180 Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Everything is connected to other things by cause and effect. Figuring out those invisible lines helps us navigate life.
Kelly Spancer
8
min read
Mar 11, 2023

That’s why cause-and-effect essays are one of the most commonly assigned writing assignments in all of academia. They test a student’s ability to draw connections and make logical arguments as well as research abilities and writing skills. 


They can be very enjoyable to write if you know the fundamentals of essay writing, understand what this type of essay requires, and choose the right topic. In this article, you’ll get a brief overview of what a cause and effect essay is, tips on how to choose the right topic, and a list of over 150 topics to inspire you!

What is a Cause and Effect Essay?

A cause and effect essay is a writing assignment that asks you to explore the causes of certain events and link them to their outcomes. These types of essays can be focussed on the causes, the effects, or both. They can follow the typical 5 paragraph essay format, or they can have more body paragraphs than usual, depending on the complexity of the topic chosen. 

How to Choose a Cause and Effect Essay Topic

Since the entire paper will be about the causes and effects of your topic, choosing the right topic is vitally important for this type of essay. Sometimes teachers give a general theme to follow which makes it easier to choose a specific topic. Having the freedom to choose any topic you want can be daunting but as long as you keep the following points in mind, you’ll find an excellent topic to write about. 


  • If you’ve been assigned a theme, spend time brainstorming several ideas to get a unique and interesting topic.
  • Get ideas about what you want to write about from articles you’ve recently read. This will also give you a headstart on research.
  • Take a broad topic and narrow it down to specific issues and relationships.
  • The scope of your essay shouldn’t be too broad or too narrow. Think about your word count and choose a topic you can explore properly within that limit.
  • You should always have facts and research to back up any claims you’re making, so choose a topic that has credible information available.
  • Use personal conversations and experiences to narrow down the list of potential topics.
  • Make sure there are a clear cause and effect relationship to explore in your topic. 
  • Always try and choose a topic that you feel personally interested in. Passion will make the research more enjoyable, make your writing more interesting, and cut down on the amount of time you spend on the assignment.

Cause and Effect Essay Topics List for Students

Cause and Effect Essay Topics for High School

20 topics for cause and effect essay for high school students related to their experiences and chosen to match the level of complexity expected. 


Can student activism cause changes in the world?
What is the impact of growing up a child of divorce?
What are the main causes of anxiety in high school?
What are the effects of having very rich or famous parents?
How does having a messy room impact productivity?
What are the reasons that comic book movies rarely get Academy Awards?
Why is music better today, or why was it better in the past?
Why do students cheat?
What are the effects of playing group sports on social bonding?
What should people do to avoid getting sick?
Can online shopping cause shopping addiction?
Why are some video games more fun than others?
Why are oil spills so bad for marine ecosystems?
Why does weight have such a large impact on self-esteem?
What is the effect of family vacation on family relationships?
Why are people afraid of trying new things?
Why should humans protect endangered species?
How does theoretical physics affect the real world?
What are the long-term effects of vaping?
Is there a connection between bullying culture and school violence?


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Cause and Effect Essay Topics for College Students

Here’s a collection of 20 unique topics for college-level papers that will benefit from research and deep analytical skills.


Why do so many Americans still live in poverty?
What is the impact of underage drinking?
How does fasting impact your overall health?
What would be the difference if an asteroid impacted land or ocean?
Why do we buy so many things we don’t need?
What is the UN doing to combat modern-day slavery?
What is the impact of religious oppression in a country?
Why do sports and physical activity release endorphins?
Why is Japan more technologically advanced than many countries in the world?
How has the internet affected education in remote villages in developing nations?
How did Christianity shape colonialism?
Why is it dangerous not to finish a course of prescription medication?
What are the effects of picture and video apps on self-esteem?
Should standardized testing have such a large impact on a student’s future?
What is the impact of colonialism on modern-day Africa?
What is the impact of distance learning on mental health?
What are the benefits of studying in a group versus studying alone?
Is it possible to date and still be focused on academics?
Do violent movies and video games lead to real-life violence?
What is the impact of being raised in a multi-generational household?

