough research involves identifying reliable sources, diversifying perspectives, and critically evaluating them. Keeping detailed notes of key findings and arguments helps in later analysis. The organization and analysis of data involve creating an outline, analyzing causality, prioritizing relevant information, and refining the thesis statement. This ensures your essay is specific, debatable, and supported by evidence.

Causal Analysis Essay Topics

A causal analysis essay provides an opportunity to explore the underlying reasons behind various phenomena. Below are some compelling causal essay topics:

  • Impact of Social Media on Adolescents: Examine the impact of social media use on mental health.
  • Causes of Climate Change on Global Weather Patterns: Investigate the factors contributing to climate change and its global weather effects.
  • Effects of Parental Divorce on Children’s Emotional Well-being: Analyze the emotional consequences of parental divorce.
  • Causes of Income Inequality in Modern Societies: Investigate the factors contributing to income disparities.
  • Impact of Technology on Human Communication Skills: Explore how technology affects interpersonal relationships and communication abilities.
  • Factors Contributing to the Rise of Obesity Rates in Developed Countries: Examine the factors driving the rise in obesity prevalence.
  • Effects of Video Games on Behavior in Adolescents: Investigate the potential link between exposure to violent video games and aggressive behavior.
  • Consequences of the Gender Pay Gap in the Workplace: Analyze the reasons behind the gender wage disparity.

These causal essay topic ideas offer rich avenues for analysis, allowing for a deeper understanding of complex societal issues and their underlying dynamics.

Causal Analysis Essay Outline

Let’s discuss what causal analysis essay outline should include. 

  • Introduction: Hook/attention grabber, background information on the causal argument topic , thesis statement.
  • Body Paragraphs: Identifying causes, analyzing effects, establishing connections.
  • Conclusion: Restate the thesis, summary of key points, final thoughts, and references.

This causal essay outline provides a structured approach to writing a causal analysis essay, guiding the writer through the process of identifying causes, analyzing effects, establishing connections, and drawing conclusions based on the analysis conducted.

Causal Analysis Essays Writing Process

The writing process involves crafting a strong thesis statement, which should be clear, specific, and reflective of the causal relationship being explored. It should also be open to debate, encouraging critical engagement from readers.

The causal analysis essay format includes an introduction, body paragraphs, identifying causes, analysis effects, establishing connections, comparative analysis, synthesizing causal factors, and ensuring a logical progression from one paragraph to the next. The conclusion should restate the statement, summarise key points, and offer final thoughts on the broader implications of the analysis.

Incorporating evidence and examples is crucial, and it should be relevant and reliable. Use credible sources, such as scholarly articles, statistics, and expert opinions. Incorporate a variety of evidence, including quantitative data, case studies, anecdotes, and real-life examples, to provide depth and context on how to write a causal analysis essay . Analyze the evidence thoroughly, explaining its relevance to the argument and interpreting its implications for the causal relationships being examined.

Citation and attribution are also essential, as proper citation ensures credit to the original authors and avoids plagiarism. For example, the rising prevalence of social media addiction among teenagers can be attributed to excessive screen time, peer pressure, and the dopamine-driven feedback loop created by ‘likes’ and notifications.

Tips and Tricks

Practical causal analysis essay writing tips include using clear and concise language, defining key terms, removing redundant words, providing examples, and utilizing transitions effectively. Identifying common logical fallacies, evaluating arguments for flaws or weaknesses, providing evidence and reasoning, and seeking feedback is essential for improving the overall quality of your essay.

To revise and proofread, take breaks, focus on different aspects, read aloud, and use tools like spelling and grammar checkers, style guides, and writing handbooks. Listen for awkward phrasing, unclear sentences, or grammatical errors. Seek feedback from mentors to gain additional insights and perspectives on your writing.

Causal Analysis Essay Example and Illustration

Causal analysis essay examples are essential tools for analyzing causal relationships and understanding the underlying mechanisms driving phenomena. These essays can be found in academic journals, textbooks, or online writing repositories. The structure of each essay, including the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, is crucial for presenting causal relationships. Evidence, such as statistical data, case studies, expert opinions, or anecdotal evidence, is also essential. The causal chains presented in essays are crucial for understanding the connections between causes and effects.

Effective writing techniques, such as persuasive language, descriptive imagery, or logical reasoning, are employed in the sample essays. The effectiveness of each technique is evaluated to engage the reader, convey the author’s message, and support the overall argument. Comparing the writing techniques used in different sample essays helps identify patterns and trends in effective causal analysis writing.

Afterthoughts on Writing Causal Essays

In summary, developing the ability to write a causal analysis essay is an important life skill that not only improves academic performance but also develops the critical thinking and analytical reasoning needed to handle challenging situations in different contexts. 

To unravel causal relationships, shed light on the complexities of our world, and make significant contributions to knowledge and understanding, writers can confidently set out on their journey by adhering to the helpful advice provided in this guide and finding inspiration from sample essays and successful writing techniques. Thus, take on the task of writing a causal analysis essay with diligence, inventiveness, and a dedication to perfection, regardless of whether you’re a professional looking to hone your analytical skills or a student hoping to succeed academically.

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How to Write a Causal Analysis Essay and Master Cause and Effect

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Samuel Gorbold

If you find yourself grappling with the task of writing your essay, fear not. We're here to assist you through the process with a comprehensive guide from our essay writing services . This resource is meticulously crafted to ensure clarity and effectiveness, offering you valuable insights into starting and completing your essay efficiently. Dive into the guide, follow the steps, and conquer your essay with confidence.

causal analysis

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What Is Causal Analysis Essay?

Causal analysis essay writing explores the cause-and-effect relationships inherent in a particular subject or phenomenon. In essence, it delves into the reasons behind an occurrence and its subsequent outcomes. The primary goal is to scrutinize the connections between various elements, shedding light on how one factor influences another.

In simpler terms, imagine investigating the roots of a specific event or situation and examining the ripple effects it generates. This analytical process involves identifying the contributing factors and understanding how they interconnect to produce a particular result.

For instance, if the chosen essay topic is the impact of technology on education, the essay would dissect the various aspects of technology (the causes) and elucidate how they shape, enhance, or perhaps impede the educational system (the effects). Whether you choose to send us your ' write an essay for me ' request or tackle it yourself, it's important to know that it's essentially a methodical exploration into the 'why' and 'how' behind a given phenomenon, offering a deeper understanding of the relationships at play.

Causal Analysis Essay Outline

Crafting a roadmap, or what we like to call a causal essay outline, can be a game-changer for your writing journey. Having one makes the writing process smoother and even a bit speedier; everything just falls into place more seamlessly when you know where you're headed.

causal analysis essay outline

Introduction

In this initial phase, consider framing the causal analysis essay introduction as a captivating entry point, similar to opening the door to a thought-provoking space. Are there questions that can intrigue your reader, sparking curiosity about the phenomena under scrutiny?

Craft a thesis statement that serves as a compass, providing direction for the forthcoming analysis. How might this thesis encapsulate the essence of the cause-and-effect relationship to be unraveled?

Transitioning into the causal analysis essay body, envision each paragraph as a point of exploration, similar to uncovering layers of complex terrain. Can you pose questions that guide the reader through the nuanced aspects of the cause-and-effect relationship? Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that acts as a waypoint, introducing a distinct facet of the phenomenon.

How can you substantiate these points with evidence and examples, ensuring a comprehensive examination? Consider incorporating counterarguments—what potential detours in understanding might merit acknowledgment and resolution?

As the essay culminates, view the causal analysis essay conclusion as a reflective summit, offering panoramic views of the explored landscape. How can you succinctly recapitulate the key findings without introducing novel elements? Reinforce the significance of the cause-and-effect relationship—what enduring insights should linger in the reader's contemplation? Conclude with a thought-provoking query, inviting the reader to ponder the implications of the journey.

5 PRO Tips on How to Write a Causal Analysis Essay

Alright, let's dive into the nitty-gritty of crafting a top-notch essay. Here are five practical tips to make writing causal analysis essay a breeze:

tips on causal analysis essay

1. Precision in Cause-and-Effect Selection : Start by pinpointing the exact cause-and-effect relationship you want to explore. It's like aiming a spotlight on a specific intersection of events. The more precise you are, the clearer your analysis becomes. Don't cast too wide a net; focus on a particular aspect to dissect thoroughly.

2. Interconnected Paragraphs : Think of your causal analysis example as a chain reaction—each paragraph should seamlessly connect to the next. Begin with a strong cause or effect statement, then smoothly transition to the next point. It's like creating a logical pathway for your readers, guiding them through your analysis step by step. Avoid abrupt jumps; make it a smooth journey.

3. Thorough Evidence Exploration : Back up your cause-and-effect claims with solid evidence. Dig into data, examples, or expert opinions that reinforce your points. It's similar to building a case – the stronger your evidence, the more convincing your analysis becomes. Ensure your evidence is directly related to the cause-and-effect relationship under scrutiny.

4. Anticipate and Address Counterarguments : Don't shy away from potential objections. It's like preparing for a friendly debate—acknowledge counterarguments and demonstrate why your analysis holds water. This not only strengthens your position but also showcases a comprehensive understanding of the subject. Consider it an opportunity to showcase the depth of your analysis.

5. Reflective Conclusion : Wrap it up with a reflective conclusion that echoes the essence of your cause-and-effect exploration. Summarize your key findings without introducing new elements—it's like tying a neat bow on your analysis. Pose questions or suggest implications to leave your reader pondering. Make it a conclusion that lingers in their thoughts after they've finished reading.

Causal Analysis Essay Topics: An In-Depth Compilation

Here, we've curated an extensive list of causal analysis essay topic ideas, thoughtfully organized into different categories. This ensures that students, depending on their field of study, can swiftly pinpoint topics that resonate with their academic pursuits. Our diverse selection guarantees an array of engaging essay argument topics for every interest.

Environmental Issues

  • The Effect of Urban Green Spaces on Mitigating Heat Islands
  • Analyzing the Causal Factors Behind the Decline of Bee Populations
  • Investigating the Impact of Microplastics on Freshwater Ecosystems
  • The Role of Deforestation in the Spread of Infectious Diseases
  • Examining the Causal Links Between Air Pollution and Respiratory Health in Urban Areas
  • The Impact of Light Pollution on Nocturnal Wildlife Behavior
  • Assessing the Influence of Land Use Changes on Local Climate Patterns
  • Causal Analysis of the Relationship Between Pesticide Use and Decline in Pollinator Populations
  • Exploring the Connection Between Household Waste Management Practices and Environmental Sustainability
  • The Role of Industrial Chemicals in Coral Bleaching Events

Technology and Society

  • Analyzing the Impact of Social Media on Political Polarization
  • Causal Links Between Online Gaming and Its Influence on Academic Performance
  • Investigating the Role of Technology in Shaping Modern Dating Trends
  • The Effect of E-books on Traditional Publishing Industries
  • Examining the Causal Relationship Between Screen Time and Mental Health in Adolescents
  • Assessing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Job Market Dynamics
  • The Influence of Smartphone Use on Interpersonal Communication Skills
  • Analyzing the Causal Factors Behind the Digital Gender Divide
  • The Effect of Wearable Fitness Technology on Personal Health and Behavior
  • Investigating the Relationship Between Online Learning Platforms and Educational Inequality

Education and Learning

  • The Impact of Virtual Reality in Enhancing Classroom Engagement
  • Analyzing the Causal Factors Behind the Gender Gap in STEM Education
  • Investigating the Influence of Outdoor Education on Academic Performance
  • Examining the Relationship Between Teacher Expectations and Student Achievement
  • The Effect of Inclusive Education Practices on Social Development
  • Assessing the Impact of Standardized Testing on Curriculum Design
  • Causal Links Between Parental Involvement and Student Motivation
  • The Role of Early Childhood Education in Preventing Learning Disabilities
  • Exploring the Influence of Technology in Transforming Learning Environments
  • Analyzing the Causal Factors Behind Educational Inequality in Urban Settings

Economics and Finance

  • The Effect of Cryptocurrency Adoption on Traditional Banking Systems
  • Investigating the Causal Relationship Between Income Inequality and Economic Growth
  • Analyzing the Impact of Global Supply Chain Disruptions on Local Economies
  • The Role of Government Policies in Shaping Economic Stability
  • Examining the Causal Links Between Consumer Behavior and Economic Trends
  • Assessing the Influence of Entrepreneurship on Job Creation and Economic Development
  • The Effect of Financial Education Programs on Personal Savings Habits
  • Investigating the Causal Factors Behind Economic Recessions
  • Analyzing the Relationship Between Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance
  • The Impact of Technological Advancements on the Gig Economy

Psychology and Human Behavior

  • The Causal Links Between Childhood Trauma and Adult Attachment Styles
  • Investigating the Influence of Social Media on Body Image and Self-Esteem
  • Analyzing the Impact of Parenting Styles on Adolescent Mental Health
  • Examining the Relationship Between Sleep Deprivation and Cognitive Functioning
  • The Effect of Social Isolation on the Development of Anxiety and Depression
  • Assessing the Causal Factors Behind the Rise in Smartphone Addiction
  • The Influence of Cultural Background on Personality Traits: A Causal Analysis
  • Analyzing the Relationship Between Music Preferences and Emotional Well-being
  • Investigating the Impact of Exercise on Stress Reduction and Mental Health
  • Causal Links Between Early Attachment Patterns and Adult Relationship Satisfaction

Causal Analysis Essay Example

As we've touched upon earlier, a cause and effect essay involves making a claim and supporting it with solid facts and arguments. Good causal analysis essay examples in this genre link various issues with their underlying problems, providing a comprehensive understanding. Let's jump into a sample essay to find out the ins and outs of how sleep impacts our academic journey.

sample of causal analysis essay

How to End a Causal Analysis Essay Effectively?

What is the structure of a causal essay, how do you start analysis essay, what is a causal analysis essay example, what is a causal analysis essay.

Samuel Gorbold , a seasoned professor with over 30 years of experience, guides students across disciplines such as English, psychology, political science, and many more. Together with EssayHub, he is dedicated to enhancing student understanding and success through comprehensive academic support.

sample of causal analysis essay

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353 Causal Analysis Essay Topics & Ideas

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  • Icon Calendar 18 May 2024
  • Icon Page 3076 words
  • Icon Clock 14 min read

Causal analysis essay topics examine the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions of different circumstances, actions, or events. Various themes provide an exploration of causes, effects, and complex relationships that form a valid background for interconnected events. Such topics may include sociopolitical issues, psychological inquiries, and everyday challenges. This form of essay encourages critical thinking, as it requires the identification of various factors, analysis of their interplay, and understanding of the far-reaching impacts that they create. As a result, causal analysis essay topics aim to foster a deepened understanding of the intricate mechanisms that drive the world.

Best Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • Effects of Urbanization on Local Ecosystems
  • Implications of Distance Learning on Students’ Academic Performance
  • How Does Childhood Obesity Influence Future Health Risks,
  • Genetic Modification in Agriculture and Its Effect on Biodiversity
  • Influence of Gender Stereotypes on Workplace Opportunities
  • Cultural Globalization and Its Impact on Local Traditions
  • Violence in Video Games and Its Relation to Aggressive Behavior
  • Understanding the Consequences of Deforestation on Climate Change
  • Vegetarian Diets: The Impact on Human Health and the Environment
  • Universal Healthcare Systems: The Effect on National Economies
  • Online Shopping and Its Impact on Traditional Retail Businesses
  • Telecommuting’s Influence on Work-Life Balance
  • Alcohol Consumption: Causes and Consequences of Addiction
  • Immigration Policies and Their Impact on National Identity
  • Technology in Education: The Consequences on Learning Styles
  • Consumerism’s Influence on Sustainable Development
  • Mandatory Military Service: Its Impact on National Security
  • Global Warming and Its Effects on Polar Ice Caps
  • Single-Parent Households: The Impact on Child Development
  • Cybersecurity: Consequences of Data Breaches on Corporations
  • Poverty: Causes and Effects on Educational Opportunities
  • Examining the Impact of Fast Food on Nutritional Health
  • Renewable Energy: Effects on Economic Growth and Environment

Easy Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Job Market Dynamics
  • Virtual Reality: Its Influence on the Gaming Industry
  • Causes and Consequences of Drug Legalization
  • Understanding the Impact of Brexit on the European Economy
  • Climate Change: Its Effects on Global Agriculture
  • Mandatory Vaccination: Implications for Public Health
  • Animal Testing: Consequences for Ethical Scientific Research
  • Digital Advertising: Its Impact on Consumer Behavior
  • Influencer Marketing and Its Effects on Buying Decisions
  • Genetically Modified Foods: The Impact on Human Health
  • Effects of Human Trafficking on Global Society
  • Microplastics: Understanding the Impact on Human Health
  • E-Sports Popularity: Effects on Traditional Sports
  • Influences of the #MeToo Movement on Workplace Behavior
  • Internet Privacy: Implications for Individual Freedom
  • Childhood Vaccinations: Effects on Community Health
  • Gig Economy: Its Impact on Traditional Employment
  • Animal Farming: Consequences for Climate Change
  • Understanding the Effects of Pesticides on Bee Populations
  • Depression and Anxiety: The Impact of Modern Lifestyle
  • Autonomous Vehicles: Their Influence on Traffic Safety

Causal Analysis Essay Topics & Ideas

Interesting Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • Legalizing Marijuana: The Consequences on Public Health and Safety
  • Parenting Styles: Their Influence on Child’s Self-Esteem
  • Effects of Light Pollution on Wildlife Behavior
  • Aging Populations: Their Impact on Healthcare Systems
  • Digital Currency: Implications for Traditional Banking
  • Reality Television: Its Effect on Society’s Perception of Fame
  • Effects of Peer Pressure on Adolescent Behavior
  • Causes and Implications of Youth Unemployment Rates
  • Space Exploration: Its Impact on Technological Advancements
  • Forest Fires and Their Effects on Air Quality
  • Dark Tourism: Understanding its Influence on Cultural Perception
  • Late-Night Screen Time: Implications for Sleep Quality
  • Offshore Drilling: Its Impact on Marine Ecosystems
  • Junk Food Taxation: Effects on Public Health and Economy
  • Mental Health Stigma: Its Influence on Seeking Help
  • Organic Farming: The Impact on Soil Health and Biodiversity
  • Factory Farming: Consequences for Antibiotic Resistance
  • The Role of Play: Its Impact on Child Development
  • Green Buildings: Their Influence on Energy Consumption
  • Consumer Recycling: The Effect on Waste Management
  • Effects of Polar Ice Melt on Global Sea Levels
  • Microfinance: Understanding its Impact on Developing Economies

Causal Analysis Essay Topics for High School

  • Influences of Social Media on Adolescent Self-Esteem
  • Impacts of Parental Divorce on Children’s Academic Performance
  • Contributions of School Nutrition to Student Health and Performance
  • Effects of Extracurricular Activities on Students’ Leadership Skills
  • Relationship Between Cyberbullying and Teenage Depression
  • Environmental Factors Contributing to Obesity in Adolescents
  • Digital Technology’s Influence on Learning and Study Habits
  • Consequences of Peer Pressure on High School Students’ Decision Making
  • Role of Financial Education in Shaping Future Financial Responsibility
  • Impacts of Music Education on Cognitive Development
  • Immigration’s Influence on a Student’s Learning Experience
  • Impacts of Class Size on Student Engagement and Learning
  • Urbanization’s Role in Shaping High School Education Policies
  • Relationship Between Early Sports Participation and Long-Term Physical Health
  • Causes and Implications of Academic Cheating in High School
  • Modern Technology’s Effect on Adolescent Sleep Patterns
  • Influence of Fashion Trends on High School Student Identity
  • Implications of Biased Textbooks on Students’ Worldview
  • Roles of Personalized Learning in Enhancing Student Motivation
  • School Uniform Policies’ Impact on School Climate and Safety

Causal Analysis Essay Topics for College Students

  • Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Academic Performance
  • Impacts of Bullying on the Emotional Well-Being of Adolescents
  • Roles of Internet Usage in Shaping Society’s Perception of Beauty Standards
  • Effects of Violent Video Games on Youth Aggression Levels
  • Power of Parental Involvement on Children’s Educational Outcomes
  • Impacts of Fast Food Consumption on Obesity Rates
  • Influence of Technological Innovations on Job Market Transformations
  • Cyberbullying’s Roles in Teenage Depression
  • Relationship Between Mental Health and Physical Exercise
  • Dangers of Drug Abuse on Brain Function
  • Influence of Childhood Trauma on Adult Relationships
  • Social Media’s Impacts on Teenage Self-Esteem
  • Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Performance
  • Climate Change’s Influence on the Intensity of Natural Disasters
  • Single-Parent Households’ Impacts on Children’s Emotional Development
  • Effects of School Uniforms on Student Behavior
  • Significance of a Balanced Diet on Physical Health
  • Impacts of Animal Experimentation on Scientific Advancements
  • Roles of Education in Alleviating Poverty
  • Consequences of Alcohol Consumption on Liver Health
  • Effects of Violent Media Content on Children’s Perception of Violence

Causal Analysis Essay Topics for University

  • Influence of Celebrity Culture on Youth Ideologies
  • Impacts of Genetic Engineering on Food Safety
  • Roles of Biodiversity in Maintaining Ecosystem Balance
  • Smoking’s Effects on Lung Health
  • Influence of Automation on Job Displacement
  • Vegan Diets’ Impacts on Environmental Sustainability
  • Impacts of Urbanization on Wildlife Habitats
  • Effect of Second-Hand Smoke on Non-Smokers’ Health
  • Influence of Texting while Driving on Road Safety
  • Globalization’s Impact on Cultural Identity
  • Consequences of Deforestation on Local Climate Patterns
  • Roles of Music Therapy in Improving Mental Health
  • Parental Divorce’s Effect on Child Development
  • Influence of Artificial Intelligence on Data Privacy
  • Impacts of Physical Activity on Stress Management
  • Greenhouse Gases’ Roles in Global Warming
  • Effects of Overpopulation on Resources Scarcity
  • Influence of Stereotypes on Gender Equality
  • Roles of Media Literacy in Combating Fake News
  • Impacts of Mandatory Vaccinations on Public Health

