Effects are events that happen in a story. Causes explain why these events occur. An effect may have more than one cause and a cause may have more than one effect. Cause-and effect relationships may either be implied or made obvious to readers, by the use of certain words and phrases, such as because, since, and as a result. Sometimes causes and effects are not stated directly by the author, so readers must use story information and their own knowledge to figure out what the missing information might be. Recognizing causes and their effects in a story helps readers understand how story events fit together.
The students will work in pairs and read Chapter 1 of Encyclopedia Brown Takes the Cake! "The Case of the Missing Garlic Bread," again. Each pair will complete the attached Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer while they reread the chapter.
Some of the causes and effects are pretty clear like the cause touching garlic bread, effect touched parts smell like garlic and cause eating parsley, effect removes garlic smell. The students will pay close attention to details so the other effects and causes will be discovered. Clue words such as because, since, and as a result should be highlighted.