Cause and Effect Essay Topics for Middle School

These 20 topics are perfect for teenagers to think about and should inspire them to write a fantastic essay. 


What is the effect of bullying on school culture and school spirit?
Why is it important to think about the environment?
What are the effects of spending time in nature?
What were the causes of World War II?
How has Covid-19 changed your daily routine?
What would happen if everybody did only what they wanted to?
What is the connection between music and mathematics?
How can social media and the internet reduce loneliness?
Why was the invention of the steam engine so important?
Describe a society where people learned to get along with each other.
Should famous people who say or do bad things lose their fans?
Why do countries close to the equator usually have spicy food?
What has been the effect of rap lyrics on poetry?
What are some of the benefits of colonizing Mars?
How do video games affect academic achievement?
What is the role of parental punishment on motivation?
What are the benefits of celebrating holidays from different religions?
What is the fallout from posting an unpopular story on Instagram?
How can you build a successful social media channel?
How does having a fun teacher affect student motivation?

Cause and Effect Essay Topics for Elementary Level

While these types of essays can become very complex, it is important for young children to start understanding the connection between things and exploring causes and effects at an early age. Here are 20 topics perfect for kids!


Why is it important to learn to share?
Why is it important to eat a good breakfast?
What have you learned from your favorite cartoon character?
How does the weather impact your mood?
Why should children get more time to play?
How do you feel after getting a good night’s sleep?
Why should Santa Claus bring you the toys you want?
What would you do if you saw an injured animal?
Why are birthdays important?
Why is riding a bike good for the environment?
How would having a smartphone improve your life?
How does being an older brother or sister make you different?
How does being a younger brother or sister make you different?
Why is it important to learn math?
Do having pets make you more responsible?
What are the effects of bullying on the bully?
What is the impact of your favorite Marvel superhero on the plot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
What are the causes and effects of being popular?
Why is littering bad for society?
Why is it important to eat vegetables?


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Cause and Effect Essay Topics Ideas

Fun Cause and Effect Essay Topics

20 good cause and effect essay topics that are just plain fun to think about!

How are esports going to change the future?
What would it be like to give up all social media as a high school student?
Should people with more money be taxed at a higher rate?
Are periodic revolutions good for the progression of society?
How does smiling affect how long you live?
What are the benefits of owning a pet?
What started the domestication of animals by humans?
How has the use of cell phones affected in-person interaction?
What would be the impact on society if people could directly vote for every important issue?
What makes Elon Musk such a magnetic person?
What would the world be like if Facebook never existed?
Why are young people better at gaming than older people?
How is virtual reality going to change entertainment?
Why have science fiction movies become so popular over the last decade?
What responsibilities should social media influencers automatically be aware of?
What was the impact of Star Wars on the film industry?
How did YouTube change the way humans create and consume media?
Would Harry Potter have been less popular if the main character was a woman?
What effect does the language you speak have on the way you think?
What would the impact of raising the minimum wage be?

Easy Cause and Effect Essay Topics

You don’t have to write something too complicated to get a good grade! Here are 20 easy essay topic examples for your paper. 

What are the main causes of teenage smoking?
How do school uniforms improve cohesion and morale?
What is the impact of sweet fruit juices on health?
What role does the media have on public opinion?
What are the benefits of traveling abroad?
Do people feel better after crying?
Does using a smartphone right before sleeping negatively impact sleep quality?
Why is it more difficult for immigrants to find a job?
What are the effects of working out too much?
Does online dating make people have lower social skills?
How can improving time management reduce stress?
What is the impact of family stability on academic performance?
How does attending college impact lifelong earning potential?
Why is Google the most popular search engine?
How is carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas?
Why was the #Metoo movement so important?
What are the benefits of reading for pleasure as a child?
How has globalization impacted the role of women in societies?
What are the negative impacts of sound pollution?
How can a single species impact large ecosystems?