Causal Argument Topics for Analysis

  • Influence of Parental Involvement on Children’s Academic Success
  • Repercussions of Technological Advancements on Job Security
  • Relationships Between Poverty and Crime Rates
  • Influence of Fast Food Consumption on Obesity Levels in America
  • Consequences of Urban Sprawl on Biodiversity
  • Roles of Financial Literacy in Individual Wealth Accumulation
  • Effects of Mandatory Vaccination Policies on Public Health
  • Impacts of Distance Learning on Student Engagement
  • Correlation Between Workplace Environment and Employee Productivity
  • Outcomes of Increased Representation in Media on Social Attitudes
  • Effects of Animal Agriculture on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • Roles of Early Childhood Education in Cognitive Development
  • Influence of Dietary Habits on Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Effects of Single-Use Plastics on Marine Life
  • Relationship Between Autonomous Vehicles and Road Safety
  • Consequences of Deforestation on Local Climate Conditions
  • Impacts of Online Shopping on Local Businesses
  • Influence of Meditation on Stress and Anxiety Levels
  • Correlation Between Political Polarization and News Media Consumption
  • Roles of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Delivery Systems

Causal Analysis Essay Topics in Business and Economics

  • Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Small Business Growth
  • Consequences of Brexit on the European Economic Landscape
  • Globalization and Its Effect on Domestic Manufacturing Industries
  • The Role of Internet Marketing in Enhancing Sales Performance
  • Understanding the Relationship Between Employee Satisfaction and Organizational Profitability
  • How Does the Federal Reserve’s Monetary Policy Influence the United States Economy?
  • Unraveling the Causes of Business Bankruptcy: A Detailed Analysis
  • The Influence of Environmental Regulations on Corporate Strategies
  • Implications of Rapid Technological Change for Human Resource Management
  • The Domino Effect: How Does US-China Trade War Impact the Global Economy?
  • Evaluating the Effect of E-Commerce on Traditional Brick-and-Mortar Retailers
  • Impacts of Tax Policies on Startup Businesses: An Insightful Study
  • Investigating the Consequences of the Gig Economy on Employment Laws
  • The Ripple Effect of Climate Change on Global Financial Markets
  • Financial Inclusion and Its Impact on Economic Development in Developing Countries
  • Cryptocurrencies: Their Influence on the Traditional Banking System
  • Analyzing the Effects of Supply Chain Disruptions on Business Operations
  • The Impact of Covid-19 on the Future of Remote Work and Its Economic Implications
  • Digital Transformation: Its Effect on Customer Service in the Retail Industry
  • Labor Unions and Their Influence on Wage and Employment Conditions
  • How Does Gender Diversity in Leadership Positions Affect Corporate Performance?
  • Effects of Cybersecurity Breaches on Businesses and Consumer Trust

Education Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • Influence of Distance Learning on Students’ Social Skills
  • Roles of School Nutrition in Academic Performance
  • Impacts of Technology Integration on Modern Classroom Settings
  • Effects of Parental Involvement in Students’ Homework
  • Relationship Between Classroom Size and Student Achievement
  • Influence of Early Childhood Education on Future Academic Success
  • Effects of Educational TV Programs on Young Children’s Learning
  • Roles of Physical Education in Enhancing Cognitive Skills
  • Consequences of High-Stakes Testing on Student Motivation
  • Extracurricular Activities and Their Impact on Academic Achievement
  • Influence of Teacher Qualifications on Students’ Learning Outcomes
  • Impacts of School Infrastructure on Learning Environment
  • Bilingual Education: Effects on Cognitive Development
  • Standardized Testing: Its Influence on Curriculum Content
  • Cyberbullying in Schools: The Impact on Student Mental Health
  • Socioeconomic Status and Its Role in Education Attainment
  • Consequences of Homework Load on Student Stress Levels
  • Roles of School Counselors in Reducing Student Dropout Rates
  • Arts Education and Its Effect on Student Creativity
  • Influence of School Culture on Student Behavior

Causal Analysis Essay Topics About Environment and Nature

  • Influence of Deforestation on Global Warming: A Causal Analysis
  • The Role of Ocean Acidification in the Depletion of Coral Reefs
  • Impacts of Urbanization on Wildlife Habitats and Biodiversity
  • Agricultural Practices: Causes and Implications for Soil Degradation
  • Industrial Pollution’s Consequences on Freshwater Ecosystems
  • Climate Change Effects on the Increase of Endangered Species
  • Dams and Their Impact on Aquatic Life: An In-Depth Study
  • Light Pollution’s Influence on Nocturnal Wildlife: A Causal Examination
  • Impacts of Overfishing on Marine Ecosystems: A Detailed Analysis
  • The Connection Between Habitat Loss and Species Extinction Rates
  • Plastic Waste: Understanding Its Impact on Marine Life
  • Air Pollution’s Consequences on Human Health and the Environment
  • How Invasive Species Alter Native Ecosystems: A Causal Analysis
  • The Role of Mining Activities in Landscape Degradation
  • Pesticides and Their Impact on Pollinator Populations: An In-Depth Study
  • Consequences of Melting Polar Ice Caps on Global Sea Levels
  • Landfills and Their Effects on Local Water Quality
  • The Link Between Desertification and Overgrazing: A Detailed Analysis
  • How Does Noise Pollution Affect Animal Communication and Survival?
  • The Role of Acid Rain in the Deterioration of Forest Ecosystems
  • Climate Change and Its Impact on Wildfire Frequency and Intensity

Causal Analysis Essay Topics About Health and Wellness

  • Impacts of Stress on the Human Immune System
  • Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health
  • Effects of Regular Exercise on Cardiovascular Health
  • Influence of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Functioning
  • Consequences of Obesity on Long-Term Health and Wellness
  • Smoking and Its Implications for Lung Health
  • Childhood Vaccinations and Their Role in Preventing Diseases
  • Mental Health Outcomes of Prolonged Screen Time
  • Alcohol Consumption: Its Effect on Liver Health
  • The Role of Healthy Relationships in Mental Well-Being
  • Impacts of Air Pollution on Respiratory Health
  • Effects of High Sugar Diet on Diabetes Prevalence
  • Consequences of Sedentary Lifestyles on Joint Health
  • Effects of Positive Thinking on Stress Management
  • Roles of Meditation in Enhancing Mental Health
  • Influence of Noise Pollution on Hearing Loss
  • Implications of Climate Change on Global Health Challenges
  • Breastfeeding’s Impacts on Newborn Immune System Development
  • Genetic Factors and Their Influence on Obesity Rates
  • Consequences of Substance Abuse on Physical Health

Causal Analysis Essay Topics About History and Culture

  • The Influence of Industrialization on Victorian Society’s Evolution
  • Examining the Causes of the American Revolutionary War
  • Exploring the Impact of the Renaissance on European Artistry and Culture
  • Analyzing the Factors That Contributed to the Fall of the Roman Empire
  • Unraveling the Consequences of the French Revolution on Contemporary Politics
  • Investigating the Significance of Ancient Greek Philosophy on Western Thought
  • Assessing the Origins of the Cold War and Its Enduring Implications
  • Evaluating the Role of Religion in Shaping Medieval European Society
  • Understanding the Catalysts and Outcomes of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States
  • Dissecting the Effects of Colonialism on Indigenous Cultural Communities
  • Uncovering the Triggers and Consequences of the Byzantine Empire’s Rise and Fall
  • Exploring the Cultural Exchange between East and West along the Silk Route
  • Analyzing the Ramifications of the Black Death on European Society and Culture
  • Investigating the Causes and Implications of the Spanish Inquisition
  • Assessing the Role of Women in the Suffrage Struggle
  • Evaluating the Influence of Ancient Egyptian Civilization on Modern Architectural Styles
  • Understanding the Factors that Sparked the Industrial Revolution in Britain
  • Dissecting the Origins and Importance of the Mayan Civilization
  • Unraveling the Causes and Effects of the Protestant Reformation Movement
  • Analyzing the Reasons Behind the Ottoman Empire’s Decline
  • Investigating the Cultural Exchange Between China and Japan During the Tang Dynasty

Causal Analysis Essay Topics About History and Politics

  • The Influence of the French Revolution on Contemporary Democracy
  • Women’s Roles in the American Civil Rights Struggle
  • Ramifications of the Treaty of Versailles on Subsequent World Events
  • Cold War’s Impacts on Global Politics
  • Gandhi’s Nonviolent Resistance and Its Effect on Indian Independence
  • The Significance of the Berlin Wall during the Cold War Era
  • Causes and Outcomes of the Cuban Missile Crisis
  • Propaganda’s Roles in Shaping Public Opinion During World War II
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Racial Equality in the United States
  • Sociopolitical Consequences of the Industrial Revolution
  • Nationalism’s Influence in the Collapse of the Soviet Union
  • The Great Depression’s Political and Economic Effects
  • The Importance of the Magna Carta in Constitutional Law
  • Causes and Consequences of the Vietnam War
  • Colonialism’s Impacts on Modern Global Politics
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965 and African American Political Participation
  • Chinese Cultural Revolution’s Societal Consequences
  • Bolshevik Revolution and the Rise of Communism
  • American Revolution’s Significance in the Development of Democratic Ideals
  • Nelson Mandela’s Leadership and the End of Apartheid in South Africa

Information Technology (IT) Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Cybersecurity
  • Enhancing User Experience through Augmented Reality in E-Commerce
  • Causes of Data Breaches in Cloud Computing
  • Evaluating the Effectiveness of Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management
  • Factors Influencing the Adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) in Smart Homes
  • Consequences of Social Media Addiction on Mental Health
  • Assessing the Role of Big Data Analytics in Business Decision-Making
  • Relationship Between Online Privacy and Data Collection Practices
  • Examining the Success Factors of E-Commerce Platforms
  • Effects of Mobile Applications on Work Productivity
  • Causes of Software Project Failures in the IT Industry
  • Evaluating the Ethical Implications of Facial Recognition Technology
  • Roles of Data Visualization in Business Intelligence
  • Causes of Network Security Vulnerabilities in Organizations
  • Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on Job Market Disruptions
  • Factors Affecting User Acceptance of Mobile Payment Systems
  • Consequences of Internet Addiction on Academic Performance
  • Roles of Data Mining in Predictive Analytics
  • Factors Influencing the Adoption of E-Government Services
  • Causes of System Downtime in IT Infrastructures
  • Relationship Between Cloud Computing and Green IT

Causal Analysis Essay Topics in Political Science

  • The Influence of Social Media on Political Mobilization
  • Political Corruption: Effects on Democratic Institutions
  • Economic Inequality and Political Participation
  • Globalization: Shaping National Political Systems
  • Political Polarization: Impact on Policy-Making
  • Lobbying: Shaping Political Decision-Making
  • Electoral Systems: Effects on Political Representation
  • Media’s Roles in Public Opinion and Political Discourse
  • Identity Politics: Effects on Political Stability
  • International Organizations: Shaping Global Political Dynamics
  • Political Violence: Effects on Democratic Consolidation
  • Interest Groups: Influencing Public Policy
  • Immigration: Impact on Political Attitudes and Policies
  • Gerrymandering: Effects on Electoral Competition
  • Ideology: Role in Political Behavior
  • Gender and Political Representation
  • Ethnicity, Race, and Political Power Dynamics
  • Political Leadership: Shaping Policy Outcomes
  • Foreign Policy: Impact on Domestic Political Dynamics
  • Social Movements: Effects on Political Change

Causal Analysis Essay Topics About Science and Technology

  • Renewable Energy: Combating Climate Change
  • Ethical Implications of Human Genome Editing
  • Social Media and Mental Health: Exploring the Relationship
  • 3D Printing in Manufacturing: Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Virtual Reality in Education and Learning
  • Cybersecurity Threats: Impact on Global Economies
  • Big Data Analytics: Business Decision-Making
  • Electric Vehicles: Assessing the Environmental Impact
  • Internet of Things (IoT): Effects on Daily Life
  • Nanotechnology in Medicine: Benefits and Risks
  • Machine Learning: Influence in Financial Markets
  • Robotics in Automation and Industry: Analyzing the Role
  • Biotechnology in Pharmaceutical Research: Impact Analysis
  • Augmented Reality: Enhancing User Experience
  • Gene Therapy: Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Cryptocurrency: Implications in the Global Economy
  • Artificial Neural Networks: Influence in Pattern Recognition
  • Biometric Technology: Effects on Personal Privacy
  • E-Waste Disposal: Assessing the Environmental Impact
  • Autonomous Vehicles: Benefits and Risks
  • 5G Technology: Implications in Communication Networks

Causal Analysis Essay Topics on Social Issues

  • Impacts of Social Media on Mental Health
  • Roles of Income Inequality in Educational Attainment
  • Influence of Parental Involvement on Juvenile Delinquency
  • Effects of Police Brutality on Trust in Law Enforcement
  • Relationship Between Poverty and Crime Rates
  • Consequences of Cyberbullying on Adolescent Development
  • Impacts of Gender Stereotypes on Workplace Discrimination
  • Roles of Media Portrayals in Shaping Body Image and Eating Disorders
  • Impacts of Immigration Policies on Social Integration
  • Influence of Racial Segregation on Educational Opportunities
  • Consequences of Climate Change on Vulnerable Communities
  • Impacts of Gun Control Laws on Violent Crime Rates
  • Roles of Substance Abuse in Family Dynamics
  • Effects of Healthcare Accessibility on Health Disparities
  • Influence of Systemic Racism on Economic Mobility
  • Consequences of Environmental Pollution on Public Health
  • Relationship Between LGBTQ+ Rights and Social Acceptance
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causal analysis

Complete Guide on Causal Analysis Essay Writing

sample of causal analysis essay

Don’t worry if you have been given a causal analysis essay to write and have no idea how to start. We have put together an easy to follow guide for you on our essay service to be done as fast as possible!

What is Causal Analysis Essay?

The aim of a causal analysis paper is to show either the consequences of certain causes and effects and vice versa. This is best explored through an essay in which the question " why? " is answered.

causal

Navigating the academic landscape requires a blend of analytical prowess and financial planning. As you delve into the intricacies of crafting a compelling causal analysis essay, you are also honing skills that can significantly bolster your scholarship applications. High school seniors stand at a pivotal juncture, where the right scholarship can markedly ease the transition into tertiary education. In this vein, seeking financial aid should parallel your academic endeavors.

The overall conclusion is usually intended to either prove a point , speculate a theory or disprove a common belief .

This could also be explained through a philosophical narrative by saying it tries to answer the “why” in our lives by clarifying the world in which we inhabit. So, therefore the causal analysis can be said to help us comprehend the complex series of events that shape our life.

To simplify further into an equation this is how you could write it:

Causal analysis essay definition

50 Causal Analysis Essay Topics

The choice of causal analysis essay topics is by far one of the most responsible steps in handling the task because it affects how easy and fast the process goes and how good the result will be.

Depending on your academic level and the subject, the choice of causal argument essay topics can be very extensive.

So, how do you make the right choice?

This may surprise you, but the key to choosing the best causal essay topics is focusing on one’s own interests. When writing on a topic that you are genuinely interested in, the process will not feel as stressful and boring, and the result will be much better than if you’d write on a topic that is too boring or complex to you.

Need some ideas? To help you get on the right track, we prepared a list of 50 great topics for inspiration:

Technology Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • How can the popularization of e-learning harm the traditional educational system?
  • The effects of too active Internet use on children’s personalities.
  • What are the reasons that make cyberbullying such a major issue in the modern world?
  • How does technology make our day-to-day lives more complicated?
  • The impact of IT industry growth on immigration.
  • The positive impact of technology on the healthcare industry.
  • Influence of technology on attention spans and perception of information.
  • How is technology changing a modern classroom?
  • How has increased internet access influenced children’s and teen’s behavior?
  • What effects does growing misinformation on the internet have on us?

Political Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • Does social media influence politics in any way today?
  • What causes a growing number of mass shooting cases in the US?
  • Cause-and-effect of the feminist movement.
  • The correlation between success in the political sphere and the chosen style of language.
  • Are there still hints of gender bias in politics?
  • Why do successful political leaders tend to resign at the peak of their careers?
  • What has caused stricter gun policies in the US?
  • The role of the Civil Rights Movement in the US politics.
  • Cause-and-effect of globalization and labor market.
  • What led to the US government shut down in 2013?.

Global Occurrences Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • Why did Covid-19 have such a negative impact on the global economy?
  • The positive impact the Black Lives Matter movement has on our society.
  • How well did we handle the global pandemic?
  • Why is the Chinese government planning to back away from its one-child policy?
  • What has caused the Israel-Palestine Crisis?
  • Why did Donald Trump become the first US president to be impeached twice?
  • Why do cryptocurrencies have the potential to replace traditional money?
  • Why are people investing in cryptocurrency?
  • Why does Elon Musk consider using Bitcoin again?
  • Why is the gradual border reopening strategy vital for the EU countries?

Education Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • What causes a consistently high number of bullying cases in schools?
  • The negative impact of bullying at schools.
  • How is children’s emotional development being affected by the educational system?

How well did we handle adaptation to e-learning during the pandemic?

  • What factors make distance learning a bad thing in terms of socializing?
  • Why does school uniform have a positive effect on students’ performance?
  • The perks of the blended learning approach.
  • Why do children tend to perceive new information faster and retain it better than adults?
  • The pros and cons of homework.
  • Why should parents get more involved in school life?

Nature and Environment Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • What is causing global warming, and what effects might it have on our environment?
  • The negative effects of the increasing water pollution levels on our lives.
  • What factors cause certain species of animals to go extinct?
  • What are the positive effects of owning a pet for children?
  • How do our daily activities affect nature and the environment?
  • The positive effects of various environmental protection programs on wildlife and nature.
  • What makes zoos worse than national parks?
  • Why do scientists use animals for research and studies?
  • Cause-and-effect of environmental pollution.
  • The positive effect of fully organic food and goods on a human health.

Causal Analysis Essay Outline

Plan out an outline to make your writing easier and faster then all the elements of the article will come together better in the end. Also if you want to pay for essay - EssayService it is a good idea.

Choose a Causal Analysis Essay Topic

To start it is best to decide on a topic you wish to explore and is something that has meaning or is a subject area already known about. Think carefully about the causes and effects that could transpire from a given area or topic and also perhaps something that is controversial and open to discussion. It may not be possible to write fully about both the causes and effects so keep in mind which will be the stronger point to include in the paper.

Write a Causal Analysis Essay Thesis Statement

After the chosen topic is decided it is possible to plan out what the causal analysis will find out by creating the thesis statement. This should be summarized into one or two sentences and focus on a particular subject area that can be explored. Try not to limit the essay too much by including too much detail or using language that prevents exploring further possibilities.

An example of a thesis statement could look like:

Governments around the world are meant to have our best interests at heart, yet why do their policies anger many and cause protests. Is this related to bad choice of politicians and political voting systems used and what other factors can be involved?

Create a Causal Analysis Essay Introduction

It is a good idea to put the thesis at the end of the introduction which should give some basic information on the topic. You should start with a “hook” or opening sentence that will grab the reader's attention and want them to continue reading. An interesting quote or statistic can be a good example or something that will make the reader think about the topic.

Write a Causal Analysis Essay Body Paragraphs

Create every paragraph to illustrate one cause or effect chain and write it logically. Use examples to demonstrate the thinking process and the specific chain of causes or effects. Make sure each chain is set out chronologically to make everything clear to the reader. Always clarify the cause to effect or vice versa relationship instead of making comparisons as this will make your statements stronger.

Write a Causal Analysis Essay Conclusion

At the end of the paper include a concluding paragraph which should be a summary of the connections that have been discovered on significant cause-effect relationship. Remember to finish the paper with something that is thought provoking or memorable that highlights the conclusions within the article. For example, if the paper was about World war II, say due to these causes or effects that a third world war is possible if these factors are not kept in check.

Tips for Writing a Causal Analysis Essay

Unless you decide to buy essays online from our service, you should follow the tips below to make your writing worth the best grade.

causal tips

Keep all the links . Do not leave out any links in the chain of causes and effects unless you are certain that the reader can make the correct connections.

Leave any biases out. It is important to develop an honest essay, to be impartial, and not already have any prejudices. According to our write my essay service professionals, to be a credible writer and make the audience believe in the analysis, the work should be from a neutral stance.

Backup everything with sufficient evidence. Always give specific details and support with hard evidence. Never be vague with the connections in the chain and explain all the links.

Don't oversimplify things. While it is needed to focus and limit the analysis to particular points of the thesis, do not be too quick to assign cause and effect conclusions. Think carefully before making statements and do not jump to any false predictions before evaluating properly.

Try not fall into the post hoc trap. This can be avoided by not making any errors in the logic used and carefully researching each link in the chain. This is a typical causal relationship error that links a previous subject in time just because it happened before. For example, coming to the conclusion that marijuana smokers will go on to smoke crack. This could be based on that crack smokers have tried marijuana before they tried crack but this is a false connection. With the same logic, it could said that cigarette smoking would lead to smoking crack and marijuana, but this is also post hoc fallacy.

Avoid circular thought processes. Try not use thought processes that have no definite conclusion and just restate the thesis. Make new links and ideas that do not end at where the statement started, finish with a sense of conclusion.

Causal Analysis Essay Example

As mentioned above, a causal analysis essay is a form of academic writing task that analyzes the cause of a problem. Some people also refer to causal analysis essays as cause and effect essays.

This type of essay explores the critical aspects of a specific issue to determine the primary causes. You need to state your claim and back it up with supporting facts and arguments. Besides, example essays on causal analysis correlate every issue with an underlying problem.

For instance, most global warming essays are a typical example essay on causal analysis because they highlight factors like human activity (and inactivity) and how it impacts the environment. 

Now let’s check out a sample essay on the following topic: ‍

The global pandemic has presented massive challenges in all aspects of human life. Many individuals have lost their livelihoods, while companies had to digitize their processes to address the financial strains. In schools, the shift to e-learning has also come at an unprecedented pace, forcing teachers and school administrators to adopt new technologies and teaching methods to keep the learning process going. However, the adaptation process to e-learning has not been a major success for students.
Since the start of the pandemic, schools have tried to switch to e-learning and replicate traditional classes online. However, this process has been hindered by unpreparedness in most schools. Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, lecturers did not have enough time to acquaint themselves with modern technological platforms. Consequently, they lacked the technical knowledge to get the best of the available learning tools and platforms.
Furthermore, students seem to enjoy e-learning, but the problem lies in the fact that they cannot harness their academic potential to the fullest. In developing countries, poverty, corruption, and inadequate access to learning infrastructure present a massive obstacle to students. Moreover, students living in countries without stable electricity and internet connection lag behind their peers from other countries. And since most schools cannot change the financial situation of disenfranchised students, these young people get left out of the overall academic cycle. 
In line with the lack of access to essential learning materials, students are losing interest in academics. As a result, the dropout rates in higher institutions have reached record numbers over the past 18 months. Some experts ascribe the increasing dropout rates to poverty and financial instability across the globe (Morin, 2021). However, other experts claim that these dropout rates are directly correlated with the hasty and poor implementation of e-learning in schools across the globe. Students who feel abandoned by the system have no motivation to continue pursuing their degrees. Alternatively, they are exploring other career options to maintain financial stability or support their siblings.
On the other hand, student engagement has remained high throughout the pandemic. Teachers now use advanced communication channels and learning tools to connect with their students during and beyond class hours. Gamification has also become an integral part of learning, as online laboratories and virtual reality tools come to the fore. Moreover, the introduction of exciting digital tools into the curriculum has motivated students to stay engaged in the educational process, thus improving their overall performance across the board. Essentially, the increase in online classroom engagement has also boosted students’ academic performance and their understanding of the curriculum.
In conclusion, the merits of the current iteration of e-learning are few and far between. Schools need to address their e-learning models right away to avoid pushing more students away from the academic system. Students from low-income communities should be encouraged to stay in school by creating subsidies for them and re-integrating them into the academic fold. Ultimately, the entire academia should focus on creating modern technological solutions to bridge the expanding knowledge gap caused by the pandemic.

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How to Write a Causal Essay

“Why” is the most popular question among little kids. They want to know how and why everything around happens. Why do we lose this curiosity when we’re getting older? Perhaps, we don’t have much time to figure out all the reasons and effects. When you really need to provide a decent answer on the “why” question, you can write a causal essay. In the guide prepared by our essay writing service , we’ll explain in detail what is a causal essay and how to write it properly.

At the end of our article, you’ll also find a bonus: a list of causal essay topics and an example of a causal essay provided by one of our authors. Enjoy reading and never stop asking, “Why?”

What is a causal analysis essay

Actually, a causal essay or a causal analysis essay is very similar to a cause and effect essay. Certain sources associate causal essays with complex and difficult topics, while cause and effect essays develop mostly simple and narrow topics. We think that it doesn’t matter how you call this essay type. The only important thing to know is what the main purpose of such writing is.

When you write a causal essay, you have to carefully investigate the reasons or consequences of a certain event or phenomenon depending on the topic. Sometimes it can be challenging, as not all the reasons are obvious. Dig deep, and you’ll discover the smallest nuances!

How to write a causal essay: 10 helpful tips

We are sure that these tips will help you to make your essay as effective as possible. We won’t mention the obvious points like dividing your text into paragraphs or grammar checking. Our readers need something more special, right? Check out 10 unusual tips for advanced causal essay writing!

1. Various categories

When you analyze a particular event or phenomenon, pay attention to how it influences different spheres of human life. When you compose an outline, divide all the causes or results into various categories – for example, social, economic, political, etc.

2. Forecasting

If you chose to describe the consequences of a certain event, try forecasting. Some results are not visible at the moment, but you can make suggestions about the further effects. Sure, your predictions should be reasonable and logical.

3. Official statistics

Use official websites to include statistical data in your essay. Don’t forget about citing your sources. In such a manner, your readers will be sure that you’ve based your research on a reliable base.

4. Examples

When you write about a tendency or phenomenon that is widespread, you can use concrete examples to sound more persuasive. For example, if you investigate the main reasons for unemployment, mention the statistical data about a particular country.

5. Different perspectives

Try to look at your topic from different angles. For example, the plague can be considered as one of the factors that boosted the beginning of the Renaissance. Surprised?

6. Focus on the main points

All events have primary and secondary consequences. Firstly, concentrate on the main points and then proceed to less significant results if you’re out of ideas.

7. Summarize

A conclusion is a crucial part of any causal essay. Restate each reason or result in the concluding section to remind readers about the main points of your text.

8. No stereotypes

Don’t fall into stereotypes! For example, adults often blame computer games for teenage aggression. In fact, domestic violence has a much more negative impact on adolescent mentality.

9. Clear language

Make sure that your thoughts are understandable to the general public. Use concise language and clear arguments to simplify the reading process.

10. Logical fallacies

Avoid logical mistakes! A causal essay is one of the essay types that requires extremely accurate logic. You can easily find a list of the most common logical fallacies on the internet and check your writing.

Causal analysis essay topics

Below, you’ll find 20 causal essay topics for different levels of difficulty. Analyze the causes and effects of events, phenomena, and tendencies with EssayShark!

  • The effect of social networking on interpersonal relationships.
  • Why is there no universal language in the world?
  • The main reasons for a college dropout.
  • Why has the social attitude toward news changed recently?
  • The effect of social media on marketing strategies.
  • Why is cultural diversity important for big corporations?
  • The effect of bilingualism on an individual’s mentality.
  • Is racism less widespread in developed countries?
  • Reasons for using GMOs in agriculture.
  • What causes water pollution?
  • How does music influence our mental health?
  • Why have many countries abolished the death penalty?
  • The negative impact of social media on stereotypes.
  • Why has a healthy lifestyle become popular today?
  • How do technologies influence art?
  • The effect of alcohol on memory and logical thinking.
  • A positive impact of computer games on teenagers.
  • What influences trends of the job market?
  • Why is a teenager’s self-esteem vulnerable?
  • What causes the majority of divorces?

Now we’re at the homestretch! The last section of our guide is a well-written causal essay sample. Learn more about the structure of this essay type thanks to one of our talented writers!

Causal essay example

Effect of Television in American Culture

Television is a part of everyday life for people regardless of culture, religion, or race. The diversification of the products of television companies allows viewers to get entertaining content that evokes interest and satisfaction of needs. It should be noted that the media has always played an essential role in the development of culture. Therefore, information from television sources has the ability to set the trend in society, to focus attention on critical global problems, and to impose a certain urge. In its turn, American culture had both a positive and negative impact on television. Television products set the fundamental values and foundations of life in society, showing fiction films and TV shows depicting people’s real lives. On the other hand, orientation to high ratings and earnings causes TV companies to create products that will be successful, but not of a high quality.

A person needs to be distracted from everyday life in order to avoid routine. Television is one of the ways to spend leisure time. Consequently, the content on the screen has a significant impact on people’s lives, including the subconscious. The global nature of television determines the fact that influence on a broad audience allows one to set trends and give universal messages. Undoubtedly, diversification of content allows the creation of different products that instill values and that are educational (Watson and Arp). It is especially true for entertainment content, including movies, TV shows, talk shows, and reality shows. The popular American TV series Friends is worth noting. This show presents the usual life of three girls and three guys in New York with their problems, difficulties in relationships, and triumphs. The series became a favorite because of the urge that is carried to the audience. Friends shows that any life obstacles are solvable, and real friendship helps to overcome any difficulty. The audience of the series consists of people 16-34 years old, and popularity increased with the onset of school holidays. Therefore, Friends is appropriate for a young audience because it is about a youthful way of life. The characters overcome life’s difficulties and win without the help of their parents, and also have many ways to self-perfection and self-realization. This TV series had an impact on Americans and representatives of other nationalities. First of all, it instilled courage and optimism to start adult life without fear of failures, and also to rely on the help of close acquaintances. Consequently, Friends gave the effect that life is not a set of complexities, but only tests on the road to success.

Television played an essential role in the fight against racism in the United States. Racial segregation was one of the most critical problems in the 20th century, which degraded the dignity of black people over white people. It is no secret that racism is a pressing problem in the modern world. Nevertheless, the gradual emergence of representatives of different races in similar roles on the screen smoothed segregation, allowing to overcome skin color as a factor of choice of the actor or the presenter in place in the television program. For example, the famous African-American actor and TV presenter Bill Cosby had a significant role in American culture through television series. The Cosby Show demonstrated black heroes who were not shown as stereotypical images of poor and badly educated people, but as a full-fledged family with a stable income that has daily life experiences, problems, and triumphs. At that time, it was the flagship show in which the principal actors were black. It is worth noting that in the 1980s such projects were risky because of the possibility of a severe reaction of viewers who were accustomed to seeing white characters on television. Nevertheless, The Cosby Show became a successful series and received many prestigious awards, including an Emmy. Since that time, the role of black people on television has increased, and the emergence of representatives of different races has become more acceptable and common. Undoubtedly, racism is a deeper problem that can not be eradicated through television content alone. As mentioned above, American culture is also characterized in particular by the strong influence of television on society. Therefore, frequent observation of representatives of different races on the screen allows Americans to have subconscious tolerance to all people.

The level of development of television in the US has no analogs in the world. Apparently, the diversity of television content allows one to reach different target audiences. Nevertheless, TV is also the central platform for promotional activities. Corporations invest in advertising, which millions of viewers will see, competing in the originality and effectiveness of the videos. Nevertheless, the negative side of the industry has a direct impact on society, making material income one of the main aspects of human success. It is no secret that advertising is created in order to obtain higher sales and revenue from a product or service. Consequently, the negative impact of advertising lies in the subconscious effect on the audience, forcing the person to make a choice contrary to rational desires. For example, studies show that the use of children in advertising increases the loyalty of viewers to the product and increases the likelihood of buying (Malik and Guptha). Proceeding from this, the constant psychological impact on the freedom of choice of a person violates the possibility of adequate thinking in the process of buying goods or services. The rapid development of advertising in conjunction with the exaggerated characteristics of products or services leads viewers into confusion and develops a subconscious desire to have this product. Consequently, the multi-year presence of advertising on television broadcasts has determined the constant impact on the psyche of viewers, becoming part of American culture.

Television has played a significant role in the development of modern American culture. Among the positive causes, it is worth noting the creation of films and serials that show the life of characters in the usual conditions familiar to many Americans. For example, Friends shows young people who independently achieve success in a big city.

Also worth noting is the contribution to the fight against racism and segregation. The Cosby Show was one of the first popular projects in which all the main characters were African-American and were not stereotypical images of this race. Nevertheless, television also has a negative impact on American society. The abundance of advertising demonstrates the thirst of corporations to have more sales and revenue, influencing the minds of the viewers. Using a variety of techniques that affect the psyche, commercials make people want and buy a particular product. In turn, it has become part of American culture, determining the set of spending of spectators on the goods imposed by advertising.

Works Cited

Malik, Garima, and Abhinav Guptha. “An Empirical Study on Behavioral Intent of Consumers in Online Shopping.” Business Perspectives and Research, vol. 2, no. 1, 2013, pp. 13–28. Watson, Jamie Carlin., and Robert Arp. What’s Good on TV: Understanding Ethics Through Television. John Wiley & Sons, 2012.

FAQ on how to write a causal analysis essay

What is a causal analysis essay.

Causal analysis essays are a form of academic writing. A causal analysis essay usually looks for the leading cause of a specific effect, although it can also be divided into two separate essays (one paper will focus on the cause and another on the effect). A causal analysis essay examines the causes of the economic or social problems stated in the introduction and explores various ways to solve them. This type of essay aims to determine what has led to a particular situation, problem, or effect and find the best way to reduce negative consequences.

How to make an outline for a causal analysis essay?

Causal analysis essays are not the easiest type to write, but they can be done. You just need to put your mind to it and follow certain writing process steps. To begin writing a good causal analysis essay, you need to outline your work, which means gathering all of the ideas and information you will use in your future essay and writing them on a piece of paper in a specific order. A good outline is always comprehensive and organized. It should always cover the main idea and include all the critical details. It should consist of a well-written thesis statement that expresses your opinion on the topic and at least three reasons supporting your idea.

What should be the structure of an excellent causal analysis essay?

The structure of an excellent causal analysis essay is a bit different than the usual essays. You’ll need to provide a thesis statement, along with four main steps that support it. First create an introduction, then give some background information on this topic. After the introduction, the second step should be the body paragraph. Here, you can explain how each factor affected the development of this topic. To illustrate your point, add facts and examples from related sources. The third step is usually a brief statement that summarizes what you have just said in the previous points. After that, end your essay with a conclusion. It doesn’t need to repeat everything you have said before, but it should reaffirm your main point. It’s also helpful to provide the readers with valuable advice on how to deal with similar issues in the future or avoid those mistakes again.

Where to order a high-quality causal analysis essay?

If you have ever considered writing your paper and searched for a place to get it done, you may have encountered many companies that offer such services. Essays are a serious thing. You do not get the chance to make any mistakes. That is why using the service of an expert essay writer makes a lot of sense. This provides you the chance to earn high grades. What is even more important, if you choose the service of an expert essay writer, this person can make sure that your paper is checked for plagiarism before submission and thus make sure it is unique and of high quality.

How to make a conclusion for a causal analysis essay?

While writing a causal analysis essay, your instructor tells you to make a conclusion. To do this, you need to elaborate on the points you made earlier in your essay and integrate the ideas presented by the other side of the issue into your discussion. Causal analysis essays are generally used when writers are expected to examine the reasons behind certain events and occurrences. They should be able to determine why something happened and whether there is a reason for it.

Causal analysis writing assistance from us

Our mission is accomplished! Now, you know for sure what is a causal essay and how to write it properly. Moreover, you have a great list of causal analysis essay topics. And don’t forget about our amazing sample! We know that you’ll do your best and create a truly brilliant essay using all these helpful tools. In case you don’t feel confident about your writing skills, contact us! The EssayShark team will lend you a helping hand.

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67 Causal Essay Topics to Consider

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  • Writing Essays
  • Writing Research Papers
  • English Grammar
  • M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
  • B.A., History, Armstrong State University

A causal essay is much like a cause-and-effect essay , but there may be a subtle difference in the minds of some instructors who use the term "causal essay" for complex topics and "cause-and-effect essay" for smaller or more straightforward papers.

However, both terms describe essentially the same type of essay and the goal of each is the same: to come up with a list of events or factors (causes) that bring about a certain outcome (effect). The key question in such an essay is, "How or why did something happen?" It is important to make a clear connection between each cause and the ultimate effect.

Potential Causes

The most common problem students face in writing the causal essay is running out of "causes" to talk about. It is helpful to sketch out an outline before you begin writing the first draft of your outline. Your essay should include a strong introduction , good transition statements , and a well-crafted conclusion.

Topics to Consider

You can use a topic from this list, or use the list as inspiration for your own idea.

  • What conditions and events led to the Great Depression ?
  • What prompts a change in fashion trends?
  • Why do some people fear the dark?
  • How did some dinosaurs leave footprints?
  • What causes criminal behavior?
  • What causes people to rebel against authority?
  • What conditions lead to powerful hurricanes?
  • What developments led to regional accents in the United States?
  • Why do good students become truant?
  • What causes war?
  • What factors can lead to birth defects?
  • How are car insurance rates determined?
  • What factors can lead to obesity?
  • What can cause evolution to occur?
  • Why does unemployment rise?
  • Why do some people develop multiple personalities?
  • How does the structure of the Earth change over time?
  • What factors can cause bulimia nervosa?
  • What makes a marriage fail?
  • What developments and conditions led to the Declaration of Independence ?
  • What led to the decline of the automobile industry?
  • What factors led to the decline of the Roman Empire?
  • How did the Grand Canyon form?
  • Why did enslavement replace indentured servitude in the American colonies ?
  • How has popular music been affected by technology?
  • How has racial tolerance changed over time?
  • What led to the dot-com bubble burst?
  • What causes the stock market to fall?
  • How does scarring occur?
  • How does soap work?
  • What causes a surge in nationalism?
  • Why do some bridges collapse?
  • Why was Abraham Lincoln assassinated ?
  • How did we get the various versions of the Bible?
  • What factors led to unionization?
  • How does a tsunami form?
  • What events and factors led to women's suffrage?
  • Why did electric cars fail initially?
  • How do animals become extinct?
  • Why are some tornadoes more destructive than others?
  • What factors led to the end of feudalism?
  • What led to the " Martian Panic " in the 1930s?
  • How did medicine change in the 19th century?
  • How does gene therapy work?
  • What factors can lead to famine?
  • What factors led to the rise of democratic governments in the 18th century?
  • How did baseball become a national pastime in the United States?
  • What was the impact of Jim Crow laws on Black citizens in the United States?
  • What factors led to the growth of imperialism?
  • Why did the Salem witch trials take place?
  • How did Adolf Hitler come to power?
  • What can cause damage to your credit?
  • How did the conservationism start?
  • How did World War I start?
  • How do germs spread and cause illness?
  • How do people lose weight?
  • How does road salt prevent accidents?
  • What makes some tires grip better than others?
  • What makes a computer run slowly?
  • How does a car work?
  • How has the news industry changed over time?
  • What created Beatlemania ?
  • How did organized crime develop?
  • What caused the obesity epidemic?
  • How did grammar rules develop in the English language?
  • Where do political parties come from?
  • How did the Civil Rights movement begin?
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130 Causal Analysis Essay Topics

Students given a writing task in which they must explore the “Why” of a particular event, pattern, or action must complete what is known as a causal analysis essay.

These essays might explain reasons for particular decisions, identify underlying causes of current issues or events, or explain how specific actions played into future consequences.

Writers study their subjects and uncover facts and details before writing the piece, but they do not analyze all facts at once; instead, they use relevant examples that build on subtle connections to lead the reader to a larger conclusive argument, point, or perspective.

Is Writing a Causal Analysis Essay Hard?

While not as technical as other forms of essay writing, causal analysis essays still have challenges that students can find challenging to navigate.

One of the biggest problems with causal analysis essays is that students get lost in their own thoughts and fail to clearly connect them to their subject matter, losing sight of what they are trying to prove or say.

For example, suppose a writer is trying to explain why poverty exists in certain areas. In that case, they should not jump to conclusions about the causes of poverty unless they have clearly shown how those conclusions are related to the data they have provided.

In addition, writers often try so hard to prove a point or support a theory that their writing drones on monotonously and loses the readers’ interest.

Even with excellent writing skills and a pen full of inspiration, it is easy to get lost in thought when explaining complex causal relationships in writing. This is especially true if a student is already distracted by other obligations related to home, school, work, or other extra-curricular activities.

How to Write a Causal Analysis Essay?

Writing a causal analysis essay starts with a student’s ability to ask relevant questions about a situation and think critically.

In order to have a strong writing piece, they must be able to identify evidence in their subject matter that can support specific points they wish to make.

When explaining the “why” of a particular event or action, students should avoid making conclusions until they have exhausted the evidence to support their statements.

Having an organized study plan can make it easier for writers to gather information before moving on to the next stages of writing the paper.

When it comes to writing a causal analysis essay, its best to create an outline that details each section of the paper as follows:

Clearly state the topic of your paper, and provide a brief explanation as to why it is relevant to you.

Introduction

The introduction of a causal analysis essay should start with an opening statement that draws the reader’s attention.

After the statement, introduce your main points and provide evidence that will be used to support your argument.

Once you have set up the introductory details, you’ll need to end your introduction paragraph with a thesis statement that provides insight into the essay’s main argument.

Pro Tip: Don’t simply verbalize what the essay is about. Because of the nature of a causal analysis essay, it is essential to craft a thesis statement that hints at the argument you will make but does not give away all of your evidence.

The body of a causal analysis essay should be organized in a way that allows the reader to follow your line of thinking easily.

Each paragraph in the body should focus on one piece of evidence that supports your main point.

In order to avoid overwhelming the reader, it is best to break down complex evidence into digestible chunks.

The conclusion of a causal analysis essay should summarize your main points and leave the reader with a lasting impression.

In this section, you also want to restate your thesis statement and connect it to your conclusion.

A strong causal analysis essay contains clear and precise writing with a very specific focus.

By following the outline above, students can easily organize their thoughts into a more concrete understanding of what they are trying to say.

Helpful Hints When Writing a Causal Analysis Essay

When writing about complex subjects like poverty, it is easy for writers to get carried away with their own opinions and assumptions.

In order to avoid this, writers need to remain objective and impartial when gathering information for their essays.

In addition, it is also helpful for writers to use scholarly sources that provide expert insights into the subject matter at hand.

Lastly, always remember to double-check your work.

Even the best writers can get caught up in the nitty-gritty details and miss something obvious. So take a step back, re-read the essay to look for spelling and grammar errors, and if you’re still not satisfied, then give it another once over before you hand it to your instructor.

With the helpful writing tools above, students can combine their own personal insights with academic research to produce a well-written causal analysis essay.

Are you struggling to come up with an idea for a topic? No problem! These 130 causal analysis essay topics are sure to help students brainstorm their next paper.