Personal Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Go over these 20 essay topics to write an essay that relies more on self reflection and personal growth. 

How has your favorite book impacted your life?
Is parenthood always a rewarding experience?
How does being selfish eventually impact oneself negatively?
What are the impacts of optimism on happiness?
How can a single individual make a significant change in the world?
How can meditation improve quality of life?
How has guilt affected your life personally?
How do people do bad things without realizing it?
Why are people afraid of commitment?
How does being in an abusive relationship impact both people?
What is the impact of being a minority on self-identity?
What is the connection between overthinking and depression?
How has the most significant relationship in your life shaped you?
How does getting older impact the ability to learn new things?
Why do people chase a feeling of control?
What are the impacts of living with someone with a mental disorder?
How long does it take to get over a serious breakup?
What are the reasons you want to be rich?
What would make you happy?
What is the best way of using social power?

Interesting Cause and Effect Essay Topics

20 interesting essay topics that will make your essay stand out amongst the crowd. 

What are some of the ways the world would have been different if the axis powers won WWII?
Do strikes and protests work effectively for different types of issues?
What would happen to coastal populations if ocean levels increased by 2 meters?
How much do tv shows and movies impact the way people think about other countries?
What has been the impact of rising internet penetration rates in developing countries?
What social care measures should countries implement in the face of catastrophes like Covid-19?
What is the connection between science and religion?
What would you do if you could become president of the world for 1 year?
How do phytoplankton in the ocean impact life on Earth?
Why is going to college an indicator of long-term happiness?
Why are certain video games popular amongst certain groups?
How does someone decide which music genre is their favorite?
How is artificial intelligence going to change the military and therefore the world?
What makes someone exceptional in their chosen field?
What are the most important characteristics of a good boss?
Can escapism be beneficial in situations such as trauma?
Does living together before marriage hurt or harm the long-term relationship?
What effect do different colors have on mood?
Is the continued growth of technology going to make people value in-person events more?
How has the first amendment impacted countries around the world?

Controversial Cause and Effect Essay Topics

Here are 20 controversial topics to think about. Be warned! You’ll have to do really solid research and make your point eloquently.

What was the impact of American foreign policy during the Cold War?
Does stem cell research have the potential to save millions of lives?
How do genetically modified crops impact the human body?
How do increasing temperatures impact rates of transmissible diseases?
How do oil-producing companies and their lobbies impact the search for renewable energy?
How do fashion companies end up employing children in sweatshops?
Can pizza now be considered an American food?
How do kings, queens, or any form of royalty impact the society of a country?
What are some of the negative outcomes of social Darwinism?
Why did the communism of the Soviet Union fail?
What has China’s one-child policy done to advance economic growth in the country?
How have sedition laws been used to censor free speech?
If artificial intelligence develops sentience, should they be given human rights?
How does a bad president impact that country's international reputation?
What are the roots of Russia’s aggressive international policies?
What are the negative impacts of the introduction of nonnative species?
What are the effects of gun regulation laws on murder rates around the world?
Are certain drugs beneficial for psychiatric treatment?
What was the root of the eugenics movement around the world in the early 1900s?
What has the impact of animal testing been on human health?

Final Thoughts

If you want to delve deep into a particular topic and analyze the causes and effects, a cause and effect essay is the perfect choice for you. It can be a fascinating process if you choose the right topic. This article has provided you with 180 topics to consider and guidelines on selecting a topic. If you need any help with write my homework, research paper writing service, or do my essay, Studyfy’s team of professional writers and dissertation writing services can guide you in the right direction. Additionally, their essay editing and proofreading services can help you improve your essay and make it stand out. Whether you need someone to do my PowerPoint, do my Excel assignment, or do my discussion board post, choose Studyfy to help you achieve academic success.