Environment & Animal Life Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • Why are there signs in national parks that tell visitors not to feed wild animals?
  • What factors contribute to deforestation?
  • Who has the greater impact on climate change: humans or animals?
  • How can we establish environmental policies that positively impact the future of plant and animal life?
  • Why are there endangered species?
  • What can humans do to help save endangered animals?
  • How should people respond to global warming as it relates to animal conservation?
  • What can be done to protect wildlife from human interference?
  • Why do some animals migrate and others don’t?
  • What are the effects of climate change on animal behavior?
  • How does overpopulation impact the environment and animal life?
  • How do human interactions with animals affect their populations?
  • What is the impact of pollution on animal life?
  • How do ecological reserves benefit animals?
  • How does deforestation impact animals?
  • What can be done to protect animal habitats?
  • What is the best way for humans to protect their environment?
  • Why are invasive species a threat?
  • What solutions exist to help reduce global warming?
  • How do zoos contribute to conservation efforts?
  • How is it morally wrong to keep animals in captivity?

History Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • How does history repeat itself?
  • What factors contribute to war?
  • How does propaganda influence the actions of people?
  • What are the consequences of genocide?
  • What is the difference between a revolution and a civil war?
  • How do social norms affect history?
  • What is the role of women in history?
  • How does culture influence the actions of people?
  • How has technology changed warfare?
  • What is the difference between postmodernism and globalization?
  • What events led to World War 1?
  • How did World War 1 affect the world economy?
  • How does history repeat itself in terms of war tactics and technology?
  • Why do some countries have a higher propensity for violence?
  • How does history affect race relations in the U.S.?
  • How did British Colonialism change the culture of India?
  • How does imperialism still impact societies in modern times?
  • Why do some countries seek self-determination?
  • How does religion affect history?
  • How did the Cold War change international relations in Africa?
  • What is the difference between military technology and industrial technology in modern warfare?

Social Science & Human Behavior Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • Why do people lie?
  • What motivates people to commit crimes?
  • What are the effects of bullying on victims?
  • How does social media affect the development of teenagers?
  • What causes teenage pregnancies?
  • How does poverty affect human behavior?
  • How does mental illness manifest itself in humans?
  • What is the difference between addiction and compulsion?
  • What are the benefits of being an introvert?
  • How do humans deceive themselves?
  • What are the effects of self-esteem on human behavior?
  • Why is sociopathy stigmatized in modern-day culture?
  • Why is femininity in males seen as a weakness?
  • How can masculinity in females be a positive thing?
  • Is the idea of gender just a myth?
  • What causes people to conform to societal norms?
  • How do humans create their own reality?
  • What contributes to better emotional intelligence?
  • Why are physical features and traits more favored than intellectual ones?

Political Science Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • Why are some political systems more effective than others?
  • How are democracy and totalitarianism different?
  • What is the purpose of creating policies?
  • What are the benefits of federalism?
  • Why are some forms of government efficient while others are not?
  • Does poverty cause terrorism, or do terrorists prey on impoverished populations?
  • Do some societies lack a sense of political efficacy?
  • What are the consequences of a dictatorship?
  • How does globalization impact politics?
  • Why are men’s approaches to politics considered more valid?
  • Are there any benefits to living in a communist society?
  • Why is anarcho-capitalism becoming more prevalent?
  • What is the best way to ensure peace in society?
  • What is the impact of war on society?
  • Are there any solutions to ending world hunger?
  • How does human nature affect politics?
  • Why do people choose to migrate to other countries?
  • Why are refugees and asylum seekers stigmatized?
  • How do international laws fail to meet the needs of human rights victims?

IT Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • Why are many current technologies ineffective?
  • How does technology influence modern-day businesses?
  • What are the limitations of new technologies?
  • How do computers affect human interactions in modern-day society?
  • Are some technologies unethical?
  • Is artificial intelligence a threat to global stability?
  • What security concerns surround robotics?
  • How does globalization affect technology?
  • Why are some people more resistant to change than others?
  • What is the future of technology?
  • How will new technologies be developed in the future?
  • What ethical concerns surround modern-day technology?
  • What impact will technology have on the environment?
  • Are there any disadvantages to living in a technologically-advanced society?

Medical Science Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • What are the long-term effects of pharmaceutical drugs?
  • How do viruses mutate and become resistant to drugs?
  • What is the difference between a virus and a bacteria?
  • How does pollution affect human health?
  • What are the benefits of using plant-based medicine?
  • What is the best way to ensure proper medical care for all people?
  • How does industrialization destroy the environment and impact human health?
  • Why are some diseases stigmatized?
  • What is the most effective treatment for depression and anxiety disorders?
  • Do psychiatric medications cause more problems than they solve?
  • Do industrial chemicals contribute to the development of cancer?
  • Why are side effects acceptable in medical treatments?
  • Are there any natural therapies that can cure diseases?
  • Is there a link between vaccines and autism?
  • What is the cause of chronic illnesses?
  • How does stress affect human health?

Economics & Business Causal Analysis Essay Topics

  • How does monetary policy influence domestic and international economies?
  • What are the benefits of capitalism versus socialism versus anarchism?
  • How is the Eurozone similar to or different from NAFTA?
  • Is there a relationship between economic status and work ethic among humans?
  • Why are some people more willing to take risks than others?
  • What impact does unemployment have on society?
  • What are the causes of poverty among humans?
  • Why is capitalism still considered ethical?
  • Why is the relationship between ethics and economics important?
  • Does economic status limit possibilities for success in modern-day society?
  • How does economic policy impact human behavior?
  • How will the rise of artificial intelligence impact the economy?
  • Are there any solutions to world poverty?
  • Will global warming cause an economic recession?
  • What is the most effective way to manage a business?
  • How do human emotions affect financial decisions?
  • Is there a correlation between economics and happiness?
  • Why are some people more successful in business than others?
  • What is the future of the economy?
  • How do economic systems perpetuate inequality?

With these essay prompts in hand, you should now feel confident starting your own causal analysis essay. Remember always to stay focused on the topic and be sure to use evidence to support your claims. Good luck!

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How to master the art of writing a successful cause and effect essay that captivates your readers and earns you top grades.

How to write cause and effect essay

Are you intrigued by the interconnected nature of events and phenomena? Do you aspire to unravel the hidden threads that link causes to effects? Crafting a cause and outcome essay provides an excellent platform to explore and dissect these connections, allowing you to showcase your analytical skills and express your ideas with precision and clarity.

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve deep into the art of writing cause and outcome essays, equipping you with effective strategies, invaluable tips, and real-life examples that will help you master the craft. Whether you are a seasoned writer looking to enhance your skills or a beginner eager to embark on a new writing journey, this guide has got you covered.

Throughout this journey, we will navigate the intricate realm of cause and outcome relationships, examining how actions, events, and circumstances influence one another. We will explore the essential elements of a cause and outcome essay, honing in on the importance of a strong thesis statement, logical organization, and compelling evidence. By the end of this guide, you will possess the necessary tools to produce a captivating cause and outcome essay that engages your readers and leaves a lasting impact.

Tips for Writing a Cause and Effect Essay

When composing a paper that focuses on exploring the connections between actions and their consequences, there are several essential tips that can help you write a compelling cause and effect essay. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your essay is well-structured, clear, and effectively communicates your ideas.

Before diving into writing, take the time to carefully analyze and identify the causes and effects you want to discuss in your essay. Clearly define the relationship between the actions and consequences you plan to explore, ensuring that they are relevant and significant.
Structure your essay in a logical and coherent manner. Begin with an engaging introduction that introduces the topic and presents your thesis statement. Then, organize your body paragraphs in a way that allows for a clear progression of ideas and supports your thesis. Finally, conclude your essay by summarizing your main points and reinforcing the relationships between causes and effects.
When explaining the causes and effects, strive to provide clear and concise explanations. Use specific examples, data, or evidence to support your claims and illustrate the connections between actions and consequences. Avoid vague or ambiguous language that can confuse your readers.
Use transitional words and phrases to ensure a smooth flow of ideas and improve the readability of your essay. Words and phrases such as “because,” “as a result,” “therefore,” and “consequently” can help signal the cause and effect relationships in your writing.
After completing the initial draft of your essay, take the time to thoroughly proofread and edit your work. Look out for any grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors, and make sure your writing is clear and concise. Remove any irrelevant or repetitive information that may distract your readers.

By following these tips, you can enhance your ability to write a compelling cause and effect essay. Remember to analyze the causes and effects carefully, organize your ideas effectively, provide clear explanations, use transitional words, and proofread your essay to ensure a polished final piece of writing.

Understand the Purpose and Structure

One of the most important aspects of writing a cause and effect essay is understanding its purpose and structure. By understanding these key elements, you can effectively communicate the relationship between causes and effects, and present your argument in a clear and organized manner.

In a cause and effect essay, the purpose is to analyze the causes of a specific event or phenomenon and explain the effects that result from those causes. This type of essay is often used to explore the connections between different factors and to demonstrate how one event leads to another.

To structure your cause and effect essay, consider using a chronological or sequential order. Start by introducing the topic and providing some background information on the causes you will discuss. Then, present your thesis statement, which should clearly state your main argument or claim.

In the body paragraphs, discuss each cause or group of causes in a separate paragraph. Provide detailed explanations, examples, and evidence to support your claims. Make sure to use transitional words and phrases to guide the reader through your essay and to show the logical progression of causes and effects.

Finally, in the conclusion, summarize your main points and restate your thesis, reinforcing your overall argument. You can also discuss the broader implications of your analysis and suggest possible solutions or further research.

By understanding the purpose and structure of a cause and effect essay, you can effectively convey your ideas and arguments to your readers. This will help them follow your reasoning and see the connections between causes and effects, leading to a more convincing and impactful essay.

Choose a Topic

When embarking on the journey of writing a cause and effect essay, one of the first steps is to choose an engaging and relevant topic. The topic sets the foundation for the entire essay, determining the direction and scope of the content.

To select an effective topic, it is important to consider your interests, as well as the interests of your intended audience. Think about subjects that captivate you and inspire curiosity. Consider current events, personal experiences, or areas of study that pique your interest. By choosing a topic that you are genuinely passionate about, you will be more motivated to conduct thorough research and present compelling arguments.

Additionally, it is essential to select a topic that is relevant and meaningful. Identify an issue or phenomenon that has a clear cause-and-effect relationship, allowing you to explore the connections and consequences in depth. Look for topics that are timely and impactful, as this will ensure that your essay resonates with readers and addresses significant issues in society.

Moreover, a well-chosen topic should have enough depth and breadth to support a comprehensive analysis. Avoid selecting topics that are too broad or shallow, as this can make it challenging to delve into the causes and effects in a meaningful way. Narrow down your focus to a specific aspect or aspect of a broader topic to ensure that you have enough material to explore and analyze.

In conclusion, choosing a topic for your cause and effect essay is a critical step that will shape the entire writing process. By selecting a topic that aligns with your interests, is relevant and meaningful, and has enough depth and breadth, you will lay the foundation for a compelling and informative essay.

Conduct Thorough Research

Before diving into writing a cause and effect essay, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive research on the topic of your choice. This research phase will provide you with the necessary background information and context to develop a strong and well-supported essay.

During the research process, explore various sources such as books, academic journals, reputable websites, and credible news articles. Utilize synonyms for “research” like “investigate” or “explore” to keep your writing engaging and varied.

Avoid relying solely on a single source or biased information. Instead, strive to gather a variety of perspectives and data points that will enhance the credibility and validity of your essay.

Take notes as you research, highlighting key points, statistics, and quotes that you may want to include in your essay. Organize your findings in a clear and structured manner, making it easier to refer back to them as you begin writing.

Incorporating well-researched evidence and supporting examples into your cause and effect essay will lend credibility to your arguments, making them more persuasive and convincing. By conducting thorough research, you will be able to present a well-rounded and informed analysis of the topic you are writing about.

Create an Outline

Create an Outline

One of the crucial steps in writing any type of essay, including cause and effect essays, is creating an outline. An outline helps to organize your thoughts and ideas before you start writing, ensuring that your essay has a clear and logical structure. In this section, we will discuss the importance of creating an outline and provide some tips on how to create an effective outline for your cause and effect essay.

When creating an outline, it is important to start with a clear understanding of the purpose and main points of your essay. Begin by identifying the main cause or event that you will be discussing, as well as its effects or consequences. This will serve as the foundation for your outline, allowing you to structure your essay in a logical and coherent manner.

Once you have identified the main cause and effects, it is time to organize your ideas into a clear and logical order. One effective way to do this is by using a table. Create a table with two columns, one for the cause and one for the effect. Then, list the main causes and effects in each column, using bullet points or short phrases. This will help you see the connections between the different causes and effects, making it easier to write your essay.

In addition to listing the main causes and effects, it is also important to include supporting details and examples in your outline. These can help to strengthen your argument and provide evidence for your claims. Include specific examples, facts, and statistics that support each cause and effect, and organize them under the relevant point in your outline.

Lastly, make sure to review and revise your outline before you start writing your essay. Check for any gaps in your logic or missing information, and make any necessary adjustments. Your outline should serve as a roadmap for your essay, guiding you through the writing process and ensuring that your essay is well-structured and coherent.

In conclusion, creating an outline is an essential step in writing a cause and effect essay. It helps to organize your thoughts and ideas, ensuring that your essay has a clear and logical structure. By identifying the main cause and effects, organizing your ideas into a table, including supporting details and examples, and reviewing your outline, you can create an effective outline that will guide you through the writing process.

Develop the Body Paragraphs

Once you have identified the main causes and effects of the topic you are writing about, it is time to develop your body paragraphs. In these paragraphs, you will present specific evidence and examples to support your claims. The body of your essay should be well-structured and focused, with each paragraph addressing a single cause or effect.

Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that clearly states the main point you will be discussing. Then, provide detailed explanations and evidence to support your argument. This can include statistics, research findings, expert opinions, or personal anecdotes. Remember to use clear and concise language to convey your ideas effectively.

In order to make your writing more coherent, you can use transition words and phrases to connect your ideas and create a logical flow between paragraphs. Words like “because”, “as a result”, “therefore”, and “consequently” can be used to show cause and effect relationships.

Additionally, it is important to use paragraph unity, which means that each paragraph should focus on a single cause or effect. Avoid including unrelated information or discussing multiple causes/effects in a single paragraph, as this can confuse the reader and weaken your argument.

Furthermore, consider using examples and evidence to enhance the clarity and persuasiveness of your arguments. Concrete examples and real-life scenarios can help illustrate the cause and effect relationship and make your writing more engaging to the reader.

  • Use accurate data and precise details to back up your claims
  • Include relevant research and studies to support your arguments
  • Provide real-life examples and cases that demonstrate the cause and effect relationship

In conclusion, developing the body paragraphs of your cause and effect essay is crucial in presenting a well-structured and persuasive argument. By using topic sentences, clear explanations, transition words, and relevant evidence, you can effectively convey your ideas and convince the reader of the cause and effect relationship you are discussing.

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Cause And Effect Essay Guide

Cause And Effect Essay Examples

Caleb S.

Best Cause and Effect Essay Examples To Get Inspiration + Simple Tips

cause and effect essay examples

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How To Write A Cause and Effect Essay - Outline & Examples

230+ Cause and Effect Essay Topics to Boost Your Academic Writing

How to Create a Cause and Effect Outline - An Easy Guide

You need to write a cause and effect essay for your assignment. Well, where should you start?

Establishing a relationship between causes and effects is no simple task. You need to ensure logical connections between variables with credible evidence.

However, don't get overwhelmed by the sound of it. You can start by reading some great cause and effect essay examples. 

In this blog, you can read cause and effect essays to get inspiration and learn how to write them. With these resources, you'll be able to start writing an awesome cause and effect paper.

Let’s dive in!

Arrow Down

  • 1. What is a Cause and Effect Essay?
  • 2. Cause and Effect Essay Examples for Students
  • 3. Free Cause and Effect Essay Samples
  • 4. Cause and Effect Essay Topics
  • 5. Tips For Writing a Good Cause and Effect Essay

What is a Cause and Effect Essay?

A cause and effect essay explores why things happen (causes) and what happens as a result (effects). This type of essay aims to uncover the connections between events, actions, or phenomena. It helps readers understand the reasons behind certain outcomes.

In a cause and effect essay, you typically:

  • Identify the Cause: Explain the event or action that initiates a chain of events. This is the "cause."
  • Discuss the Effect: Describe the consequences or outcomes resulting from the cause.
  • Analyze the Relationship: Clarify how the cause leads to the effect, showing the cause-and-effect link.

Cause and effect essays are common in various academic disciplines. For instance, studies in sciences, history, and the social sciences rely on essential cause and effect questions. For instance, "what are the effects of climate change?", or "what are the causes of poverty?"

Now that you know what a cause and effect is, let’s read some examples.

Cause and Effect Essay Examples for Students

Here is an example of a well-written cause and effect essay on social media. Let’s analyze it in parts to learn why it is good and how you can write an effective essay yourself. 

Do you know that the average person now spends over two hours a day on social media platforms? Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. Whether it's Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, these platforms have revolutionized the way we connect, communicate, and share our experiences with the world. However, while they offer many advantages, the excessive use of social media can have detrimental effects on our mental health. In this essay, we will explore the causes and effects of this relationship, shedding light on the profound influence social media has on our well-being.

The essay begins with a compelling hook that grabs the reader's attention. It presents a brief overview of the topic clearly and concisely. The introduction covers the issue and ends with a strong thesis statement , stating the essay's main argument – that excessive use of social media can negatively impact mental health.

The rise of social media has led to an unprecedented increase in screen time. According to recent statistics, the average person spends over two hours per day on social media platforms. This surge is largely due to the addictive nature of these platforms, which are designed to keep us engaged. Endless scrolling, constant notifications, and the desire for likes and comments contribute to a compulsive need to check social media. This excessive use of social media is the first point to examine.

The first body paragraph sets the stage by discussing the first cause - excessive social media use. It provides data and statistics to support the claim, which makes the argument more compelling. The analysis highlights the addictive nature of social media and its impact on users. This clear and evidence-based explanation prepares the reader for the cause-and-effect relationship to be discussed.

As social media usage has surged, so too has the number of people reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression. Studies have shown a significant correlation between the time spent on social media and the likelihood of experiencing these mental health issues. Constant exposure to carefully curated, idealized representations of others' lives can lead to unfavorable social comparisons. We start to measure our worth by the number of likes and followers we have, and we often fall short, which leads to anxiety and depression.

The second body paragraph effectively explores the effect of excessive social media use, which is increased anxiety and depression. It provides a clear cause-and-effect relationship, with studies backing the claims. The paragraph is well-structured and uses relatable examples, making the argument more persuasive. 

A second cause of the negative impact of social media on mental health is the phenomenon of social comparison. When we scroll through our feeds and see our friends and acquaintances posting photos of their exotic vacations, happy relationships, and personal achievements, we can't help but compare our own lives. The fear of missing out (FOMO) is a real and growing concern in today's digital age. We are constantly bombarded with images and stories that make us feel like we are missing out on the excitement and fulfillment that others seem to be experiencing.

The third body paragraph effectively introduces the second cause, which is social comparison and FOMO. It explains the concept clearly and provides relatable examples. It points out the relevance of this cause in the context of social media's impact on mental health, preparing the reader for the subsequent effect to be discussed.

Social comparison and FOMO have tangible effects on our mental health. People who engage in these comparisons often feel isolated and alone. The constant exposure to others' seemingly perfect lives can lead to a sense of inadequacy and decreased self-esteem. We start to question our own choices and accomplishments, believing that we are falling short in comparison to our peers.

The fourth body paragraph effectively explores the second effect of social comparison and FOMO, which is isolation and decreased self-esteem. It provides real-world consequences and uses relatable examples. 

In conclusion, the impact of social media on our mental health is undeniable. The excessive use of social media leads to increased anxiety, depression, and feelings of inadequacy, while the fear of missing out amplifies these negative emotions. It's crucial to acknowledge these challenges and their effect on our well-being. As we navigate this ever-evolving digital landscape, finding a healthier balance in the digital age becomes essential. We must consider limiting our social media use, curating our online experiences, and promoting digital detox. By taking these steps, we can protect our mental health and ensure that the benefits of social media are enjoyed without the accompanying harm.

The conclusion effectively summarizes the key points discussed in the essay. It restates the thesis statement and offers practical solutions, demonstrating a well-rounded understanding of the topic. The analysis emphasizes the significance of the conclusion in leaving the reader with a call to action or reflection on the essay's central theme.

This essay follows this clear cause and effect essay structure to convey the message effectively:

Read our cause and effect essay outline blog to learn more about how to structure your cause and effect essay effectively.

Free Cause and Effect Essay Samples

The analysis of the essay above is a good start to understanding how the paragraphs in a cause and effect essay are structured. You can read and analyze more examples below to improve your understanding.

Cause and Effect Essay Elementary School

Cause and Effect Essay For College Students

Short Cause and Effect Essay Sample

Cause and Effect Essay Example for High School

Cause And Effect Essay IELTS

Bullying Cause and Effect Essay Example

Cause and Effect Essay Smoking

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Wondering which topic to write your essay on? Here is a list of cause and effect essay topic ideas to help you out.

  • The Effects of Social Media on Real Social Networks
  • The Causes And Effects of Cyberbullying
  • The Causes And Effects of Global Warming
  • The Causes And Effects of WW2
  • The Causes And Effects of Racism
  • The Causes And Effects of Homelessness
  • The Causes and Effects of Parental Divorce on Children.
  • The Causes and Effects of Drug Addiction
  • The Impact of Technology on Education
  • The Causes and Consequences of Income Inequality

Need more topics? Check out our list of 150+ cause and effect essay topics to get more interesting ideas.

Tips For Writing a Good Cause and Effect Essay

Reading and following the examples above can help you write a good essay. However, you can make your essay even better by following these tips.

  • Choose a Clear and Manageable Topic: Select a topic that you can explore thoroughly within the essay's word limit. A narrowly defined topic will make it easier to establish cause-and-effect relationships.
  • Research and Gather Evidence: Gather relevant data, statistics, examples, and expert opinions to support your arguments. Strong evidence enhances the credibility of your essay.
  • Outline Your Essay: Create a structured outline that outlines the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. This will provide a clear roadmap for your essay and help you present causes and effects clearly and coherently.
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cause and effect essay guide

  • Open access
  • Published: 21 June 2024

Genetically evaluating the causal role of peripheral immune cells in colorectal cancer: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

  • Runze Huang 1 , 2   na1 ,
  • Xin Jin 1 , 2   na1 ,
  • Ziting Jiang 1 , 2 ,
  • Yixiu Wang 1 , 2 ,
  • Yibin Wu 1 , 2 ,
  • Lu Wang 1 , 2 &
  • Weiping Zhu 1 , 2  

BMC Cancer volume  24 , Article number:  753 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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Investigating novel therapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer (CRC) is imperative. However, there is limited research on the use of drugs to target peripheral blood immune cells in this context. To address this gap, we performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to identify potential therapeutic targets for CRC.

We applied two-sample MR to identify the causal relationship between peripheral blood immune cells and CRC. GWAS data were obtained from the IEU OPEN GWAS project. Based on the implications from the MR results, we conducted a comprehensive database search and genetic analysis to explore potential underlying mechanisms. We predicted miRNAs for each gene and employed extensive research for potential therapeutic applications.

We have identified causal associations between two peripheral immune cells and colorectal cancer. Activated & resting Treg %CD4 + cell was positively associated with the risks of CRC, while DN (CD4-CD8-) %leukocyte cell exhibited a protective role in tumor progression. NEK7 (NIMA related kinase 7) and LHX9 (LIM homeobox 9) expressed in Treg cells were positively associated with CRC risks and may play a vital role in carcinogenesis.

Conclusions

This study identified causal relationship between peripheral immune cell and CRC. Treg and DN T cells were implicated to own promoting and inhibiting effects on CRC progression respectively. NEK7 and LHX9 in Treg cells were identified as potential biotarget for antitumor therapies.

Peer Review reports

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most prevalent solid tumors in the digestive system, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands of individuals each year. Despite the promising results shown in many recent studies on CRC treatment, curing this common and highly prevalent cancer remains a formidable challenge. Nevertheless, an increasing body of evidence indicates that the identification of mutated genes through molecular profiling and subsequent targeted therapies represent a highly promising avenue in the field. By targeting cancer cells or immune cells within tumor tissues, this precision strategy is demonstrating potent therapeutic efficacy and significant advantages. However, the significance and therapeutic potential of this approach are not limited solely to immune cells within the tissue. Many studies have indicated that immune cells present in the circulating blood also hold significant importance, serving as promising sources of potential biomarkers [ 1 ] and playing a role in influencing therapeutic outcomes [ 2 ] and various other aspects. In the realm of colorectal cancer therapy, this tendency continues to rise unabated [ 3 , 4 ].

T regulatory (Treg) cells, an indispensable component of the normal immune system involved in maintaining immune homeostasis, play a pivotal role in preventing autoimmune diseases. However, they are often found to be associated with a poor clinical prognosis in cancer patients, and can also be accumulated to impairing anti-tumor immunity and even directly promoting tumor progression in certain types of cancer [ 5 , 6 ]. Previous studies have observed a high abundance of Treg cells in the peripheral blood in patient with gastrointestinal tumors [ 7 ], leading to significantly stronger immune suppressive activity [ 8 ]. As a cell population characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity, novel molecular signatures, and distinct functional attributes [ 9 ], peripheral Treg cells may represent a significant source of the Treg cells within tumor tissues. Meanwhile, impeding this recruitment could inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells [ 10 ]. Additionally, circulating Treg cells are closely linked with more malignant histopathological conditions [ 11 , 12 ] and elevated tumor markers [ 13 ], suggesting that they may exhibit pro-tumorigenic tendencies and functions in certain contexts. Therefore, it is essential to explore whether circulating Treg cells also possess a causal relationship with CRC and to identify potential mechanism and available therapeutic targets.

Similar to Treg cells, CD3 + CD4-CD8- double negative (DN) T cells constitute another crucial subgroup within T cells, playing an essential role in immune homeostasis. Although they are rarely found in the peripheral blood, in vitro and preclinical studies have confirmed their robust capacity to prevent tumorigenesis [ 14 ] and demonstrate cytotoxicity against cancer cells [ 15 ]. Studies have observed a reduction in the levels of circulating DN cells in cancer patients, which is closely correlated with tumor burden [ 16 ]. This trend is also significantly present in CRC, suggesting that it may play an important role [ 17 ]. However, studies on the causal relationship between peripheral DN cells and CRC are few and far between, with more research focused on their therapeutic applications, as well as on other tumors or non-tumor diseases. In this context, it is essential to investigate whether there is a causal relationship between these two subtypes of T cells in the peripheral circulation and colorectal cancer. If key targets within these cells can be treated with drugs, it would also be of great significance.

Mendelian randomization (MR) is a statistical technique that relies on the principles of Mendelian independent distribution law. By utilizing genetic variants as instrumental variables, MR strengthens causal inference in relation to specific exposures. One of the key advantages of MR is its reduced susceptibility to confounding biases, as genetic variants are randomly assigned at conception, minimizing associations with environmental and self-adopted factors. Previous investigations have revealed significant correlations between Treg cells, DN cells and colorectal cancer [ 17 , 18 ]. Moreover, a recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) has identified more than 700 immune cell traits in human peripheral blood. This groundbreaking discovery presents great opportunities to delve into the intricate realms of peripheral immunity and its implications in diverse pathological contexts [ 19 ]. To broaden our understanding in the field of CRC treatment, we perform a two-sample MR analysis on colorectal cancer to explore potential therapeutic strategy in the medication industry.

Materials and methods

Study design and ethics permit.

The overall study design is presented in Fig.  1 . The study was based on publicly available data from large-scale genome-wide association study on immune cell and colorectal cancer. Included studies had been approved by corresponding ethical review committees.

figure 1

Study design. NEK7, NIMA related kinase 7; LHX9, LIM homeobox 9; GWAS, genome-wide association study

Immune cell data sources

Immune traits statistics of Treg cells and DN cells were extracted from a large-scale genome-wide association study [ 19 ], which are publicly available from the GWAS Catalog ( https://www.ebi.ac.uk/gwas/ ). After filtering for the cell of interest, 91 traits were saved for further study, including absolute cell (AC) counts ( n  = 17), median fluorescence intensities (MFI) counts ( n  = 40) and relative cell (RC) counts ( n  = 34). These traits include Treg, Maturation stages of T cell and TBNK panel and relevant information are presented in Supplementary Table S2. It is worth noting that we only included Treg cells as defined by conventional criteria, thereby excluding other cell populations that may exhibit high expression of CD25 or other characteristics but are not classified as Treg cells. Furthermore, the dataset does not include double-negative B cells, hence a more detailed analysis of this subtype was not included. The original study was based on a population cohort of 3,757 Sardinians that tests approximately 20 million SNPs in 731 immunophenotypes genotyped with high-density arrays or specific sequence-based reference panel.

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data sources for CRC

We extracted genome-wide association study(GWAS) summary data for CRC from two different study on the UK Biobank [ 20 , 21 ] and a cross-population analysis [ 22 ] through the IEU Open GWAS project ( https://gwas.mrcieu.ac.uk/ ). Detailed information was documented in Supplementary Table S1. The UK Biobank is a population-based multicenter cohort study consisting of approximately 500,000 participants between ages 40 and 70. One study performed GWAS for pan-cancer and site-specific cancers identified by linkage to the UK CancerRegistry (updated to April 2019). After association statistics, a total number of 377,673 European individuals (Ncase = 5,657, Ncontrol = 372,016) were involved. Another UKB study introduced a novel and efficient machine-learning method named REGENIE and demonstrated the accuracy on 407,746 individuals (case–control ratio = 1:97). The cross-population summary data published in 2021 were performed on 470,002 European (Ncase = 6,581, Ncontrol = 463,421) and 167,691 East Asian (Ncase = 8,305, Ncontrol = 159,386) individuals with approximately 24 million variants detected.

Mendelian randomization analysis

Mendelian randomization is an epidemiological approach that employs genetic variants as instrumental variables to infer causality between exposures and outcomes. This method relies on the principle that alleles are randomly assorted during gamete formation, mirroring a randomized trial's structure. It assumes that the genetic variants are associated with the exposure of interest, affect the outcome only through the exposure, and are not confounded by other factors. We performed two-sample MR analysis to capture the causal association between immune cells and colorectal cancer based on TwoSampleMR R package (github.com/MRCIEU/TwoSampleMR, version 0.5.7). MR analyses were conducted on each dataset acquired for CRC, and the results were recorded in Supplementary Table S3 ~ S6. We employed inverse variance weighting (IVW) as the primary approach and supplemented with other robust tests, including MR-Egger, weighted median and weighted mode methods, which rely on different assumptions than IVW. To avoid the effect of horizontal pleiotropy, MR-egger, leave-one-out and MR-PRESSO were adopted while Cochran’s Q statistic and p values were used to test the heterogeneity of all eligible instrumental variables (IVs). After excluding all SNPs with potential pleiotropy indicated by MR-PRESSO, we conducted a comprehensive analysis to ensure that the results were not influenced by pleiotropy. In accordance with recent studies, a significance level of 1 × 10^-5 was applied to the instrumental variables for each immune trait, along with a stringent clumping threshold (linkage disequilibrium [LD] r^2 threshold < 0.001 within 10,000 kb distance). For CRC, the selected SNPs were required to have a significance level below 5 × 10^-8. We employed Steiger's test and calculated the F-statistics to ensure all SNPs possess strong efficacy. Additionally, we utilized forest plots and scatter plots to assess and visualize the correlation of SNPs (Supplementary Figure S1-S2).

SNP mapping and analysis

We employed several database to obtain relevant information for candidate SNPs, including the Functional Mapping and Annotation (FUMA) [ 23 ] and GWAS Catalog. By incorporating a multitude of biological resources and integrating associated data, FUMA enhances the richness and significance of results for GWAS studies. We conducted our analysis using the default settings of FUMA's SNP2GENE module, such as employing the 1000 Genomes Project Phase 3 reference panel for LD calculations with a threshold of 250 kb for LD blocks.

The GWAS Catalog contains a vast array of data from genome-wide association studies, including the localization information for many SNPs. The functionality of these SNPs has been thoroughly validated by other research, lending them greater credibility. Therefore, we retained the genes identified by both FUMA and the GWAS Catalog for subsequent analysis.

We also conducted an extensive document retrieval on the identified gene to verify and explore a potential role in tumorigenesis. Peripheral blood gene expression data from CRC patients and healthy individuals were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/ ), and relevant information were documented in Supplementary Table S1. We also utilized GEO2R for differential gene expression analysis and performed visualization in R.

xCell is a robust gene signature method that has capability to identify up to 64 immune and stromal cell types in humans across various data sources. The correlation between immune cell types and gene expression levels was confirmed by combining xCell analysis with gene expression profiles, and the results were visualized in figures. xCell [ 24 ] analysis was conducted using the xCell R package (v1.2.0), and all relevant R code is publicly available on GitHub.

miRNA targeting

The miRNet platform is a comprehensive network visualization tool that integrates 14 different databases, including TarBase, miRTarBase, miRecords, miRanda, miR2Disease, HMDD, PhenomiR, SM2miR, PharmacomiR, EpimiR, starBase, TransmiR, ADmiRE, and TAM 2.0. We use the miRNet database ( https://www.mirnet.ca/ ) to identify corresponding miRNAs in peripheral blood and visualized the result in a circular chart. To assess their clinical relevance and expression in blood, we referred to the OncomiR [ 25 ] and dbDEMC database [ 26 ]. In the OncomiR database, we set the significance threshold at 0.05 for each section. The analysis was performed on both the tumor stage & grade part and the expression part, including data from both COAD and READ. In the dbDEMC database, the focus was on examining the miRNA expression profile in blood. To be considered qualified, the miRNAs had to meet specific criteria, including experimental validation of their close functional relationship with target genes, high expression levels in peripheral blood, and association with at least one clinical trait.

Drug discovery

We conducted an extensive search across a range of prestigious databases, including the Connectivity Map, DrugBank, MedChemExpress (MCE), depmap, GeneCards, PharmGKB, the Drug-Gene Interaction database (DGIdb), The Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), the ChEMBL, and the PatSnap database. Additionally, we utilized the SM2miR database to obtain comprehensive drug information specifically related to the identified miRNAs. To further explore the draggability, we analyzed the interactions between commonly used clinical drugs and their target genes at the protein level. This investigation was carried out using the highly regarded STRING database ( https://cn.string-db.org/ ). All potential effective small molecules were documented and classified, with their names, details and regulatory approval status up to date.

Association between immunophenotypes and colorectal cancer

We extracted GWAS data related to Treg cells and DN cells traits from previous research, encompassing a total of 91 immune phenotypes. Following the two-sample MR analysis on three different outcome data, there are 9, 6, 6 cell types in cohort A, B, C that show significant correlation with CRC ( p  < 0.05). We initially conducted a preliminary screening of these cells for consistency check, excluding cells that did not show significant association across all of these cohorts. The results indicated that both Activated & resting CD4 regulatory T cell %CD4 T cell (Treg panel) and DN (CD4-CD8-) T cell % leukocyte (TBNK panel) demonstrated significant causal associations with colorectal cancer across various research cohorts. Based on the IVW method, Activated & resting Treg %CD4 + cells show a positive correlation with risk of colorectal cancer, while DN (CD4-CD8-) %leukocyte cells is suggested to have a protective effect against CRC ( Table  1 ) . The Steiger test and the outcomes of other four approaches further corroborate the conclusion stated above, and the F statistics of all variants were all > 10. Collectively, these results suggest that certain subtypes of Treg cells and DN cells do possess functional aspects that either promote or inhibit tumor development, but the specific underlying factors remain unclear.

To gain a deeper understanding of the potential influences of these cells, it is essential to conduct additional studies on gene level using instrumental variants. Thus, we identified a set of primary candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that showing significant associations ( p  < 0.05) with the outcome. Similarly, there are 4, 2, 8 SNPs presences significancy in the mentioned group respectively. To ensure the robustness and consistency of the results, we conducted the second screening to identify variants with enhanced efficacy. In Activated & resting Treg %CD4 + cells, rs17583875 exhibits strong causal relationship across cohorts while no shared SNP was found in DN (CD4-CD8-) %leukocyte (Fig.  2 ). We additionally utilized the Wald ratio method to analyze the selected SNP, and observed that the odds ratio value exhibited a consonant trend with its cell type. Overall, rs17583875 Activated & resting CD4 regulatory T cell %CD4 T cell and DN (CD4-CD8-) T cell % leukocyte have been confirmed as qualified factors. Additionally, for a clearer and more comprehensive presentation of the MR results, we also utilized visual analysis tools, such as scatter plots and forest plots (Supplementary Figure S1- S2).

figure 2

Manhattan plots for associations of SNPs within identified immune cells with colorectal cancer in MR analysis. a  Associations of SNPs within identified Treg cells and DN T cells subgroup with CRC in UKB A group (Burrows’s). b  Associations of SNPs within identified Treg cells and DN T cells subgroup with CRC in UKB B group (Mbatchou J’s). c  Associations of SNPs within identified Treg cells and DN T cells subgroup with CRC in meta-c group (Sakaue S ’s). P value for significant threshold is set at a level of 0.05 (two-sample MR analysis). Labelled SNP shows close association across all sample sets. Results are plotted by chromosome position

We also employed several methods for sensitivity analysis. After removing the outlier SNP identified by MR-PRESSO, the comprehensive analysis revealed no significant presence of pleiotropy or heterogeneity that would impact the overall results.

SNP mapping and gene validation

As mentioned above, we have identified certain immune cells and innate SNPs as potential therapeutic targets, but the specific mechanism behind requires further investigation. Currently, it is widely accepted that single nucleotide polymorphisms are extensively involved in gene expression and modification through various mechanisms, exerting significant impacts on diverse physiological and pathological processes. To identify the regulated gene(s), we employed FUMA and GWAS Catalog to retrieve the target(s) most closely associated with SNPs. Totally, FUMA identified five potential regulated genes, including C1orf53, CRB1, DENND1B, LHX9 and NEK7. Meanwhile, information obtained from the GWAS catalog indicates the association with NIMA related kinase 7 (NEK7) and LIM homeobox 9 (LHX9) as a regulatory region variant (Fig.  3 ), reported by various studies before [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Collectively, this evidence suggests that rs17583875 may potentially play a role in colorectal cancer by regulating the expression of NEK7 and LHX9. To explore the plausibility of these gene as carcinogenic factors, we conducted an extensive literature retrieval and found several studies providing evidence supported the association between NEK7 and LHX9 with tumor initiation and progression.

figure 3

Mapped genes by FUMA and GWAS Catalog. Genes within the purple circle represent annotations derived from FUMA, while those within the light pink circle correspond to annotation information obtained from GWAS Catalog

Specifically, NEK7 has been suggested to be involved in cell cycle regulation as a member of NIMA-related kinases (NEK) family, and promoting tumor cell proliferation in cancer through relevant mechanisms. Elevated expression of NEK7 has also been observed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) [ 30 ]and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [ 31 ]. Downregulation of NEK7 has been shown to suppress pancreatic cancer liver metastasis and HCC progression [ 32 ]. In addition, LHX9 is demonstrated to orchestrate the reprogramming of glycolytic metabolism in gastric cancer [ 33 ] and glioma [ 34 ], while simultaneously exerting a pivotal influence on the intricate regulation of cell differentiation in neural cells [ 35 ].

These findings demonstrate the important roles of NEK7 and LHX9 in driving tumor initiation and progression, and they are highly likely to be involved in the occurrence and progression of CRC as well. However, our current study is limited to the identification of these genes as potential effectors in immune cells, yet their presence and regulatory relationships with corresponding cell types remain uncertain. To address this gap, we then obtained one peripheral blood gene expression profile from the GEO database, including samples from CRC patients and healthy individuals. We then conducted a gene differential expression analysis and the results confirmed a significant increase in NEK7 expression and a decrease in LXH9 among CRC patients ( Fig.  4 ). To investigate the expression correlation, we proceeded with xCell analysis on three additional datasets and integrated with corresponding gene expression profiles.

figure 4

Volcano plot of differential analysis for GSE164191. Blue dots indicate genes with decreased expression levels, while red dots represent those with increased expression. Data compare healthy individuals to colorectal cancer patients

Collectively, the result shows a positive correlation between transcriptional activity and Activated & resting Treg & CD4 + cells for NEK7, while a negative correlation is observed for LHX9 (Fig.  5 ), demonstrating a close functional association within them. This regulatory relationship is highly significant in CRC patients, and exhibits the same direction of regulation. By integrating the MR results, it can be inferred that the gene expression of NEK7 and LHX9 in Activated & resting Treg & CD4 + cell plays a crucial role in carcinogenesis and immune dysfunction. In conclusion, the analysis presented in this study supports our hypothesis regarding the involvement of peripheral Treg and DN cell functioning, specifically through gene regulation, in the progression of colorectal cancer.

figure 5

Correlation analysis graph of gene expression levels with Treg cells, derived from xCell analysis. Expression data are sourced from colorectal cancer patients within each dataset

miRNA predicting

MicroRNAs (miRNA) contribute significantly to gene expression and silencing, while also participating in various aspects of cancer progression and diverse biological processes. At present, an increasing number of investigations are focusing their attention on the realm of miRNA-mediated cancer therapy, highlighting it as an exceptionally promising avenue for therapeutic advancement. To explore the druggability from this crucial perspective, we use the miRNet platform to identify miRNAs that interact with selected genes. The miRNet integrates 14 miRNA databases, encompassing over 380,000 miRNA-gene interactions of human. Giving that aforementioned analysis was based on circulating immune cells, the target miRNAs were specified in peripheral blood. To validate their presence and clinical relevance, we further employed the dbDEMC and OncomiR database to investigate their expression status in blood, as well as their biological associations from two distinct perspectives, including tumor stage and grade and survival outcome. The results retrieve a total of 11 miRNAs, with 11 for NEK7 and one for LHX9 (Supplementary Figure S3). Among those, has-mir-155-5p is associated with both LHX9 and NEK7. Data from dbDEMC indicates that almost all of these miRNAs show increased expression levels in the peripheral blood of colorectal cancer patients. However, out of the 11 miRNAs, four do not show any significant relevance to clinical parameters, suggesting a lack of convincing evidence. Other molecules are associated with at least one tumor pathological stage, and has-mir-21-5p is also significantly related to the survival of rectal adenocarcinoma patients with upregulated expression (Supplementary Table S7). In general, out of the 11 confirmed miRNAs, a total of seven miRNAs shows comparatively reliable associations with NEK7 and LHX9, while the remaining lack current support.

Druggability of identified genes

To evaluate the draggability of selected genes, we searched several authoritative drug and molecule databases for current medicines targeting them. We also explored the interaction between genes and the targets of currently clinically used drugs for treating CRC using the STRING database. Previous study has shown that NEK9 has an activating effect on NEK7 [ 36 ], so molecules interacting with NEK9 may also have an impact on NEK7. Additionally, since NEK6 shares a high degree of similarity (87%) with NEK7 [ 37 ], we also documented relevant information about NEK6 as a more comprehensive supplement.

In total, 20 drugs and 11 bioactive molecules with updated information were documented ( Supplementary Table S8-S9 ) . Drugs targeting NEK7 exhibit the highest abundance, while LHX9 only attracts one substance named otenzepad, an acetylcholine receptor antagonist designed to treat cardiovascular diseases, which surprisingly shows effectiveness for NEK7 as well. Most of them are currently undergoing investigation and experimentation, with only three having received approval as either nutrition supplements (Magnesium, Manganese) or hematological system drug (Fostamatinib) for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Five drugs and two molecules targeting NEK6 and NEK7 have already exhibited anti-tumor effects in investigations or clinical trials. Regarding miRNAs, currently available data only indicates four bioactive substances with the ability to regulate the miRNAs of NEK7, of which three have been authorized by the FDA, and the other one is a neurotoxin used to modeling Parkinson’s disease. These targeted miRNAs are all considered more reliable. However, no pertinent information on LHX9 was captured in this aspect, warranting further investigation and exploration. Due to the complexity of miRNA regulatory mechanisms, we did not further explore relevant information regarding NEK6 and NEK9 in this aspect. Moreover, the STRING database indicates that there’s no protein level interaction between commonly used drugs and identified genes.

We conducted a Two-sample MR to explore the causal relationship between circulating Treg and DN cells and CRC, providing relevant clues for the development of new treatment strategies. The results revealed a significant causal relationship between two immunocyte subtypes and colorectal cancer. Among them, Treg cells have potential tumor-promoting effects, and DN cells exhibit anti-tumor effects. Following the selection and utilization of genetic variants as analytical tools, we explored and demonstrated the underlying mechanisms of this association. Evidence suggesting that the expression of NEK7 and LHX9 may be potential reasons for the inverse correlation between Treg cells and CRC risks, whereas the factors for the anti-tumor effects of DN cells remains uncertain. We also attempted to identify the corresponding miRNAs for the aforementioned genes and conducted relevant analyses. Totally, 20 drugs and 11 molecules were identified to have potential effects in treating colorectal cancer through these immune cells.

The development and progression of colorectal cancer involves a variety of molecules and mechanisms, with immune cells playing a pivotal role. Treg cells have been identified as promising therapeutic targets for CRC, and DN T cells are also garnering increasing attention. In this study, we discovered a robust causal effect of circulating Treg and DN T cells on colorectal cancer through Mendelian randomization analysis.

To further explore potential biological mechanisms and clinical efficacy, multiple databases were utilized for in-depth analysis. Among all the Mendelian randomization results, only the SNP rs17583875 in the Treg cell group was significantly associated with the outcome in all three cohorts, demonstrating strong consistency. This suggests that, compared to other genetic factors, this SNP plays a more powerful and robust role in the pro-tumorigenic effects of peripheral Treg cells. Therefore, we retained only this genetic variant for subsequent in-depth analysis.

However, this does not deny the roles and importance of other genetic factors identified by MR in immune cells, and thus additional related studies are still necessary.

After integrating the analysis results from FUMA and the GWAS Catalog, NEK7 and LHX9 are considered to be the mediatory platforms involved in biological activities, participating in the pro-tumorigenic biological behavior of activated & resting CD4 regulatory T cell %CD4 T cells. FUMA provides potential genetic associations, while the GWAS Catalog compiles previous research, further enhancing the credibility of the associations.

To explore the therapeutic value of these genetic factors, we further conducted analyses on gene expression and the association with immune cells.

The results showed that NEK7 is significantly upregulated in CRC patients and exhibits a significant positive correlation with the expression of Treg cells. On one hand, this biologically substantiates the potential importance of NEK7 in colorectal cancer; on the other hand, it also suggests that Treg cells and NEK7 may influence each other—modulating Treg cells or NEK7 could have a significant impact on the role the other plays in tumor progression. This could potentially promote tumor development or exert an inhibitory effect.

Treg cells are well-known for their potent immunosuppressive effects, and this have established their intricate connection with cancer development: their abundant infiltration is significantly associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients [ 38 ], while the depletion of Treg cells can effectively counteract tumor progression [ 39 ]. Historically, most studies have primarily focused on the function of Treg cells within tumor and normal tissues, while comparatively fewer investigations have been conducted on the role of these cells in the peripheral blood. However, one study suggests that Treg cells in breast cancer may predominantly originate from the peripheral blood rather than conventional T cells, indicating their potential impact. Currently, numerous ongoing studies are dedicated to the depletion of Treg cells for anti-tumor purposes, while the identification of key targets that inhibit anti-tumor immune responses may potentially facilitate more effective and convenient advancements in cancer treatment research. Furthermore, apart from being used as a standalone treatment or in combination with other drugs for anti-tumor therapy, this targeted approach towards Treg cells can also serve as an adjunct to Treg cell-related cell therapy, enhancing treatment efficacy and preventing drug resistance. However, further extensive research is needed to analyze and validate the specific effects and certain molecular markers expressed by this particular subtype of Treg cells. NEK7, a member of NIMA (Never In Mitosis A)-related kinase family, has been reported to play a role in cell cycle regulation. It is also involved not only in normal cell proliferation but also in tumorigenesis and metastasis [ 30 , 31 ]. One previous study shows a significantly increased expression level of NEK7 in colorectal cancer [ 40 ], and our study further proved the causal relationship between NEK7 and CRC. Mechanistically, NEK7 gene is involved in the formation of the mitotic spindle, and its depletion leads to fragile spindle formation, undoubtedly increasing genomic instability [ 41 ]. In this study, NEK7 presents significant association with immune cell mentioned above. However, similar to previous studies, we observed a significant increase in the expression of NEK7 in the peripheral blood of CRC patients, suggesting the functioning of other relevant mechanisms. Equally intriguing, a wealth of research indicates that NEK7 is also a major interacting partner of NLRP3, which has activation effects in both inflammasome activation and cell pyroptosis [ 42 , 43 ]. NLRP3 can also be activated when mitochondrial dysfunction occurs [ 44 ]. However, there is currently a lack of research directly linking Treg cells with NEK7 for analysis. Given the crucial role of NLRP3 in the pathogenesis of IBD and the fact that intestinal inflammation is a major risk factor for CRC, with NLRP3 being a key inflammatory mediator directly involved in the pathological process of CRC [ 45 ]; in addition, as mentioned earlier, there are several close associations between NEK7 and the activation of NLRP3, along with our research on the causal relationship between NEK7 and CRC, it is therefore necessary to investigate the physiological and pathological role of NEK7 within circulating Treg cells in colorectal cancer.

However, these genetics-based studies only suggest the potential for molecular interactions, and there is still a gap to bridge before confirming their actual functional roles. We hope that our research can provide meaningful perspectives and insights for the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, paving the way for further investigation into its molecular mechanisms.

Therefore, to further explore these potential associations and aid in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer, extensive basic experiments and functional validations are required to ascertain the precise regulatory relationships between them.

Targeted drug therapies aimed at tumor cells or associated immune cells represent one of the most potent modalities in anti-tumor treatments, demonstrating remarkable efficacy in numerous cancers [ 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ].Additionally, therapies related to miRNAs, which are closely associated with cell proliferation, differentiation, oncogenesis, and even the type and malignancy of tumors, are gradually coming into focus and hold broad application prospects [ 51 , 52 ].Some molecular mimics or antagonists targeting miRNAs for cancer treatment have entered Phase I and Phase II clinical trial stages [ 53 ].Some studies have also found that circulating miRNAs play a significant role, not only possessing anti-tumor efficacy but also serving as a means for early screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of patient response to treatment [ 54 ]. Therefore, it is necessary to further explore the possibility of targeting genes through drugs and miRNA molecules.

However, it is important to note that our current research is limited to genetic association studies, and explorations and reports on related drugs should be more indicative in nature.

Having identified genes that may interact with pathogenic genetic factors, our initial hypothesis was that drugs could target the downstream transcriptional products of these genes, thereby exerting a series of beneficial effects. However, this approach is somewhat simplistic, and its efficacy and feasibility remain to be explored. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct further experiments and clinical studies to elucidate their potential value.

As previously mentioned, due to structural similarity or activating effects, we have included both NEK6 and NEK9 in our analysis. Across all drug databases, we identified a total of 20 different drugs, with 6, 16, and 5 targeting NEK6, NEK7, and NEK9, respectively. In terms of small molecule drugs, we found 1, 2, and 4 targeted substances for each, respectively.

Among all identified drugs, a noteworthy point is that among all documented drugs, Licochalcone B is capable of specifically inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome by interfering NEK7-NLRP3 interaction [ 55 ], making it a clearer candidate.

In terms of miRNA, we predicted three NEK7-related miRNA molecules and documented the associated drugs. We found that these miRNA molecules have been confirmed by research to be associated with CRC. Among them, mir-126-3p is associated with the gender of colorectal cancer patients [ 56 ] and the treatment toxicity of Regorafenib [ 57 ]. Mir-181a-5p can promote the transformation of fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts that are pro-angiogenic through the miR-181a-5p/RECK axis [ 58 ], and it can facilitate the metastasis of CRC to the liver via extracellular vesicles [ 59 ]. Mir-19b-3p can act as a biomarker to differentiate between healthy individuals and CRC patients, holding potential for the early diagnosis of CRC [ 60 ].

However, for various reasons, these studies have not linked miRNAs with their associated gene NEK7. Additionally, we have documented some small molecules targeting these miRNAs. By reporting which drugs and small molecules have the potential to regulate NEK7 and related genes within Treg cells, we aim to contribute to advancing the treatment of colorectal cancer. Through these analyses, we also hope to provide more valuable and meaningful references for drug therapies related to Treg and NEK7.

Compared to NEK7, investigations on LHX9 are relatively limited. Existing studies postulate its role in regulating glycolytic metabolism to get involved in the development of cancer, whereas the expression level is inconsistent in different tumors [ 34 ]. Mechanically speaking, in glioma, LHX9 was found to negatively interact with phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), which dominates in the aerobic glycolysis pathway; while in gastric cancer, it mainly activates pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) to promote tumor progression. Both enzymes are observed to be highly upregulated in various cancers and may have an interactive relationship [ 61 ]. Additionally, studies found that LHX9 is often silenced by hypermethylation in follicular lymphoma [ 62 ] and child glioma [ 63 ]. In summary, LHX9 is of great importance in the regulation of biochemical pathways.

Similar to NEK7, we also attempted to predict miRNAs corresponding to LHX9 and conducted a comprehensive drug search. However, we did not identify any related miRNAs, and only found one potential drug that is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

However, as previously mentioned, all current conclusions are based on further analysis of genetic associations found through Mendelian randomization and summaries of past research, lacking robust evidence such as foundational experiments.

Therefore, we anticipate that additional experiments will substantiate the aforementioned relationships, including the regulatory dynamics between Treg cells and NEK7, as well as the interactions between pharmaceuticals, miRNA molecules, and NEK6, NEK7, and NEK9.

Double negative T cells, belonging to a rare group of mature T cells in the peripheral blood, express either TCRαβ or TCRγδ while lacking both CD4 and CD8 molecules. Depending on the specific environment, DN cells can exhibits different functions: as T helper (TH) cells, DN cells can secrete cytokines like interleukin(IL)-17 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) that may conduce to their protective effects against non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [ 14 ] and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) [ 64 ]; as cytotoxic T lymphocytes, they also possesses anti-tumor functions in leukemia [ 65 ] and lung cancer [ 15 ]. Our findings also indicate that DN cells may play a beneficial role in combating colorectal cancer. This implies that investigating the use of DN cells for anti-tumor therapy is justified and warrants further exploration. At the molecular level, however, it is frustrating that the specific genetic variants within identified DN (CD4-CD8-) T cell % leukocyte haven’t been confirmed. This indicates that additional research is still required to delve into the underlying mechanisms behind the profound anti-tumor effects exerted by DN cells. Overall, these immune cells and related genes play a significant role in various aspects of tumor biological activity. Investigating and exploring the impact of the immune system from the perspective of circulating immune cells, as well as conducting research on related biomarkers and therapeutic possibilities, is highly meaningful. As previously mentioned, this not only has the potential to empower pharmacological anti-tumor treatments but also holds promise in assisting with promising robust therapies such as CAR-Treg and adoptive immunotherapy, thereby advancing the development of anti-tumor clinical treatments and improving patient survival rates.

Due to ethnic differences, Treg and DNT cells may play roles that are not entirely identical in CRC patients from different regions. For instance, there may be lineage-specific variations in molecular expression levels and drug resistance. Concurrently, although many studies have demonstrated that these two types of immune cells generally exert a potent immunosuppressive effect, there are numerous factors that influence gene expression. The association between NEK7, LHX9, and Treg cells may be subject to a wide range of influences, thereby affecting their roles and status. Therefore, whether the conclusions of this study are applicable to other ethnic groups, such as Asians, requires further research and validation.

One notable strength of this study is the implementation of randomly assigned genetic variations to estimate the causal effects of immune cells on colorectal cancer. The Mendelian randomization analysis, along with Steiger’s test, effectively addresses confounding and reverse causality biases, thereby enhancing the credibility of the results. Furthermore, the utilization of large-scale data in MR and relevant association analyses enhances our ability to detect causal associations. Another significant advantage is the investigation in peripheral immune cell and the exploration of treatable targets in both drug and small molecule domains, which expands our horizons in cancer treatment. This approach opens up new possibilities for developing therapeutic interventions in the field of cancer research.

Some limitations in our study worth noting. Despite implementing sensitivity tests and corrections, completely eliminating potential horizontal pleiotropy remains challenging. However, employment of large-scale data may help mitigate the impact of pleiotropy. Additionally, our study only included a subset of immune cell types, limiting the comprehensive analysis of the causal relationship between other circulating immune cells and CRC, and potentially missing other effective traits. Simultaneously, our research and conclusions are currently limited to association studies based on genetics, and await further substantiation through additional experimentation. Moreover, our analysis includes only the European population; whether these findings are applicable to other populations remains to be explored. Finally, there is currently limited research on these specific genes within immune cells, leaving uncertainty regarding their potential as effective therapeutic interventions and the stage of gene expression at which intervention can be implemented.

In summary, this study has revealed many associations between peripheral blood immune cells and colorectal cancer through the integration of genetic and other methods. Following a thorough analysis and retrieval, it has been determined that NEK7 and LHX9 within Activated & resting Treg %CD4 + cell, along with DN (CD4-CD8-) %leukocyte, hold promising potential as therapeutic targets for drug treatment of colorectal cancer. Further research and validation are required to explore how targeting specific cells can effectively modulate the expression of target genes, thereby preventing and treating tumor.

Availability of data and materials

GWAS data used in this study can be downloaded from GWAS Catalog ( https://www.ebi.ac.uk/gwas/ ). Gene expression data for healthy individuals and colorectal cancer patients were downloaded from the GEO database ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/ ).

Abbreviations

  • Colorectal cancer

Double negative

Functional mapping and annotation

Gene expression omnibus

Genome wide association study

Inverse-variance weighted

Linkage disequilibrium

LIM homeobox

  • Mendelian randomization

NLR family pyrin domain containing

NIMA related kinase

Phosphoglycerate kinase

Pyruvate kinase M

Single-nucleotide polymorphism

T regulatory

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Acknowledgements

We thank all participants and investigator involved in the genome-wide association study of Orrù V.et al., Burrows K.et al., Mbatchou J.et al., Sakaue S.et al., the IEU Open GWAS database, the GEO database and the UK Biobank study for sharing data. We thank Dvir Aran from Aran Lab for technical assistance and support in xCell analysis.

This work was jointly supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81874056, 81874182), Shanghai Natural Science Foundation Project (22ZR1413300), National Key Research and Development Plan of the Ministry of Science and Technology (2022YFE0125300), the Public Health Bureau Foundation of Shanghai (202240240, 201940043).

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Runze Huang and Xin Jin contributed equally to this work.

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Department of Hepatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People’s Republic of China

Runze Huang, Xin Jin, Ziting Jiang, Yixiu Wang, Yibin Wu, Lu Wang & Weiping Zhu

Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

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HRZ designed the study and performed the statistical analysis; HRZ and JX interpreted the data; HRZ, JX and ZWP drafted the first manuscript; HRZ, JX, WL and ZWP reviewed and made revisions; WYX, WYB, JZT and WL verified all the data used in the study. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Huang, R., Jin, X., Jiang, Z. et al. Genetically evaluating the causal role of peripheral immune cells in colorectal cancer: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study. BMC Cancer 24 , 753 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-12515-z

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The immune factors have complex causal regulation effects on kidney stone disease: a mendelian randomization study

  • Dongfeng Yuan 1 ,
  • Junyi Yang 1 ,
  • Weisong Wu 1 ,
  • Yirixiatijiang Amier 1 ,
  • Xianmiu Li 1 ,
  • Wenlong Wan 1 ,
  • Yisheng Huang 1 ,
  • Jiabo Li 1 &
  • Xiao Yu 1 , 2  

BMC Immunology volume  25 , Article number:  34 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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Previous studies have reported the potential impact of immune cells on kidney stone disease (KSD), but definitive causal relationships have yet to be established. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the potential causal association between immune cells and KSD by Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

In our study, a thorough two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed by us to determine the potential causal relationship between immune cell traits and kidney stone disease. We included a total of four immune traits (median fluorescence intensity (MFI), relative cellular (RC), absolute cellular (AC), and morphological parameters (MP)), which are publicly available data. GWAS summary data related to KSD (9713 cases and 366,693 controls) were obtained from the FinnGen consortium. The primary MR analysis method was Inverse variance weighted. Cochran’s Q test, MR Egger, and MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO) were used to assess the stability of the results.

After FDR correction, the CD8 on HLA DR + CD8br (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.93–0.98, p-value = 7.20 × 10 − 4 , q-value = 0.088) was determined to be distinctly associated with KSD, and we also found other 25 suggestive associations between immune cells and KSD, of which 13 associations were suggested as protective factors and 12 associations were suggested as risk factors. There was no horizontal pleiotropy or significant heterogeneity in our MR analysis, as determined by the p-value results of our Cochrane Q-test, MR Egger’s intercept test, and MR-PRESSO, which were all > 0.05.

Conclusions

Our study has explored the potential causal connection between immune cells and KSD by Mendelian randomization analysis, thus providing some insights for future clinical studies.

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Introduction

Kidney stone disease (KSD) is a common and frequent disease whose incidence is steadily increasing worldwide. It has been found that the prevalence of KSD in the United States is about 10% [ 1 ]. Not only that, the prevalence and recurrence of kidney stones in children are gradually increasing worldwide [ 2 ]. KSD has a high rate of recurrence, with approximately 50% recurrence within 5–10 years [ 3 ]. KSD is prone to a variety of complications, including pain, urinary tract obstruction, infection, and even increases the likelihood of chronic kidney disease, which may ultimately develop into end-stage renal disease [ 4 , 5 ]. However, the risk factors influencing the development of KSD have not been fully investigated. Treatments such as medications and minimally invasive surgery can only remove formed stones and have little effect on reducing recurrence or early prevention of kidney stones. Previous studies have found a correlation between some immune cells and the development of KSD [ 6 ]. Paul R. Dominguez-Gutierrez et al. suggest that by modulating the immune response, immunotherapy may offer a way to prevent stone recurrence in some people [ 7 ]. Immunotherapy essentially enhances cellular immunity, regulates the degree of immune activation, and improves immune cell function, thereby inhibiting the occurrence and development of various diseases [ 8 ]. Personalized neoantigen vaccine is a novel immunotherapeutic approach that uses long synthetic peptides to induce neoantigen-specific T-cell responses in patients. The peptides directly initiate the immune system and have the advantage of simple and rapid production [ 9 ]. It has been shown that peptide vaccines targeting neoantigens can effectively induce T-cell responses [ 10 ]. Then, it is worth considering and exploring whether we can use personalized neoantigen vaccines to modulate the body’s immune cell response to achieve early prevention and treatment of KSD. Therefore, it is particularly significant to explore the role played by immune cells in the formation of kidney stones. However, due to the difficulties of observational studies and the limitations of analyzing the results, evidence of a potential association between immune cells and KSD is not readily available through this method and the results are prone to reverse causation. Thus, the potential causal relationship between immune cells and KSD needs to be explained by more precise research methods. Mendelian randomization (MR) is a genetic epidemiological method that uses genetic variants as instrumental variables (IVs) to assess the causality between risk factors and target diseases [ 11 ]. MR utilizes random assignment of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genetic variants to simulate randomized trials in populations, thus overcoming potential confounders and interferences of reverse causality [ 12 ]. It is very critical that the causal sequence of MR be rational [ 13 , 14 ]. Therefore, we obtained summary statistics from large genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and revealed the causal relationship between immune cells and KSD by a two-sample MR analysis.

Materials and methods

Study design.

Our study followed the STROBE-MR statement used to report MR research [ 15 ]. No additional ethical approvals were required for this study, and the data we used and analyzed were published and publicly available data. An overview of the study design is shown in Fig.  1 .

figure 1

Overview and assumptions of the Mendelian randomization study design. Significant instrumental variables were selected for immune cells and KSD, and the causalities were then explored. Three basic assumptions of MR analysis were illustrated in this graph, namely, relevance (assumption 1), independence (assumption 2), and exclusion restrictions (assumption 3)

Genetic instrument selection

A summary of GWAS statistics for each immune trait is publicly available from the GWAS Catalog (accession numbers from GCST0001391 to GCST0002121) [ 16 ]. We included immunophenotypes that belonged to four different immune traits: absolute cell (AC) count, median fluorescence intensity (MFI), morphologic parameter (MP), and relative cell (RC) count. When categorized by cell panels, they belong to seven different panels, the Treg, TBNK (T cells, B cells, natural killer cells), B cells, monocytes, CDCs, myeloid cells, and mature stages of T cells. Initial immune traits GWAS was obtained from data on 3,757 Europeans and there were no overlapping cohorts. Approximately 22 million SNPs genotyped with high-density arrays were estimated using a reference panel based on Sardinian sequences and tested for correlation after adjusting for covariates [ 17 ].

According to recent research [ 16 , 18 ], we set the significance level of IVs for each immune trait at 1 × 10 − 5 . Meanwhile, all SNPs were clumped according to linkage disequilibrium (LD), defined by r 2 < 0.1 with a clumping window > 500kb [ 19 ]. In this way, we could include more SNPs to ensure the stability of the results. We removed palindromic SNPs as well as SNPs that could not be found in the KSD data.

Data source for kidney stone disease

We obtained research data on kidney stone disease (KSD) from the FinnGen consortium, derived from the ninth release of the FinnGen consortium with 9,713 cases and 366,693 controls of kidney stone disease.

Statistical analysis

We first harmonized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the same allele, and then we performed two-sample MR analyses using inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median. The results primarily relied on the IVW method, with support from the other two methods. The MR-Egger method has the ability to tolerate potential pleiotropy and estimate results conservatively [ 20 ]. The weighted median method is a method that provides reliable estimates of causal effects and has the great advantage of allowing for 50% invalid IVs [ 21 ]. Also, we utilized the Wald ratio method to infer the effect of a single IV on KSD. We grouped the results of the IVW analysis according to the seven different cell panels, performed the false discovery rate (FDR) correction according to the groups, and compared the corrected p-value, also known as q-value, with the threshold we set at 0.1 [ 22 ]. We considered the association between immune cells and KSD to be suggestive if the p-value was < 0.05 but the q-value was ≥ 0.1, and significant if the q-value was < 0.1. We used Cochrane’s Q-test to assess heterogeneity, along with the MR-Egger intercept to assess pleiotropy. To assess whether the results were affected by outlier SNPs, we used leave-one-out analysis, MR-Pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier method (MR-PRESSO) to validate. We excluded results with heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy and retained results with the same direction under the three analyses of IVW, MR-Egger, and weighted median. All analyses were performed with the software packages TwoSampleMR (version 0.5.7) and MR-PRESSO (version 1.0) in R (version 4.3.0), and the correlation heat map was drawn using ChiPlot ( https://www.chiplot.online/ ).

Table 1 lists all the results that reached a suggestive significance (p-value < 0.05) for a total of 26 pairs between immune traits and KSD. When categorizing results based on the cell panels,12 traits belonged to the Treg, 4 from TBNK, 3 classified as monocyte, 1 from Maturation stages of T cell, 2 belonged to cDC, and 4 within B cell were found to be suggestively associated with KSD. We corrected the p-values in the different panels using the FDR method to reduce possible false positive results (Supplementary Table S1 ). After sensitivity analysis and multiple correction analysis (Supplementary Table S2 ), the CD8 on HLA DR + CD8br remained statistically significant (q-value < 0.1). Meanwhile, we categorized immune cells into seven sections according to the panel, grouped complex findings according to the panel, and found multiple suggestive associations between immune cells and KSD.

Treg and KSD

12 pairs between Treg/KSD reached suggestive association (p-value < 0.05) by using IVW MR analysis. RC had the greatest number of suggestive associations than other trait types. CD39 and CD28 were the most commonly expressed molecules in different types of immune traits. And, CD28 on CD39 + CD4 + was the most essential trait compared with other traits in this section (p-value = 3.70 × 10 − 3 ). Furthermore, as shown in the scatter plot (Fig.  2 ), the traits (e.g., CD3 on CD39 + CD4+, CD25 on CD39 + CD4+) were positively associated with KSD (Fig.  2 a–f), while the traits (e.g., CD39 + secreting Treg %CD4 Treg, CD39 + secreting Treg %secreting Treg) were negatively associated with KSD (Fig.  2 g-l).

figure 2

Scatter plot for the relationship between the SNP effect size of causal immune traits (x-axis) and the corresponding effect size estimates of kidney stone disease (KSD) (y-axis). The a ~ l plots all belong to the Treg group panel. (a) CD3 on CD39 + CD4 + on KSD, (b) CD25 on CD39 + CD4 + on KSD, (c) CD28- CD25 + + CD8br AC on KSD, (d) CD28- CD25 + + CD8br %T cell on KSD, (e) CD28 + CD45RA + CD8br %T cell on KSD, (f) CD28 + CD45RA + CD8dim %T cell on KSD, (g) CD39 + secreting Treg %CD4 Treg on KSD, (h) CD39 + secreting Treg %secreting Treg on KSD, (i) CD39 on CD39 + secreting Treg on KSD, (j) CD28 on CD39 + CD4 + on KSD, (k) CD39 + CD4 + AC on KSD, (l) CD25 + + CD8br %CD8br on KSD.

TBNK and KSD

Table  1 shows the suggestive significance of the 4 pairs between the TBNK panel and the KSD (p-value < 0.05). RC and MFI had the largest number of suggestive associations. After FDR correction, the CD8 on HLA DR + CD8br (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.93–0.98, p-value = 7.20 × 10 − 4 , q-value = 0.088) had significant causal effects on KSD estimated from IVW (q-value < 0.1) (Supplementary Table S1 ). Moreover, for the most significant pair, no significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was detected by sensitivity analysis (Supplementary Table S2 ), and the leave-one-out plot showed robust results for the relationship between CD8 on HLA DR + CD8br and KSD (Fig.  3 g). We observed consistent correlation signals using other methods (Fig.  4 ) (Supplementary Table S3 ). As shown in Fig.  3 , negative associations were found between CD8 on HLA DR + CD8br, HLA DR on HLA DR + CD8br, and KSD. On the other hand, the positive associations between CD3- lymphocyte %leukocyte, CD8br NKT %lymphocyte, and KSD were also detected. (Fig.  3 a-d)

figure 3

Scatter plot for the relationship between the SNP effect size of causal immune traits (x-axis) and the corresponding effect size estimates of kidney stone disease (KSD) (y-axis) and leave-one-out plot for the causal relationships between the TBNK group panel and KSD. The a ~ d scatter plots and e ~ h leave-one-out plots all belong to the TBNK group panel. (a) and (e) CD3- lymphocyte %leukocyte on KSD, (b) and (f) CD8br NKT %lymphocyte on KSD, (c) and (g) CD8 on HLA DR + CD8br on KSD, (d) and (h) HLA DR on HLA DR + CD8br on KSD.

figure 4

Circle heatmap of the results of the MR analysis between the 26 immune traits that reached suggestive significance and the risk of KSD. The circle from the outer to the inner represented the weighted median, MR-Egger, and IVW, respectively

B cell, Monocyte, cDC, and KSD

A total of 4 B cell /KSD pairs, 3 Monocyte/KSD, and 2 cDC/KSD were detected at the suggestive level of p-value < 0.05(Table  1 ). Among them, the traits of MFI were particularly prominent, as a high percentage of suggestive significant pairs was detected up to 77.78% (7 MFI pairs vs. 9 total pairs). Meanwhile, 13 of the 26 pairs of results obtained were classified as belonging to MFI based on immune traits, which further suggested that immune cells belonging to MFI may play an important role in the development of KSD. It should be noted that BAFF-R on sw mem, which belongs to the B cell panel, was significantly associated with KSD after correction FDR correction (q-value = 0.099) (Supplementary Table S1 ). However, after the Cochrane Q-test and MR Egger’s intercept test, the results were of heterogeneity and pleiotropy, so we did not include it in the discussion.

Maturation stages of T cell, and KSD

Compared to the 12 pairs of results from Treg and KSD, only 1 pair between the Maturation stages of T cell /KSD reached suggestive association (p-value < 0.05) (Table  1 ). This suggests that Treg may have a more complex role in the progression of KSD compared to the Maturation stages of T cell.

Myeloid cell

Although five immune cell trait types in the Myeloid cell panel showed suggestive correlation with KSD, and one of them, CD33 on CD33dim HLA DR-, remained significantly correlated after FDR correction (Supplementary Table S1 ). Nevertheless, after the Cochrane Q-test and MR Egger’s intercept test, the results were of heterogeneity and pleiotropy, so we excluded the results in the Myeloid cell panel from the discussion.

Sensitive analysis

Cochran’s Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, and MR-PRESSO showed no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy in the 26 pairs of results we retained in the analyses of immune cells and risk of KSD (all p-value > 0.05) (Supplementary Table S2 ). The leave-one-out plot and scatter plot showed that the results were robust.

Despite the important role of the immune system in the formation of KSD, current research remains unclear as to its specific complex role in the progression of KSD. As far as we know, it’s the first time that the potential causal relationship between multiple types of immune cells and KSD has been explored by MR analytical methods. Our study found 12, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1, pairs between 6 panels of immune traits (i.e., Treg, TBNK, B cell, Monocyte, cDC, Maturation stages of T cell) and KSD were detected at the suggestive level of p-value < 0.05, respectively. Among them, the CD8 on HLA DR + CD8br/KSD reached the level of significant correlation (q-value < 0.1).

We found that the risk of KSD decreased as the proportion of the CD8 on HLA DR + CD8br increased. In the TBNK panel, T lymphocytes were split into six subsets based on the expression of the CD4 and CD8 markers: CD4-CD8- (DN), CD4-CD8dim (CD8dim), CD4-CD8bright (CD8br), CD4 + CD8br (DP), CD4 + CD8dim, CD4 + CD8- (CD4+) [ 16 ]. The HLA DR positivity of CD4 + and CD8br T cells and NK cells was considered as an activation marker [ 16 ].

CD8 on HLA DR + CD8br, which can be interpreted as a CD4-CD8bright (CD8br) subset of T lymphocytes in the HLA-DR activated state. CD8 is a heterodimer composed of α and β peptide chains, and its main function is to assist in the process of antigen recognition by immune cells and to participate in the activation of T cells. signals, which can enhance the interaction between T-cells and APCs or target cells [ 23 ]. CD8br cells are limited by their own MHC class I molecules and differentiate into cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) with cytotoxicity after activation, which can specifically kill target cells. Antigens or cytokines activate these cells, and activated cells induce apoptosis through two primary pathways: lytic (cytotoxicity) and non-lytic (cytokine production) mechanisms respectively [ 24 ]. The lysis process mainly utilizes secreted particles containing effector substances, such as granzyme, perforin, etc. These particles are released to act directly on the target cells, thereby killing them. Non-lytic mechanisms mainly refer to the secretion of cytokines such as IFN-γ and TNF-α, which are essential for inflammatory responses [ 25 ]. Meanwhile, CD8 + T cells in infectious diseases have been reported to produce cytokines to act on themselves, thereby enhancing their cytotoxic activity upon activation [ 26 , 27 ].

An association between kidney stone formation and urinary tract infections has been reported in certain patient groups [ 28 , 29 ]. Localized infection in the urinary tract is one of the factors that trigger stone formation, and the stones themselves are foreign bodies that can cause obstruction in the urinary tract, which can exacerbate the degree of infection, and then enter a vicious circle [ 30 ]. Urease-producing bacteria such as Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are invariably associated with the formation and recurrence of struvite calculi [ 31 ]. These bacteria split urea and promote the formation of ammonia and carbon dioxide, leading to renal tubular damage and alkalinization of the urine with subsequent formation of phosphate and struvite calculi [ 31 ]. Also, de Cógáin et al. described secondary infection stones caused by non-urease-producing bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp [ 32 , 33 ]. During the formation of kidney stones, cytotoxic T cells are able to directly kill the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. They do this by releasing cytotoxins, such as granzymes and perforins, which disrupt the cell membranes of the pathogens, thereby triggering the death of the bacteria. This direct killing effect can effectively control and clear the infection, preventing it from spreading further and leading to the deterioration of kidney stones. Using immunoinformatics and structural vaccinology, Suar et al. designed multi-epitope peptide vaccines against Klebsiella pneumoniae [ 34 ], Enterococcus faecalis [ 35 ], Staphylococcus aureus [ 36 , 37 ], and Acinetobacter baumannii [ 38 , 39 ] with highly immunogenic cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes and high binding affinities for most human leukocyte antigen (HLA). This offers feasibility and credibility for our future utilization of vaccines to modulate immune responses, such as T-cell activation, to target bacteria during kidney stone formation and thereby prevent KSD.

In the early stages of kidney stone formation, the primary role of CD8 + T cells is to activate and direct the involvement of other immune cells in the immune response. They are able to secrete a range of cytokines, such as IFN-γ, and TNF-α, to promote an inflammatory response. Cytokines are a class of proteins that regulate the function of immune cells and participate in inflammatory responses and cell proliferation [ 40 ], and they play an important role in kidney stone formation [ 6 ]. TNF-α, upon stone stimulation of renal tubular epithelial cells, leads to aggregation of immune cells and induces an inflammatory response [ 6 ], thereby further damaging renal tissue. CD8 + T cells are also able to interact with other types of immune cells, such as macrophages and B-cells, to regulate the extent and direction of the immune response through the mediation of cytokines [ 41 ]. This immunomodulatory effect can limit excessive inflammatory responses, reduce kidney stone damage to kidney tissue, and aid in stone expulsion and removal. These findings are consistent with those of Noble et al. They found that CD8 + T cells can secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines with inhibitory activity, such as IL-10 [ 42 ]. Anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-10) inhibit the inflammatory response, while it has been suggested that exogenous IL-10 treatment can reverse oxalate-mediated outcomes in vitro [ 43 , 44 ]. Meanwhile, IL-10 was identified as a urinary tract inflammation-associated factor that can accurately differentiate between control individuals and patients with urinary tract stones [ 45 ]. Equally important, IL-10 has been reported to be essential for the induction of M2 macrophage polarization [ 46 ]. M2 anti-inflammatory macrophages have been found to phagocytose and degrade CaOx kidney stone fragments [ 47 ]. Because the M2 phenotype is more able to phagocytose crystals than the M1 phenotype [ 48 ], regulating the direction of their polarization may have therapeutic value [ 49 ]. Taguchi, K et al. found that M1Mϕ infusion and LPS and IFN-γ induction promoted renal crystal formation, whereas M2Mϕ infusion and IL-4 and IL-13 induction inhibited renal crystal formation [ 48 ]. Zhu et al. also modulated macrophage CSF-1 expression by inhibiting androgen receptor, thereby reducing crystal deposition in the kidney by altering macrophage recruitment/M2 polarization [ 50 ]. These experimental pieces of evidence provide us with the possibility of utilizing the cytokines secreted by CD8 + T cells to regulate the polarization of macrophages for the treatment of kidney stones. The combination of effective molecular adjuvants can cause massive expansion of antigen-specific CD8 T cells and show previously unseen efficacy in vaccine and tumor models [ 51 ], so whether we can utilize them for the treatment of KSD deserves to be explored further in the future.

Our findings may suggest that immune cells have a complex role in the pathogenesis and progression of KSD. These new findings may contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of immune cells in KSD and provide new potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and monitoring of KSD. Meanwhile, these findings also raise the question of what role these immune cells could play in KSD prevention and treatment. Currently, the recurrence rate of KSD after surgery remains high due to individual differences and environmental factors [ 52 ], and the damage to the kidney from repeated surgeries can easily lead to life-threatening renal failure. In addition, there is a lack of effective drugs for the treatment of kidney stones. Then immunotherapy based on the results of our findings may provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of kidney stones. The application of immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by harnessing the body’s immune system to work against cancer and significantly improve patient prognosis [ 53 ]. Based on our findings and what has been discussed above, we propose the following hypothesis for the application of immunotherapy against KSD: firstly, we can design a multiple-epitope peptide vaccine that induces a CD8 + T-cell immune response to directly kill bacteria in infected kidney stones. Secondly, the infusion of exogenous cytokines can be utilized to promote the polarization of M2 macrophages and reduce renal crystal deposition. Finally, combined vaccine molecular adjuvants can be designed to induce the expansion of CD8 + T cells. Then exploring the specific relationship between the interactions of these immune cells so as to accurately regulate the immune microenvironment of the renal mesenchyme and thus intervene in kidney stone formation by utilizing immunotherapeutic methods will be the focus of future research.

This study was the result of a two-sample MR analysis based on published results from a large genomic cohort study and was therefore statistically valid. The findings of this study were derived from causal inference utilizing various MR analysis methods with genetic instruments as variables. These results are reliable, robust, and not confounded by horizontal pleiotropy and other factors. However, there are still some limiting parts of our study. First, even though we performed multiple sensitivity analyses, we were unable to fully assess the horizontal pleiotropy effect. Second, the data in this study comes from the European population, so it is worth considering whether the results can be generalized to other races, which limits the generalizability of the application of the results. Third, the lack of individual-specific information prevented us from further stratifying the population. Finally, in order to be able to more fully explore the relationship between immune cells and kidney stones, we used a more relaxed threshold to assess the results, but this may have increased some false positives.

In conclusion, we fully utilized the bidirectional MR analysis to investigate the potential relationship between immune cells and KSD, giving a little insight to researchers exploring the complex interactions between the immune system and KSD. And based on the results of the study, we propose hypotheses for future applications and future priorities that still need to be explored further. Moreover, our study reduces the potential for reverse causality as well as multiple unavoidable confounding factors in research, which may offer a novel approach for scientific researchers to continue exploring the Immunological mechanisms of KSD.

Data availability

The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article/Supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Abbreviations

kidney stone disease

median fluorescence intensity

relative cellular

absolute cellular

morphological parameters

genome-wide association studies

instrumental variable

inverse variance weighted

  • Mendelian randomization

MR-Pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier method

single nucleotide polymorphism

cytotoxic T cells

Interleukin-10

Interleukin-4

Interleukin-13

Interferon-gamma

Lipopolysaccharides

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Acknowledgements

we are grateful to all the investigators and participants in a longitudinal study (SardiNIA project) for SardiNIA dataset and their contribution to those studies. Genetic association estimates for kidney stone disease were obtained from the FinnGen consortium (www.finngen.fi/en). We thank all investigators for sharing these data.

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81974092).

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Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China

Dongfeng Yuan, Junyi Yang, Weisong Wu, Yirixiatijiang Amier, Xianmiu Li, Wenlong Wan, Yisheng Huang, Jiabo Li & Xiao Yu

Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Liberalization Ave, No. 1095, Wuhan, 430030, China

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Contributions

D.F. Yuan and J.Y. Yang prepared and drafted the manuscript. X. Yu obtained funding for the study and provided critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. W.S. Wu, Y. Amier, X.M. Li, and W.L. Wan assisted in obtaining data for the review article and revised the manuscript. Y.S. Huang and J.B. Li, confirmed the authenticity of all the raw data. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Xiao Yu .

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Associations between deep venous thrombosis and thyroid diseases: a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

  • Lifeng Zhang 1   na1 ,
  • Kaibei Li 2   na1 ,
  • Qifan Yang 1 ,
  • Yao Lin 1 ,
  • Caijuan Geng 1 ,
  • Wei Huang 1 &
  • Wei Zeng 1  

European Journal of Medical Research volume  29 , Article number:  327 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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Some previous observational studies have linked deep venous thrombosis (DVT) to thyroid diseases; however, the findings were contradictory. This study aimed to investigate whether some common thyroid diseases can cause DVT using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

This two-sample MR study used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified by the FinnGen genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to be highly associated with some common thyroid diseases, including autoimmune hyperthyroidism (962 cases and 172,976 controls), subacute thyroiditis (418 cases and 187,684 controls), hypothyroidism (26,342 cases and 59,827 controls), and malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland (989 cases and 217,803 controls. These SNPs were used as instruments. Outcome datasets for the GWAS on DVT (6,767 cases and 330,392 controls) were selected from the UK Biobank data, which was obtained from the Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) open GWAS project. The inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger and weighted median methods were used to estimate the causal association between DVT and thyroid diseases. The Cochran’s Q test was used to quantify the heterogeneity of the instrumental variables (IVs). MR Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier test (MR-PRESSO) was used to detect horizontal pleiotropy. When the causal relationship was significant, bidirectional MR analysis was performed to determine any reverse causal relationships between exposures and outcomes.

This MR study illustrated that autoimmune hyperthyroidism slightly increased the risk of DVT according to the IVW [odds ratio (OR) = 1.0009; p  = 0.024] and weighted median methods [OR = 1.001; p  = 0.028]. According to Cochran’s Q test, there was no evidence of heterogeneity in IVs. Additionally, MR-PRESSO did not detect horizontal pleiotropy ( p  = 0.972). However, no association was observed between other thyroid diseases and DVT using the IVW, weighted median, and MR-Egger regression methods.

Conclusions

This study revealed that autoimmune hyperthyroidism may cause DVT; however, more evidence and larger sample sizes are required to draw more precise conclusions.

Introduction

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a common type of disease that occurs in 1–2 individuals per 1000 each year [ 1 ]. In the post-COVID-19 era, DVT showed a higher incidence rate [ 2 ]. Among hospitalized patients, the incidence rate of this disease was as high as 2.7% [ 3 ], increasing the risk of adverse events during hospitalization. According to the Registro Informatizado Enfermedad Tromboembolica (RIETE) registry, which included data from ~ 100,000 patients from 26 countries, the 30-day mortality rate was 2.6% for distal DVT and 3.3% for proximal DVT [ 4 ]. Other studies have shown that the one-year mortality rate of DVT is 19.6% [ 5 ]. DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE), collectively referred to as venous thromboembolism (VTE), constitute a major global burden of disease [ 6 ].

Thyroid diseases are common in the real world. Previous studies have focused on the relationship between DVT and thyroid diseases, including thyroid dysfunction and thyroid cancer. Some case reports [ 7 , 8 , 9 ] have demonstrated that hyperthyroidism is often associated with DVT and indicates a worse prognosis [ 10 ]. The relationship between thyroid tumors and venous thrombosis has troubled researchers for many years. In 1989, the first case of papillary thyroid carcinoma presenting with axillary vein thrombosis as the initial symptom was reported [ 11 ]. In 1995, researchers began to notice the relationship between thyroid tumors and hypercoagulability [ 12 ], laying the foundation for subsequent extensive research. However, the aforementioned observational studies had limitations, such as small sample sizes, selection bias, reverse causality, and confounding factors, which may have led to unreliable conclusions [ 13 ].

Previous studies have explored the relationship of thyroid disease and DVT and revealed that high levels of thyroid hormones may increase the risk of DVT. Hyperthyroidism promotes a procoagulant and hypofibrinolytic state by affecting the von Willebrand factor, factors VIII, IV, and X, fibrinogen, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [ 14 , 15 ]. At the molecular level, researchers believe that thyroid hormones affect coagulation levels through an important nuclear thyroid hormone receptor (TR), TRβ [ 16 ], and participate in pathological coagulation through endothelial dysfunction. Thyroid hormones may have non-genetic effects on the behavior of endothelial cells [ 17 , 18 ]. In a study regarding tumor thrombosis, Lou [ 19 ] found that 303 circular RNAs were differentially expressed in DVT using microarray. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that the most significantly enriched pathways included thyroid hormone-signaling pathway and endocytosis, and also increased level of proteoglycans in cancer. This indicated that tumor cells and thyroid hormones might interact to promote thrombosis. Based on these studies, we speculated that thyroid diseases, including thyroid dysfunction and thyroid tumors, may cause DVT.

Mendelian randomization (MR) research is a causal inference technique that can be used to assess the causal relationship and reverse causation between specific exposure and outcome factors. If certain assumptions [ 20 ] are fulfilled, genetic variants can be employed as instrumental variables (IVs) to establish causal relationships. Bidirectional MR analysis can clarify the presence of reverse causal relationships [ 21 ], making the conclusions more comprehensive. Accordingly, we aimed to apply a two-sample MR strategy to investigate whether DVT is related to four thyroid diseases, including autoimmune hyperthyroidism, subacute thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, and thyroid cancer.

Study design

MR relies on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as IVs. The IVs should fulfill the following three criteria [ 22 ]: (1) IVs should be strongly associated with exposure. (2) Genetic variants must be independent of unmeasured confounding factors that may affect the exposure–outcome association. (3) IVs are presumed to affect the outcome only through their associations with exposure (Fig.  1 ). IVs that met the above requirements were used to estimate the relationship between exposure and outcome. Our study protocol conformed to the STROBE-MR Statement [ 23 ], and all methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.

figure 1

The relationship between instrumental variables, exposure, outcome, and confounding factors

Data sources and instruments

Datasets (Table  1 ) in this study were obtained from a publicly available database (the IEU open genome-wide association studies (GWAS) project [ 24 ] ( https://gwas.mrcieu.ac.uk )). There was no overlap in samples between the data sources of outcome and exposures. Using de-identified summary-level data, privacy information such as overall age and gender were hidden. Ethical approval was obtained for all original work. This study complied with the terms of use of the database.

MR analysis was performed using the R package “TwoSampleMR”. SNPs associated with each thyroid disease at the genome-wide significance threshold of p  < 5.0 × 10 –8 were selected as potential IVs. To ensure independence between the genetic variants used as IVs, the linkage disequilibrium (LD) threshold for grouping was set to r 2  < 0.001 with a window size of 10,000 kb. The SNP with the lowest p -value at each locus was retained for analyses.

Statistical analysis

Multiple MR methods were used to infer causal relationships between thyroid diseases and DVT, including the inverse variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, and MR-Egger tests, after harmonizing the SNPs across the GWASs of exposures and outcomes. The main analysis was conducted using the IVW method. Heterogeneity and pleiotropy were also performed in each MR analysis. Meanwhile, the MR-PRESSO Global test [ 25 ] was utilized to detect horizontal pleiotropy. The effect trend of SNP was observed through a scatter plot, and the forest plot was used to observe the overall effects. When a significant causal relationship was confirmed by two-sample MR analysis, bidirectional MR analysis was performed to assess reverse causal relationships by swapping exposure and outcome factors. Parameters were set the same as before. All abovementioned statistical analyses were performed using the package TwoSampleMR (version 0.5.7) in the R program (version 4.2.1).

After harmonizing the SNPs across the GWASs for exposures and outcomes, the IVW (OR = 1.0009, p  = 0.024, Table  2 ) and weighted median analyses (OR = 1.001, p  = 0.028) revealed significant causal effects between autoimmune hyperthyroidism and DVT risk. Similar results were observed using the weighted median approach Cochran’s Q test, MR-Egger intercept, and MR-PRESSO tests suggested that the results were not influenced by pleiotropy and heterogeneity (Table  2 ). However, the leave-one-out analysis revealed a significant difference after removing some SNPs (rs179247, rs6679677, rs72891915, and rs942495, p  < 0.05, Figure S2a), indicating that MR results were dependent on these SNPs (Figure S2, Table S1). No significant effects were observed in other thyroid diseases (Table  2 ). The estimated scatter plot of the association between thyroid diseases and DVT is presented in Fig.  2 , indicating a positive causal relationship between autoimmune hyperthyroidism and DVT (Fig.  2 a). The forest plots of single SNPs affecting the risk of DVT are displayed in Figure S1.

figure 2

The estimated scatter plot of the association between thyroid diseases and DVT. MR-analyses are derived using IVW, MR-Egger, weighted median and mode. By fitting different models, the scatter plot showed the relationship between SNP and exposure factors, predicting the association between SNP and outcomes

Bidirectional MR analysis was performed to further determine the relationship between autoimmune hyperthyroidism and DVT. The reverse causal relationship was not observed (Table S2), which indicated that autoimmune hyperthyroidism can cause DVT from a mechanism perspective.

This study used MR to assess whether thyroid diseases affect the incidence of DVT. The results showed that autoimmune hyperthyroidism can increase the risk of DVT occurrence, but a reverse causal relationship was not observed between them using bidirectional MR analysis. However, other thyroid diseases, such as subacute thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, and thyroid cancer, did not show a similar effect.

Recently, several studies have suggested that thyroid-related diseases may be associated with the occurrence of DVT in the lower extremities, which provided etiological clues leading to the occurrence of DVT in our subsequent research. In 2006, a review mentioned the association between thyroid dysfunction and coagulation disorders [ 26 ], indicating a hypercoagulable state in patients with hyperthyroidism. In 2011, a review further suggested a clear association between hypothyroidism and bleeding tendency, while hyperthyroidism appeared to increase the risk of thrombotic events, particularly cerebral venous thrombosis [ 27 ]. A retrospective cohort study [ 28 ] supported this conclusion, but this study only observed a higher proportion of concurrent thyroid dysfunction in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis. The relationship between thyroid function and venous thromboembolism remains controversial. Krieg VJ et al. [ 29 ] found that hypothyroidism has a higher incidence rate in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and may be associated with more severe disease, which seemed to be different from previous views that hyperthyroidism may be associated with venous thrombosis. Alsaidan [ 30 ] also revealed that the risk of developing venous thrombosis was almost increased onefold for cases with a mild-to-moderate elevation of thyroid stimulating hormone and Free thyroxine 4(FT4). In contrast, it increased twofold for cases with a severe elevation of thyroid stimulating hormone and FT4. Raised thyroid hormones may increase the synthesis or secretion of coagulation factors or may decrease fibrinolysis, which may lead to the occurrence of coagulation abnormality.

Other thyroid diseases are also reported to be associated with DVT. In a large prospective cohort study [ 31 ], the incidence of venous thromboembolism was observed to increase in patients with thyroid cancer over the age of 60. However, other retrospective studies did not find any difference compared with the general population [ 32 ]. In the post-COVID-19 era, subacute thyroiditis has received considerable attention from researchers. New evidence suggests that COVID-19 may be associated with subacute thyroiditis [ 33 , 34 ]. Mondal et al. [ 35 ] found that out of 670 COVID-19 patients, 11 presented with post-COVID-19 subacute thyroiditis. Among them, painless subacute thyroiditis appeared earlier and exhibited symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Another case report also indicated the same result, that is, subacute thyroiditis occurred after COVID-19 infection, accompanied by thyroid function changes [ 36 ]. This led us to hypothesize that subacute thyroiditis may cause DVT through alterations in thyroid function.

This study confirmed a significant causal relationship between autoimmune hyperthyroidism and DVT ( p  = 0.02). The data were tested for heterogeneity and gene pleiotropy using MR-Egger, Cochran’s Q, and MR-PRESSO tests. There was no evidence that the results were influenced by pleiotropy or heterogeneity. In the leave-one-out analysis, four of the five selected SNPs showed significant effects of autoimmune hyperthyroidism on DVT, suggesting an impact of these SNPs on DVT outcome. Previous studies have focused on the relationship between hyperthyroidism and its secondary arrhythmias and arterial thromboembolism [ 37 , 38 ]. This study emphasized the risk of DVT in patients with hyperthyroidism, which has certain clinical implications. Prophylactic anticoagulant therapy was observed to help prevent DVT in patients with hyperthyroidism. Unfortunately, the results of this study did not reveal any evidence that suggests a relationship between other thyroid diseases and DVT occurrence. This may be due to the limited database, as this study only included the GWAS data from a subset of European populations. Large-scale multiracial studies are needed in the future.

There are some limitations to this study. First, it was limited to participants of European descent. Consequently, further investigation is required to confirm these findings in other ethnicities. Second, this study did not reveal the relationship between complications of hyperthyroidism and DVT. Additionally, this study selected IVs from the database using statistical methods rather than selecting them from the real population. This may result in weaker effects of the screened IVs and reduce the clinical significance of MR analysis. Moreover, the definitions of some diseases in this study were not clear in the original database, and some of the diseases were self-reported, which may reduce the accuracy of diagnosis. Further research is still needed to clarify the causal relationship between DVT and thyroid diseases based on prospective cohort and randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

This study analyzed large-scale genetic data and provided evidence of a causal relationship between autoimmune hyperthyroidism and the risk of DVT, Compared with the other thyroid diseases investigated. Prospective RCTs or MR studies with larger sample sizes are still needed to draw more precise conclusions.

Availability of data and materials

The IEU open gwas project, https://gwas.mrcieu.ac.uk/

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Lifeng Zhang and Kaibei Li have contributed equally to this work and share the first authorship.

Authors and Affiliations

Department of Vascular Surgery, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 39, Shierqiao Road, Jinniu District, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

Lifeng Zhang, Qifan Yang, Yao Lin, Caijuan Geng, Wei Huang & Wei Zeng

Disinfection Supply Center, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 39, Shierqiao Road, Jin Niu District, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

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Conception and design: LFZ and WZ. Analysis and interpretation: LFZ, KBL and WZ. Data collection: LFZ, QFY, YL, CJG and WH. Writing the article: LFZ, KBL. Critical revision of the article: LFZ, GFY and WZ. Final approval of the article: LFZ, KBL, YL, CJG, WH, QFY and WZ. Statistical analysis: YL, QFY.

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Correspondence to Wei Zeng .

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Zhang, L., Li, K., Yang, Q. et al. Associations between deep venous thrombosis and thyroid diseases: a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study. Eur J Med Res 29 , 327 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-024-01933-1

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-024-01933-1

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Causal arguments attempt to make a case that one thing led to another. They answer the question "What caused it?" Causes are often complex and multiple. Before we choose a strategy for a causal argument it can help to identify our purpose. Why do we need to know the cause? How will it help us?

Purposes of causal arguments

To get a complete picture of how and why something happened.

In this case, we will want to look for multiple causes, each of which may play a different role. Some might be background conditions, others might spark the event, and others may be influences that sped up the event once it got started. In this case, we often speak of near causes that are close in time or space to the event itself, and remote causes , that are further away or further in the past. We can also describe a chain of causes , with one thing leading to the next, which leads to the next. It may even be the case that we have a feedback loop where a first event causes a second event and the second event triggers more of the first, creating an endless circle of causation. For example, as sea ice melts in the arctic, the dark water absorbs more heat, which warms it further, which melts more ice, which makes the water absorb more heat, etc. If the results are bad, this is called a vicious circle.

To decide who is responsible

Sometimes if an event has multiple causes, we may be most concerned with deciding who bears responsibility and how much. In a car accident, the driver might bear responsibility and the car manufacturer might bear some as well. We will have to argue that the responsible party caused the event but we will also have to show that there was a moral obligation not to do what the party did. That implies some degree of choice and knowledge of possible consequences. If the driver was following all good driving regulations and triggered an explosion by activating the turn signal, clearly the driver cannot be held responsible.

In order to determine that someone is responsible, there must be a clearly defined domain of responsibility for that person or entity. To convince readers that a certain party is responsible, readers have to agree on what the expectations for that party in their particular role are. For example, if a patient misreads the directions for taking a drug and accidentally overdoses, does the drug manufacturer bear any responsibility? What about the pharmacist? To decide that, we need to agree on how much responsibility the manufacturer has for making the directions foolproof and how much the pharmacist has for making sure the patient understands them. Sometimes a person can be held responsible for something they didn't do if the action omitted fell under their domain of responsibility.

To figure out how to make something happen

In this case we need to zero in on a factor or factors that will push the event forward. Such a factor is sometimes called a precipitating cause. The success of this push will depend on circumstances being right for it, so we will likely also need to describe the conditions that have to be in place for the precipitating cause to actually precipitate the event. If there are likely factors that could block the event, we need to show that those can be eliminated. For example, if we propose a particular surgery to fix a heart problem, we will also need to show that the patient can get to a hospital that performs the surgery and get an appointment. We will certainly need to show that the patient is likely to tolerate the surgery.

To stop something from happening

In this case, we do not need to describe all possible causes. We want to find a factor that is so necessary to the bad result that if we get rid of that factor, the result cannot occur. Then if we eliminate that factor, we can block the bad result. If we cannot find a single such factor, we may at least be able to find one that will make the bad result less likely. For example, to reduce wildfire risk in California, we cannot get rid of all fire whatsoever, but we can repair power lines and aging gas and electric infrastructure to reduce the risk that defects in this system will spark a fire. Or we could try to reduce the damage fires cause by focusing on clearing underbrush.

To predict what might happen in future

As Jeanne Fahnestock and Marie Secor put it in A Rhetoric of Argument, "When you argue for a prediction, you try to convince your reader that all the causes needed to bring about an event are in place or will fall into place." You also may need to show that nothing will intervene to block the event from happening. One common way to support a prediction is by comparing it to a past event that has already played out. For example, we might argue that humans have survived natural disasters in the past, so we will survive the effects of climate change as well. As Fahnestock and Secor point out, however, "the argument is only as good as the analogy, which sometimes must itself be supported." How comparable are the disasters of the past to the likely effects of climate change? The argument would need to describe both past and possible future events and convince us that they are similar in severity.

Techniques and cautions for causal argument

So how does a writer make a case that one thing causes another? The briefest answer is that the writer needs to convince us that the factor and the event are correlated and also that there is some way in which the factor could plausibly lead to the event. Then the writer will need to convince us that they have done due diligence in considering and eliminating alternate possibilities for the cause and alternate explanations for any correlation between the factor and the event.

Identify possible causes

If other writers have already identified possible causes, an argument simply needs to refer back to those and add in any that have been missed. If not, the writer can put themselves in the role of detective and imagine what might have caused the event.

Determine which factor is most correlated with the event

If we think that a factor may commonly cause an event, the first question to ask is whether they go together. If we are looking for a sole cause, we can ask if the factor is always there when the event happens and always absent when the event doesn't happen. Do the factor and the event follow the same trends? The following methods of arguing for causality were developed by philosopher John Stuart Mill, and are often referred to as "Mill's methods."

  • If the event is repeated and every time it happens, a common factor is present, that common factor may be the cause.
  • If there is a single difference between cases where the event takes place and cases where it doesn't.
  • If an event and a possible cause are repeated over and over and they happen to varying degrees, we can check whether they always increase and decrease together. This is often best done with a graph so we can visually check whether the lines follow the same pattern.
  • Finally, ruling out other possible causes can support a case that the one remaining possible cause did in fact operate.

Explain how that factor could have caused the event

In order to believe that one thing caused another, we usually need to have some idea of how the first thing could cause the second. If we cannot imagine how one would cause another, why should we find it plausible? Any argument about agency , or the way in which one thing caused another, depends on assumptions about what makes things happen. If we are talking about human behavior, then we are looking for motivation: love, hate, envy, greed, desire for power, etc. If we are talking about a physical event, then we need to look at physical forces. Scientists have dedicated much research to establishing how carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could effectively trap heat and warm the planet.

If there is enough other evidence to show that one thing caused another but the way it happened is still unknown, the argument can note that and perhaps point toward further studies that would establish the mechanism. The writer may want to qualify their argument with "may" or "might" or "seems to indicate," if they cannot explain how the supposed cause led to the effect.

Eliminate alternate explanations

The catchphrase " correlation is not causation " can help us to remember the dangers of the methods above. It's usually easy to show that two things happen at the same time or in the same pattern, but hard to show that one actually causes another. Correlation can be a good reason to investigate whether something is the cause, and it can provide some evidence of causality, but it is not proof. Sometimes two unrelated things may be correlated, like the number of women in Congress and the price of milk. We can imagine that both might follow an upward trend, one because of the increasing equality of women in society and the other because of inflation. Describing a plausible agency, or way in which one thing led to another, can help show that the correlation is not random. If we find a strong correlation, we can imagine various causal arguments that would explain it and argue that the one we support has the most plausible agency.

Sometimes things vary together because there is a common cause that affects both of them. An argument can explore possible third factors that may have led to both events. For example, students who go to elite colleges tend to make more money than students who go to less elite colleges. Did the elite colleges make the difference? Or are both the college choice and the later earnings due to a third cause, such as family connections? In his book Food Rules: An Eater's Manual, journalist Michael Pollan assesses studies on the effects of supplements like multivitamins and concludes that people who take supplements are also those who have better diet and exercise habits, and that the supplements themselves have no effect on health. He advises, “Be the kind of person who takes supplements -- then skip the supplements.”

If we have two phenomena that are correlated and happen at the same time, it's worth considering whether the second phenomenon could actually have caused the first rather than the other way around. For example, if we find that gun violence and violence within video games are both on the rise, we shouldn't leap to blame video games for the increase in shootings. It may be that people who play video games are being influenced by violence in the games and becoming more likely to go out and shoot people in real life. But could it also be that as gun violence increases in society for other reasons, such violence is a bigger part of people's consciousness, leading video game makers and gamers to incorporate more violence in their games? It might be that causality operates in both directions, creating a feedback loop as we discussed above.

Proving causality is tricky, and often even rigorous academic studies can do little more than suggest that causality is probable or possible. There are a host of laboratory and statistical methods for testing causality. The gold standard for an experiment to determine a cause is a double-blind, randomized control trial in which there are two groups of people randomly assigned. One group gets the drug being studied and one group gets the placebo, but neither the participants nor the researchers know which is which. This kind of study eliminates the effect of unconscious suggestion, but it is often not possible for ethical and logistical reasons.

The ins and outs of causal arguments are worth studying in a statistics course or a philosophy course, but even without such a course we can do a better job of assessing causes if we develop the habit of looking for alternate explanations.

Sample annotated causal argument

The article "Climate Explained: Why Carbon Dioxide Has Such Outsized Influence on Earth’s Climate" by Jason West, published in The Conversation , can serve as an example. Annotations point out how the author uses several causal argument strategies.    

  • Sample causal essay "Climate Explained: Why Carbon Dioxide Has Such Outsized Influence on Earth’s Climate" in PDF version with margin notes
  • Sample causal essay "Climate Explained: Why Carbon Dioxide Has Such Outsized Influence on Earth’s Climate" accessible version with notes in parentheses

Practice Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Reflect on the following to construct a causal argument. What would be the best intervention to introduce in society to reduce the rate of violent crime? Below are some possible causes of violent crime.  Choose one and describe how it could lead to violent crime.  Then think of a way to intervene in that process to stop it.  What method from among those described in this section would you use to convince someone that your intervention would work to lower rates of violent crime?  Make up an argument using your chosen method and the kind of evidence, either anecdotal or statistical, you would find convincing.

Possible causes of violent crime:

  • Homophobia and transphobia
  • Testosterone
  • Child abuse
  • Violence in the media
  • Role models who exhibit toxic masculinity
  • Violent video games
  • Systemic racism
  • Lack of education on expressing emotions
  • Unemployment
  • Not enough law enforcement
  • Economic inequality 
  • The availability of guns

IMAGES

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  2. ENG 112 Causal Analysis essay assignment

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  5. How to Write a Causal Analysis Essay: Outline, Topics, Tips

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  6. Sample Outline for a Causal Analysis Essay

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    pick one of the causal ideas and explain why it is most important. list of examples of effect. give a final dramatic example. conversation between two people illustrating situation. end with a funny quote. statistics about situation. end with a suggestion about what will happen next.

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  6. 6.2.4: Sample Student Essays

    Questions for Discussion and Analysis. Answer the following questions regarding the essay. Be complete in your explanations, and cite examples or quotes in support of your answer. Use complete sentences with proper grammar, spelling and punctuation. Which type of organization did the writer use to develop this causal analysis essay?

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    Causal Analysis Essay Topics About Health and Wellness. Impacts of Stress on the Human Immune System. Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Health. Effects of Regular Exercise on Cardiovascular Health. Influence of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Functioning. Consequences of Obesity on Long-Term Health and Wellness.

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    50 Causal Analysis Essay Topics. The choice of causal analysis essay topics is by far one of the most responsible steps in handling the task because it affects how easy and fast the process goes and how good the result will be. Depending on your academic level and the subject, the choice of causal argument essay topics can be very extensive.

  12. How to Write a Causal Essay: Guide, Tips and Topics

    Check out 10 unusual tips for advanced causal essay writing! 1. Various categories. When you analyze a particular event or phenomenon, pay attention to how it influences different spheres of human life. When you compose an outline, divide all the causes or results into various categories - for example, social, economic, political, etc. 2.

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  15. 130 Causal Analysis Essay Topics

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  16. PDF Chapter 14: The Causal Analysis Essay

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    14.2: Organizing the Causal Analysis Essay. Page ID. The causal analysis essay can be split into four basic sections: introduction, body, conclusion, and Works Cited page. There are three basic formats for writing a cause/effect: Single effect with multiple causes-air pollution is the effect, and students would identify several causes;

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  30. 7.5: Causal Arguments

    Sample causal essay "Climate Explained: Why Carbon Dioxide Has Such Outsized Influence on Earth's Climate" accessible version with notes in parentheses; Practice Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\) Reflect on the following to construct a causal argument. What would be the best intervention to introduce in society to reduce the rate of violent crime?